Town of Highlands, a region in the southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, is characterized by its high elevation and diverse natural features. Situated within the Blue Ridge Mountains, the area features ancient peaks, a temperate rainforest climate, and is enveloped by the Nantahala National Forest. This unique geography provides a varied landscape for outdoor activities, including several sports like hiking, touring cycling, road cycling, gravel biking, and more.
The Town of Highlands…
68
Routes
4.6
(56)
Average rating
728
People visited

4
hikers
3.42km
01:06
20m
340m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
2.55km
00:41
20m
60m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
2.68km
00:51
90m
110m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
5.36km
01:37
170m
190m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
4
riders
47.7km
03:58
860m
860m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
15
riders
13.1km
01:03
340m
340m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
16
riders
17.5km
01:08
150m
150m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
riders
39.1km
03:15
800m
800m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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19
riders
35.6km
02:04
500m
500m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
12
riders
95.5km
05:12
1,510m
1,510m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

14
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

14
riders
13.8km
00:49
190m
190m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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5.0
(1)
21
riders
77.1km
05:38
1,270m
1,270m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(5)
20
riders
71.3km
05:11
1,360m
1,360m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(4)
6
riders
13.2km
01:04
290m
290m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(4)
6
riders
13.2km
01:03
290m
280m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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12
runners
26.1km
02:47
320m
320m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
runners
7.21km
00:49
190m
190m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

14
runners
15.0km
01:35
160m
160m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
runners
4.13km
00:26
70m
70m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Town of Highlands offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, touring cycling, road cycling, gravel biking, and jogging. The region features more than 20 routes across these sports, exploring mountain passes, diverse ecosystems, and waterfalls.
Town of Highlands provides numerous hiking trails suitable for various skill levels. Options range from easy walks like Sunset Rock to more challenging ascents, with many trails located within the Nantahala National Forest. Guides like Hiking around Town of Highlands offer further details.
Yes, Town of Highlands has easy hiking options. The Highlands Plateau Greenway offers interconnected walking and hiking trails, and Sunset Rock provides an easy walk with town vistas. For more options, refer to the Easy hikes around Town of Highlands guide.
The Town of Highlands is popular for road cycling, touring cycling, and gravel biking. The terrain includes dramatic mountain passes, challenging climbs, and exhilarating descents. Guides such as Road Cycling Routes around Town of Highlands and Gravel biking around Town of Highlands provide route information.
The region is situated within the Blue Ridge Mountains and is part of a temperate rainforest, leading to numerous waterfalls. Notable features include Whiteside Mountain, Dry Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Cullasaja Falls, and Whitewater Falls. The area is also enveloped by the Nantahala National Forest.
Yes, the abundant rainfall in Town of Highlands creates hundreds of impressive waterfalls. Popular spots include Dry Falls, where it is possible to walk behind the water, Bridal Veil Falls, and Whitewater Falls, which is the tallest in the eastern US.
Town of Highlands is located at an elevation of 4,118 feet (1,255 meters) above sea level. This high elevation contributes to its distinct ecosystems and mild climate.
Town of Highlands offers various options suitable for families, including easy hiking trails and the Highlands Plateau Greenway. Activities like ziplining at Highlands Aerial Park and a mountain coaster at Highlands Outpost also provide family entertainment.
Town of Highlands is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 8,000 visitors sharing their experiences. The available routes have an average rating of 4.74 out of 5 stars.
Komoot offers several guides for Town of Highlands, including Hiking around Town of Highlands, Easy hikes around Town of Highlands, and Road Cycling Routes around Town of Highlands. Guides for touring cycling, gravel biking, and running trails are also available.
The official website for the Town of Highlands, North Carolina, is highlandsnc.org. This resource provides additional information about the area.

