Scenic Drives along Blue Ridge Parkway, NC

Maggie Valley is a charming town located in the beautiful North Carolina Smoky Mountains! At first glance, most tourists might get the impression that Maggie Valley is a sleepy little place and the perfect setting for those who want nothing more than to relax and get away from all the stress of the city. Although Maggie Valley truly is an oasis of relaxation and tranquility, it has so much more to offer! Maggie Valley is also the home of many different outdoor adventures, such as hiking, skiing, whitewater rafting, sight seeing, horseback riding, and many other activities. So whether you’re in search of a great outdoor adventure in the wilderness, or a quiet, romantic getaway, Maggie Valley is the perfect place for you! Creekside Lodge is a favorite cozy mountain establishment here that can provide both tranquil relaxation or be a comfortable home base between your adventure and activities!

Hikers can enjoy the sensational, scenic beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains throughout the entire year.   Every different season offers its own type of reward. During the winter, hiking can allow you to experience the new vistas and trails that reveal certain stone chimneys, walls and foundations, which remind you of the past residents. The deciduous forests shed their leaves and the outdoors takes on a new appearance. During the spring season, hikers will be treated to a plethora of fauna and flora amidst the wild growing spruce trees, wildflowers and beautiful luscious grass. During the summer season, walkers can seek out the cooler retreats that are present amongst the splashy streams, the fir-spruce forests and the cascades and roaring waterfalls. Hiking during the crisp autumn air sharpens the senses and provides the opportunity to feast your eyes on a vast array of breathtaking autumn colors. According to the folks at Creekside Lodge, you will want to experience all 4 seasons!

Horseback riding is among the most popular of activities to do in the Great Smoky Mountains. The iconic scenery and luscious mountain trails make an ideal setting for a wonderful outdoor experience! There are several local horse stables close to Creekside Lodge that provide traditional facilities, riding instructions, and both short and long trail rides, offering a wonderful opportunity to explore the hills and the beautiful Smoky Mountains. A leisurely horseback ride can be the perfect way to start or end a relaxing vacation day.

For the serious horse lover, a great place to visit is the Western North Carolina Agricultural Centre located the town of Ashville. This Centre is famous for hosting horsemanship championships, horse shows and similar events.  A drive into the beautiful city of Ashville can make a wonderful day trip!

Once you have decided to add a horseback riding experience, just where can you find the best horseback riding trails? Here are a few recommended stables:

Cataloochee Ranch: This is one of the best-known horse ranches in all of North Carolina. Ideal for horse lovers, you can easily take a morning ride amidst a mile high type meadow where you will find that the mountains stretch, ridge beyond ridge to almost the very edges of eternity. Once you go there, you can savor the quite ambience, the lush display of rhododendron and the green forest trails that intricately wind through the entire ranch and amidst the Great Smoky Mountains. In any case, whether you are an expert or a novice rider or something in the middle, the experience of horseback riding on the Cataloochee Ranch is sure to be one of your best mountain memories! The ranch offers half-day as well as full-day rides and the ideal time to visit is April thru November. All horseback riding activity is strictly directed by professionals and riders are grouped according to the level of their riding skill. Your professional guides are responsible to decide the pace and the terrain based on skill level, terrain, and present weather conditions.

Little Creek Outfitters: Located in Hot Springs in Western North Carolina this ranch is an ideal place to experience the beautiful views of the Appalachian Mountains! The facility offers horseback riding for 1 to 5 persons on a full-day or half-day basis and overnight rides can be arranged here. The horse will walk, canter or trot with you on its back during the overnight and sunset rides. Highly professional wranglers will be your guides and are always equipped with first aid kits and radio communication with the head Ranch office. This is a great place to saddle up and enjoy a leisurely, long ride amidst the wildflowers and beautiful and lush trails!

Smokemont Riding Stables: This ranch in Cherokee offers the best hourly rates amongst all other horse ranches in the area. Located approximately 15 miles from Maggie Valley, you can experience a horseback ride during a climb up the mountain and enjoy the trail amidst the beautiful scenery and flowing waterfall. The ranch has various levels of rides based on the skills of the riders. The trail follows the beautiful path along the Ocanaluftee River in and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Sandy Bottom Trail Rides: For those riders interested in half day horseback riding, one can easily choose from amongst the several packages that offer the most relaxing and intuitive horse riding lessons in the Maggie Valley and the Blue Ridge Parkway area. The Sandy Bottom trail is a one to four hour secluded trail through the wooded lands and high country parts that ensures horseback riders enjoyment of the best scenic, panoramic mountain views!

Whether you are a horse enthusiast or just someone who wants to try out a new outdoor adventure, horseback riding can enhance your visit to Creekside Lodge and make your stay even more enjoyable! Don’t wait! Call Creekside Lodge at (800) 621-1260 today to book your reservation to enjoy your own mountain adventure!

