Historic Hikes in Western North Carolina

Travel back in time on more than thirty thoughtfully curated hiking routes in the Blue Ridge Mountains, chosen for their rich natural and human history as well as their beauty.

Ascend to the state’s highest point, surrounded by ancient forests and historical controversies. Explore the ruins of homesteads and isolated cemeteries of former settlers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and honor the legacy of the Cherokees and their connection to the land. Encounter sweeping vistas at one of the four routes that lead to lookout towers and marvel at thundering waterfalls featured in major films such as The Last of the Mohicans and The Hunger Games.

Local author and experienced hiker Nancy East includes helpful maps and comprehensive information about each route, ensuring adventures that are both safe and enjoyable.

Nancy East retired from a twenty-three-year career as a small animal veterinarian to pursue her interest in outdoor education and writing. She is an avid hiker and backpacker, a southern Appalachian naturalist, a hiking guide and a member of the Haywood County Search and Rescue Team. The search for a missing mother in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park inspired her record-setting hike and book Chasing the Smokies Moon: An Audacious 948-Mile Hike--Fueled by Love, Loss, Laughter, and Lunacy. You can find more of her work or download digital files of these trails at nancyeast.com.