Serving as a gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bryson City is a historic North Carolina town and the current seat of Swain County. It lies on the banks of the Tuckasegee River, not far from the village of “Kituwa”, which is believed to be the original settlement of the Cherokee people.
Things to do in Bryson City
Enjoy a ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, a heritage railway that takes in the area’s spectacular valleys and river gorges. Pulled by a steam or diesel locomotive, it passes over the historic Fontana Trestle and through the Nantahala National Forest. Tickets include entry to the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum with its impressive model railway.
Anglers can visit the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians, which showcases vintage fly rods and fishing gear that dates back to the 19th century. It lies on the bank of the Tuckasegee River adjacent to the Appalachian Rivers Aquarium, where you can get up close to fish, crustaceans and salamanders that call the waterway “home”.
In the middle of the Tuckasegee River is Bryson City Island Park, which can be accessed on foot via a concrete bridge. It’s a popular recreational destination for walking and picnicking, as well as attracting local anglers who come to lure bass, catfish and trout. Bryson City Island Park is also a nesting site for North Carolina’s state bird, the brightly coloured northern cardinal.
Getting around Bryson City
Bryson City is just over an hour’s drive from Asheville and Asheville Regional Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. Regular buses connect to Bryson City and the centre is compact enough to explore on foot. Bryson City also serves as a base for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which travels between Dillsboro and Nantahala.