Fly-fishing is a pastime where an artificial fly is attached to a fishing rod and used to bait fish. It is a popular sport that requires a special technique in order to cast a nearly weightless fly to bait the fish and reel them in. This can be done in mountain streams, lakes or even the open sea. One of the most beautiful places to go fly-fishing is in the clear mountain streams that surround the Creekside Lodge in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. You can catch a number of species of fish when fly-fishing, but the most popular fish caught is trout

Choosing the Right Equipment

Regardless of where you decide to fish, choosing the right kind of gear is vital to successful fly-fishing. Flies are the little bits that you attach to the end of your line to bait the fish into biting on the hook. They are designed to imitate the kinds of foods that tempt fish, such as small invertebrate and insects. The three common types of flies are nymphs, dry flies and lures. Each one attracts different kinds of fish and selecting the right one to use is as important as choosing the right kind of fishing rod.

If you are new to fly fishing, choosing the right rod for you can be a daunting task! Fly fishing rods vary in length from 6′ to 15′. Choosing the right rod for you depends on where you wish to use it and how it matches with your line and the size of your fly.

Another thing to consider when picking your rod is the “action”. A fly rod’s action is a description of its flex. Lighter fly rods have slow action and heavier rods are faster.

A slow action rod has nodes the entire length of the rod, which enables it to bend all the way. They are good for small streams where you have to cast the fly with a touch of finesse so as not to spook the fish. Slow action rods are more difficult to cast well if there is a lot of wind in the area.

Medium rods flex are easier to use as they flex along the top third or half of the rod and work well for medium-skilled casters. They give you a better of feel of how it strikes the water as compared to a rod with a fast action.

Fast-action rods have stiff backbones with the flex happening in the top third of the rod. This stiffness puts more strain on the tippet, which means that inexperienced anglers will lose large fish. Fast-action rods are good for casting over long distances and require an experienced caster.

Once you have selected a suitable rod, the next step it to choose the right reel. A fly reel’s function is to balance out the weight of the rod, store the extra line and to provide a smooth run for the fish that you have just caught. It is customized for right-handed or left-handed people and is placed just above the grip of your rod. A good reel has a weight that balances well with that of your rod with enough capacity to hold the right length of for your preferred mode of fishing.

Good reels also come with drag systems that are designed for the types of fish that you are going after. For large fish in open water, you’ll want a powerful disc drag; however, a click check reel will do the job when fishing for small species.

The final part to consider when purchasing your equipment is clothing.

Clothing is an important ingredient that could make the difference between a good fishing day and a miserable one. When selecting clothing, it is best to choose clothes that will help you blend in with your surroundings so you won’t spook the fish. Clothing with insulating layers are best so you can get right out into the water without becoming soaked.

Technique

Fly-fishing is a lot more complex than simply tossing the lure into the water. To be good at it, you must learn the basics of fly-fishing. First you must analyze your surroundings in order to understand what bait will work best to catch the fish you’re after. If you are fly fishing for trout, it is good to know that trout get spooked easily and are unlikely to be tempted into feeding if you are within sight. Trout typically like to feed in locations where they have access to good food and have protection from predators (that’s you) at the same time.

Casting

Casting is the process of getting your bait into the ideal location to snag some fish. What is important to remember is it is almost impossible to throw the fly itself very far. Before you step out into the water you’ll want to practice your casting and remember these five principles:

1. When you start to load the rod remove all slack from the line.
2. As you come to towards the end of your cast accelerate and then come to a complete stop.
3. Keep your throwing hand in a straight line. Do not let it go in an arch.
4. If you are casting a long line, ensure that your cast has a longer stroke. Imagine a clock face and if the line is short, aim your back cast to 11 o’clock and your front cast to 1 o’clock. For longer lines think 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock.
5. When you reach the end of your back cast, pause before casting forward. This gives the line time to straighten out. The longer your line, the longer you’ll need to pause.

Tips for Fly-Fishing

Handy ideas for fishing in streams are:

• • Fish the areas in between fast and slow moving water as this where trout like to rest.
• • Learn to use nymphs because the main components of a trout’s diet lie immediately below the water’s surface.
• • Don’t let the line of the lure land right above the fish because this can spook them. Your goal is to draw the fish out of their comfort zone.

Tips when fishing in lakes:

• • Stay near the bank. This is where most of the fish food is located. Stick to locations with lush vegetation.
• • Choose areas where a stream flows into the lake. These provide good sources of oxygen, protection and food.

Have Fun

Learning to fly fish may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but with practice, you will be amazed at how much better you’ll become! Fly-fishing can be a truly relaxing and enjoyable experience, especially when done in a beautiful, mountain setting such as the clear, rushing streams close to <<>>in Maggie Valley, NC.

Don’t delay! Call Maggie Valley Creekside Lodge at (800) 621-1260 to book your fly-fishing getaway today!

The Great Smoky Mountains feature some of the most spectacular and breathtaking views in the United States! Sometimes simply referred to as just the “Smokies”, the Great Smoky Mountains are a chain of mountains located along the Tennessee – North Carolina border in Southeastern United States. The mountains are part of the Appalachian system and one of the oldest uplands on earth. They originally got their name because of the smoke-like haze, which hangs low over the mountains. Millions of visitors are drawn by their stunning natural beauty, panoramic mountain views, endless miles of pristine mountain streams, carpets of wildflowers as well as a verdant forest, abundant wildlife and innumerable scenic trails that have made The Great Smoky Mountains National Park to become recognized as an “International Biosphere Reserve.” It is home to an exquisite array of wildlife including elk, white-tailed deer, black bears, and 200 species of birds.