To test out our site groupings and provide and example of how you might use the NC Birding Trail, I created a sample itinerary from our Nantahala group sites based on a trip I took in September 2017. I would recommend finding lodging in either Highlands or Cashiers for easy access to these sites and businesses. You can even stay at one of our sites: High Hampton Inn & Country Club in Cashiers or at one of our birder-friendly businesses: The Chandler Inn in Highlands or Whiteside Cove Cottages in Cashiers.

There are many other lodging choices in the area including houses to rent. For convenience, I would suggest finding lodging that has a kitchen, as options for dining out are limited. There are tons of great activities in the area, so make sure to check out the great amenities surrounding our Birding Trail sites.

Day 1 (Friday)

Padgett Poplar Tree Trail

• Start your morning with this trail that is just outside downtown Highlands. You can also check out the 400-year-old poplar tree and learn how Bob Padgett saved it in 1966.
• The trailhead for this site is located just off the highway on a US Forest Service Road, marked by a basic informational kiosk. The hike to the poplar tree was quite short, but there are other trails that go much deeper into the forest.

Bucks Coffee

• Grab a beverage and a morning snack at Bucks in downtown Highlands. This locally owned shop has great coffee, with another location in Cashiers.

Highlands Nature Center & Botanical Gardens

• This excellent site can easily take up the remainder of your morning and early afternoon.
• The botanical gardens are home to more than 500 species of thenative plants of the southern Appalachian Mountains.
• There are several miles of trails to explore, and the Biological Station building at the entrance has a great patio with feeders as well as a collection of specimens and informational displays to peruse.

Explore Downtown Highlands

• Grab some lunch (I highly recommend Pescado’s for some delicious Mexican food).
• Explore the many shops in Highlands’ quaint downtown district. You can easily walk the whole downtown area, and it is an excellent place to shop for gifts.

Highland Hiker

• This birder-friendly business has been outfitting hikers, fishermen and travelers for over 35 years. Stop by on your walking tour of downtown Highlands for any clothing, shoe, camping, backpacking, fishing, hiking and adventure gear needs!

Highlands Area Chamber of Commerce

• Swing by this birder-friendly business located in downtown Highlands to check out some of the activities available in the Highlands Plateau area.

Grocery Shopping

• Make sure to stop by a grocery store to get food for the rest of you stay. In Highlands: Bryson’s is the larger grocery store, and Mountain Fresh Grocery is a small specialty store with lots of delicious gourmet offerings, and excellent selection of wine, dine-in options, and an attached pizza shop. In Cashiers: you can go to Ingles for your main grocery needs or the adorable Cashiers Farmers Market, which has lots of local produce, gourmet dips, salsas, and spreads, and an amazing collection of antique signs.

Sunset Rock

• Check what time the sun sets and start heading to Sunset Rock an hour or so before. This site has a gravel driveway you can walk or drive up to get to the trailhead. This site is a truly magical place to watch the sunset and some birds.

Day 2 (Saturday)

Highlands Farmers Market

• Stop by this small market (on Saturday mornings only) to grab some fresh produce, pastries, and flowers.

Whiteside Mountain

• Whiteside Mountain is one of my favorite hikes in NC. The 2.5 mile trail takes you up and around the mountain for a long series of breathtaking views of mountains, valleys, and cliff faces. Keep your eyes peeled for Peregrine falcons and other raptors in addition to multitudes of songbirds.

Explore Downtown Cashiers

• Grab lunch and take a walk around downtown Cashiers. This is another excellent place to shop for gifts (or yourself!). If you need an energy boost, Bucks Coffee also has a downtown Cashiers location.

The Bird Barn

• The Bird Barn is a great little store with feeders, seed, birdhouses, and lots of assorted bird-themed items. Bring back a souvenir for your backyard birds!

High Hampton Inn & Country Club

• The beautiful grounds of the High Hampton Inn & Country Club are an excellent place for a relaxing afternoon stroll. In late summer/early fall, their Dahlia garden is in full swing, and benches along the shore of the lake have gorgeous views.

Day 3 (Sunday)

The Village Green

• This is not a Birding Trail site, but I actually saw more birds here than anywhere else on this whole trip! This little park has some great little trails and beautiful gardens. It’s a great place to take your morning cup of coffee.

Gorges State Park

• This amazing park provides access to almost 40 miles of trails! On this trip we did Rainbow Falls trail, which provides access to both Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls. You can easily spend a half day on this trail alone, so pack a lunch and go exploring!