Attention Hikers and Bikers

Attention Hikers and Bikers!

Guests seeking hiking or mountain biking near Engadine can explore Bent Creek for mountain biking and the NC Arboretum or Dupont State Forest for hiking.

Chestnut Mountain Nature Park offers another nearby option.

Chestnut Mountain Nature Park opened in April 2022 in Canton, just west of us.  Also, located off Smoky Park Highway (called “Asheville Highway” in Canton and adjoining Haywood County), CMNP is literally a two-minute drive from Engadine.  Take a left out of our driveway, proceed about 2.5 miles, turn left into the entrance to the park and you’re there!

The park’s original vision was described in its Master Plan as a “game changer” for Canton and the communities around Engadine…

“The permanent protection of the 450-acre park, planned as a nature park for a diversity of passive and active recreation use, will showcase how conservation and recreation can boost the local economy and enhance local and regional quality of life. This park is planned with the citizens of the Town of Canton in mind, but will also draw users from within the region and beyond as it will likely become a premier outdoor recreation destination. It will be a hub for hiking and mountain biking, immersion into a backcountry experience, and easy access to a front country day-use area with a pavilion, restroom, lawn, Hominy Creek access, gateway, and trailhead with parking.”

“A Catalyst For Growth.”

“Eastern Haywood County, where the property is located, is under-served for recreational amenities and in great need of such a public park. With its location one mile from Canton’s town limits with frontage on Highway 19/23 and an NCDOT funded greenway, with easy access to Interstate 40, the project presents an immense public recreation opportunity and could be a catalyst for economic revitalization on the 19/23 highway corridor. The park can also support the local economy as an attractive amenity for relocating businesses and residents.”

“A Conservation Success Story.”

“Decades ago, plans for a motor speedway and associated amenities, including condos and cabins on the property fell flat while construction had barely begun. The property has remained vacant since the initial disturbance was made when first breaking ground in the 1990’s. In 2020, the purchase of the property was facilitated by Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) for the purpose of conservation via easement and donation of the land to the Town of Canton. The Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) and private donors provided significant funding for the property. This will prove to be a strong investment for the people of North Carolina. This property is a critical piece of a larger wildlife corridor. It will permanently protect nine miles of streams, including a section of Hominy Creek. The property is located on a priority wildlife corridor, connecting the Pisgah National Forest to Sandy Mush and Cherokee Forest of East Tennessee.”

We welcome guests interested in the hiking and biking options near Engadine. Check park information and trail conditions before heading out.