Great Smoky Mountain Railway Activities

When you visit Bryson City, be sure to take time to enjoy the Great Smoky Mountain Railway as well as the rest of the sights of Cherokee and the surrounding area. When you climb aboard the Great Smoky Mountain Railway, you will find yourself embarking on a spectacular journey through some of the most scenic mountains in the country. This four and a half hour excursion carries you 44 miles to the Nantahala Gorge and returns you back to your car exhilarated and wishing it could just go on for another four and a half hours.

Relax and Enjoy!

As you travel through the little Tennessee and Nantahala Rivers across Fontana Lake and into the magic of the Nantahala River Gorge, the breathtaking views will calm the spirit and awaken the senses. There is a one-hour layover at the Nantahala River depot for sightseeing, lunch, and just plain relaxing. The Great Smoky Mountain Railway is a perfect complement to a day of exploring the cultural wonders of Cherokee. It is an apt time for reflection of what you have absorbed in the museums and performances and a time to let yourself fully appreciate the beauty and rich history of these beautiful mountains.

More Activities near the Great Smoky Mountain Railway

Complete your adventure to the Great Smoky Mountain Railway with a visit to the Wheels Through Time Museum. This museum will bring you back in time with its fascinating presentations of vintage transportation. Located in the picturesque town of Maggie Valley, NC, the 38,000 sq. ft. museum offers the world's largest collection of rare American motorcycles, cars from each of the ten decades of America's automobile history and related memorabilia and mementos. After riding on the Great Smoky Mountain Railway, it is interesting to see such a variety of transportation modes and witness how they each have evolved through time. Nestled against the backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains, the collection contains over 250 rare antique American motorcycles and automobiles from 1903 to the present - 90% of which are still operated regularly.

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