What: Hike to Chattooga Cliffs

Where: South of Highlands and Cashiers.

Highlights: At this spot, the Chattooga River is squeezed between two towering rock cliffs from 400 to 600 feet high. The stretch is also known as the Chattooga Narrows. The Cliffs are home to dripping moss and rare plant communities.

With the debate raging over paddling on the Upper Chattooga River, now is a good time to see what all the fuss is about. The trail described here is the one paddlers would use to access the river under a U.S. Forest Service proposal to accommodate limited paddling on the National Wild and Scenic River.

The trail takes off from a small parking area along Whiteside Cove Road. It is called County Line Trail, and as you might guess starts out from the Macon-Jackson county line. It’s about a mile down to the river on an old logging road. From there, the Chattooga River trail parallels the river for three miles in either direction. Hike as far as you want, then backtrack.

Directions: From Cashiers: Head south on N.C. 107 south and turn right on Whiteside Cove Road about 1.7 miles from the Crossroads. Trailhead is on the left at 6.8 miles.

From Highlands: Head east out of town on Main Street for 4.5 miles. Take a left on Whiteside Cove Road. Trailhead is 0.9 miles on the right.