Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Nantahala Gorge Excursion: Our Scenic Anniversary Train Ride

Kimberly Springsteen

Aug 18

7 min read

Thinking about riding the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad? Come along with us for our Nantahala Gorge Excursion—complete with mountain views, good food, a little train nostalgia, and our honest take on whether it’s worth the trip.

Celebrating 11 Years of Adventure Together

Every anniversary deserves a little adventure, right?

For our 11th wedding anniversary, we decided to head into the mountains of Western North Carolina for a little overnight getaway. Our itinerary included a ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s Nantahala Gorge Excursion, followed by an overnight stay in Cherokee before heading home.

Now, normally when we head to the mountains, we're looking for a trailhead, a waterfall, or something that will leave us wondering why we thought hiking uphill was a good idea.

This trip was a little different.

Instead of spending the day climbing a mountain, we decided to let someone else do the driving.

And honestly? It was pretty great.

Sometimes the best adventures are the ones where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the view without checking your elevation gain every five minutes.

About the Nantahala Gorge Excursion

The Nantahala Gorge Excursion departs from Bryson City and travels approximately 44 miles round trip through the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Along the way, the train follows the Tennessee and Nantahala Rivers, crosses the Fontana Trestle over Fontana Lake, and eventually makes its way into the Nantahala Gorge.

The entire experience takes about 4½ hours, including a one-hour stop in the gorge.

And the best part?

You get to see parts of the mountains from a completely different perspective.

We're used to seeing these roads and rivers from the driver's seat or from a hiking trail. Seeing them from a train window was a nice change of pace—and gave us plenty of opportunities to just sit there and take it all in.

Getting to the Depot & Boarding the Train

Getting to the depot in Bryson City was easy, and parking was nice and convenient.

We purchased our tickets online ahead of time, so we simply pulled up our digital tickets when we arrived. No digging through the glove compartment for a confirmation number we were pretty sure we had printed.

Parking was ample, and because we had prepaid for it when we purchased our tickets, that was one less thing to worry about when we arrived.

The whole boarding process was pretty much what you hope for on vacation:

Easy peasy.

Before boarding, we wandered around the depot and checked out the gift shop and model train museum. If you're a train person, you're probably going to want to give yourself a little extra time here.

Even if you're not a serious train enthusiast, it's a fun way to start the experience.

First Impressions

The atmosphere around the depot was relaxed and laid back.

There was a definite sense that everyone was there to enjoy the day rather than rush off to the next attraction. Families, couples, groups of friends—everyone seemed to be settling in for a few hours of mountain scenery and train travel.

For us, it was exactly the kind of pace we wanted for our anniversary.

No rushing.

No trying to squeeze five hikes into one day.

Just mountains, good company, and a train.

The Ride

This is where the journey really shines. Once the train got moving, the scenery really became the star of the show.

For much of the trip, the train follows the rivers through the mountains, winding through dense forests and narrow valleys. The landscape seems to change around every bend, and there are plenty of moments when you'll want to grab your camera.

Of course, there were also plenty of moments when we just sat there and looked out the window.

Because sometimes you don't need to document everything.

Sometimes you can just enjoy it.

Some of our favorite parts included:

Following the Nantahala River
Crossing Fontana Lake
Spotting rafters and kayakers along the river
Seeing the landscape from a completely different perspective
Enjoying the fact that we weren't the ones navigating the mountain roads

The rafters and kayakers were especially fun to watch. We kept finding ourselves looking down toward the river to see what everyone else was up to.

Meanwhile, we were sitting in a comfortable train car eating lunch.

Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

Lunch on the Train

We chose First Class seating, which meant we could enjoy lunch while watching the mountains roll by outside our window.

And yes, we fully leaned into the whole “anniversary getaway” thing.

For lunch, I ordered the pork tenderloin and my husband went with the roast beef.

Overall, the food was very tasty. The portions were generous, so neither of us left the train wondering where the rest of our lunch went.

The only downside was that both meals were a little on the dry side.

Still, for a meal served on a moving train while traveling through the mountains?

We were pretty happy with it.

One thing we wouldn't recommend: the charcuterie.

We also preordered the charcuterie board because, well...why not?

