Nantahala Village Letterbox

County: Swain County, NC
Closest city: Bryson, City, NC
Placed by: Joe and one of the Buds

The Nantahala Village Lodge is the starting point for this letterbox
hidden on a loop trail near Fontana Lake. Located 15 minutes west of
Bryson City, NC on US Route 19, the trails which begin here are fairly
easy wooded walks with some great views on Village property and land of
the US Forest Service. There is an excellent picnic and swimming spot at
lakeside very near the letterbox, so you might want to pack a swimsuit
and call the lodge at 828-488-2826 and have them pack a box lunch for
your walk. They have an excellent restaurant if you dont want to pack
in your lunch. This lodge was built a year after the fire in 1997 that
destroyed the original lodge of 1949. The letterbox contains a
beautifully carved stamp that you will be proud to have.

Equipment needed: good hiking shoes/boots, a compass (just in case).

Time: about an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half.

Type of steps: those of a 6 man.

Difficulty of walk: moderate with some uphill walking. The entire route
is on either a small paved road, dirt path, or a gravel road.

Caution: Parts of the rail can be muddy following a rain. Horses and
bicyclists share this trail.

Extra information: A free trail map is available at the lodge, but trust
the directions in the clues. Lodge rooms or cabins are available for
rent: www.nvnc.com. We thank the Nantahala Village for allowing
letterboxers permission to park on their property. They are not
responsible for this letterbox or for your mishaps.

Clues:
1. From the west end of the lodge, walk downhill on the small paved
road called Blue Ridge Parkway.
2. This road twists around several cabins. Pass the Tabor House, an
old white farmhouse still in use. Take the unpaved clay trail to the
left of the next cabin on what is called the Hill Bypass Trail (not
signed when we were there).
3. The trail splits after a short uphill climb. Bear left as this
is the Connector Trail which leads to the Lakeside Trail. (Note that
none of these trails are signed.)
4. At the next intersection, take a left and you are on the
Lakeside Trail. You will soon see Fontana Lake and a mountain view
through a clearing on the trees. The train from Bryson City can
sometimes be seen or heard on its lakeside tracks, across the lake from
you. Look for the next intersection and go up, not down.
5. As you walk, a gravel road in the distance can be seen through
the trees. Stay on your trail and turn right. Notice the large vines all
around. Soon a trail comes in from the right, but you continue straight.
6. Look for a large forked tree beside the left side of the trail.
About 8 yards beyond it. A white PVC pipe emerges on the left at trails
edge. From this pipe you will take a certain number of steps. To get the
number, subtract the number of the year that the original lodge opened
from the date the current lodge opened (a year after the fire). Now,
subtract from this the number of clues of this letterbox. The result is
the number of steps to take from the white pipe forward along the trail.
7. Stop. Look to the left at the large vine-wrapped tree. Look on
your right beside the trail at a cluster of rocks, knee-high. Lean in
and remove the top, odd-shaped rock that sits with 2 others that are
basically flat. All are under a small rock ledge that may be obscured by
leaves. No climbing required. Remember, its directly across from the
large tree. You are there! Stamp in and replace the rock and a few
leaves. If you continue just a few feet down the trail, youll find a
perfect private spot for that picnic or swim.
To return to the parking area: Turn back along the trail the way you
came, but keep heading straight, not left. Youll see the gravel road
and green meadow to the right. Your trail ends at the gravel road, but
youre not out yet. Turn left on the gravel road and continue up. Ignore
the short trail to a concrete block structure. There will be a Y in
the road, but still stay left. When the road turns to the right, bear
left on the older road. This will be your road/trail back to the Village
through Rhododendrons and ferns. Take the trail upward to the right. At
the brown cabin, walk along the water here and soon youll see where you
need to be. Congratulations!

lillie@wildriveroutfitters.com