Maggie Valley, North Carolina
Maggie Valley is a special place where nature comes to your doorstep. With the Plott Balsam range on one side and the Cataloochee Divide on the other, Maggie Valley sports a true, balanced four season climate. The surrounding mountains reach over 5,000 feet while the valley below is at 3,200 feet.
Summers are cool with highs barely reaching 80 degrees and winters cool enough to make Cataloochee Ski Area a popular attraction in the winter. If you are going out, remember that the temps at the higher elevations can be much different than at the valley floor. As a rule, the temperature can drop 8 degrees per 1000 feet in altitude gain, so if you are going for a summer hike at Max Patch or Clingman's Dome, you might want to pack a sweatshirt. If you are planning winter hike, dress in layers. Changes in altitude and whether you are on the south slope or north slope of a trail, can dramatically effect the conditions.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a popular side trip for Valley guests. Please check ahead if you are planning on traveling on America's favorite road. In the winter, the parkway is closed due to driving conditions so please call ahead if you plan on traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is our closest neighbor. The park is mostly inaccessible form car so plan on doing some great hiking to see the best places in the park. The main road is Highway 441 that connects the southern entrance outside Cherokee to the northern entrance in Gatlinburg. This road can also be closed when winter weather comes through.