Unfortunately, we weren't impressed. Because it was refrigerated, the crackers had gotten soggy by the time we ate it. And nobody wants a sad, soggy cracker—especially when you're paying extra for it.

The lunch, on the other hand? Worth it.

The charcuterie? We'd skip it.

The One-Hour Stop in Nantahala Gorge

About halfway through the excursion, the train stops in the Nantahala Gorge for approximately an hour.

This gives everyone a chance to get off the train, stretch their legs, walk around, take some pictures, and enjoy the river.

You can watch the whitewater rafters making their way down the Nantahala River, wander around a bit, shop, or simply enjoy being outside for a while.

After sitting on a train for a couple of hours, we definitely appreciated the opportunity to get up and move around.

The hour gives you enough time to stretch your legs and explore a little without feeling like you're there forever.

And then it's back on the train for the return trip to Bryson City.

Our Favorite Views

Honestly, choosing our favorite views was difficult because there were so many.

The scenery is constantly changing, and there are plenty of stretches where you find yourself staring out the window thinking, Yep. This is why we came to the mountains.

Some of the highlights for us were:

Fontana Trestle

Crossing the trestle over Fontana Lake was definitely one of those moments when we were glad we had our cameras ready.

Fontana Lake

Seeing the lake from the train gave us a perspective we hadn't experienced before.

Nantahala River

The river follows the route for much of the excursion, and watching the water wind through the mountains was one of our favorite parts of the day.

Sometimes the best views aren't the ones you planned to photograph.

They're the ones that sneak up on you around the next bend.

Is the Nantahala Gorge Excursion Worth It?

For us?

Absolutely.

But let's be clear about what this experience is—and what it isn't.

If you're looking for a thrill ride, you're probably going to be disappointed.

If you're looking for a relaxing way to spend an afternoon surrounded by some seriously beautiful mountain scenery, though, it's hard to beat.

The Nantahala Gorge Excursion is especially appealing if you want to experience the mountains without spending the day hiking.

We'd recommend it for:

Couples looking for a relaxing date or anniversary experience
Families looking for a unique mountain activity
Visitors who aren't able to tackle strenuous hikes
Anyone visiting during fall leaf season
Train lovers
Anyone who simply wants to slow down for a few hours

And honestly, sometimes slowing down is exactly what you need.

Tips Before You Go

A few things we learned along the way:

Arrive early. Give yourself plenty of time to park, grab your tickets, look around the depot, and get settled before boarding.

Bring your camera. You'll use it. A lot.

Dress comfortably. You're going to be sitting for several hours, so comfort wins.

Check the weather. You're going to want to know what kind of day you're in for before you head out.

Think about your seating options when you book. Your seat can make a difference in what you see during the ride.

Pay attention to the seating chart. If you're hoping for the best river views, look at the seating chart when you book. The seats toward the bottom of the charts are the ones we'd recommend for those views.

Don't forget your sunglasses. Especially if you're taking an afternoon excursion. That mountain sunshine coming through the windows can be surprisingly bright.

And finally...

Don't try to see everything.

This isn't an excursion where you need to constantly be looking for the next thing.

Sometimes the whole point is to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Final Thoughts

One of the things we love most about exploring North Carolina is that there are so many different ways to experience the mountains.

Sometimes we're climbing to a waterfall.

Sometimes we're wandering down an easy nature trail.

And sometimes we're perfectly happy to let a train do all the work.

Our Nantahala Gorge Excursion was the perfect change of pace for our 11th anniversary.

We got to spend the day together, enjoy some really beautiful scenery, eat lunch, watch the river, and—most importantly—not worry about where we needed to be next.

Watching the rivers wind through the valleys, crossing Fontana Lake by rail, and spending an afternoon surrounded by the mountains made this a day we'll remember for a long time.

So, if you're planning a trip to Bryson City and looking for something a little different, we'd happily recommend adding the Nantahala Gorge Excursion to your itinerary.

It may not involve a summit.

There may not be a waterfall at the end.

And you definitely won't be checking your elevation gain.

But sometimes an adventure is simply about slowing down, enjoying the view, and spending time with the person you love.

And after 11 years together, we're pretty sure that's a summit worth celebrating.

See you on the next adventure.