2026 Summer Adventure Series: Robbinsville, NC & The Nantahala National Forest

2026 Summer Adventure Series: Robbinsville, NC

Onto the next adventure! The third leg of our trip took us to Robbinsville, NC where we stayed at Hidden Waters RV Park in the Nantahala National Forest. Once again we were blessed to park our travel trailer in front of rapids, this time it was the Talula Creek who was really flowing after recent rain. Unfortunately, the rain continued throughout our stay, so it was a soggy weekend.

The heavy rain on the day of our arrival caused us to cancel the itinerary. We had Verizon service, so the girls dove headfirst into gaming while Mommy and Daddy huddled our chairs under the canopy and watched the river swiftly flow by. Later that evening, we watched our favorite camping movie: The Great Outdoors.

The forecast was favorable for a short reprieve from the rain the following morning, so we headed out to explore a true national treasure: the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. We tackled the two-mile loop to behold the enormous 400-year-old Poplar trees. The towering cove of old-growth trees was seriously amazing. It is listed as an easy hike, but we would classify it as moderate but that could be because of all the heavy rain and all the extra weight we carry with Mayah and her supplies. Along the path we saw a spring of ground water shooting directly from the ground, 100-feet tall trees, rushing waters, and a whole lot of mosquitos—they must thrive in a virgin forest.  

After the hike, we continued along Joyce Kilmer Road which boasts some amazing sights then we headed to the Cheoah Dam to see “The Fugitive” dam (the scene where Harrison Ford jumps) and discovered a swinging bridge over the Cheoah River that beckoned us to come explore. Once again, the heavy rains had the waters really raging.

The following day, we embarked on another amazing hike to Yellow Creek Falls followed by a picnic lunch at Cheoah Point Beach on Lake Santeetlah. Of course, we had to take a dip in the pristine waters and take in the breathtaking views surrounding the reservoir.

The weather prohibited us from white water rafting on the Nantahala River and driving the Cherohala Skyway, but now we have a reason to return to the area. We found a local church to attend Mass before packing up the camper to keep the adventure going.