Vacation rentals in Murphy

Located in the Appalachian Mountains, in the southwestern corner of North Carolina, the small town of Murphy is surrounded by three national parks in three different states and sits at the junction of the Hiwassee and Valley Rivers. Due to its strategic location, Murphy is a historic town with deep native heritage, with many of its sites mentioned in Cherokee culture and mythology.

Apart from its profound history, western North Carolina’s lush forest landscapes are one of the main attractions in Murphy. More than 500,000 acres of land and Appalachian Mountain range cover the Nantahala National Forest near Murphy, making it the largest national forest in the state. A variety of oak and sycamore trees, and dozens of less common species create a natural canopy over the forest, where the sunlight only pokes through briefly in the middle of the day.

Locally, visitors can take in the historic buildings in the town’s center, or even wander through downtown to the small shops selling handmade crafts, antique decor, clothing, and more. Each store is housed in one of the town’s old, original brick buildings.

You can expect overcast skies and occasional rainfall throughout the year in this town surrounded by nature. During the summer, warm, humid weather settles in. Despite a bit of humidity, a sunny summer day is one of the best times to explore the Appalachian Mountains at the Nantahala National Forest. Fall and spring, in contrast, are cool and comfortable. Visitors can wander downtown to the shops set in historic buildings with seasonal wildflowers out front or head out on one of the many hiking trails nearby.

Winter is a short season, but it’s cold and usually the rainiest time of year. Despite the colder, wetter weather, hiking the Piney Knob Trail System in winter is a great way to see flowing streams and cascading waterfalls. The newly paved roads permit easy access, and once all is done, visitors can head back downtown to warm up at the various restaurants adorned in holiday lights during this time of year.

Murphy River Walk

The four-mile Murphy River Walk near the town center is a great place to hike, and also bike-friendly. The trail begins at Konehete Park and runs alongside the Valley and Hiwassee Rivers with small, overwater footbridges running over them. Large, bushy trees hang over the sides of the trail, giving some coverage as you walk or bike. The Murphy River Walk ends at downtown Murphy, where you can sit down at a restaurant or shop local after your journey.

Cherokee Historical Museum

The Cherokee Historical Museum details the life of a Native American Cherokee in Murphy during the 1830s. Visitors to the museum are greeted by a soapstone carved into the shape of a sea turtle, which pertains to just one of the many Cherokee legends that can be read about during the trip here. Inside the museum walls is a collection of more than 2,000 relics and dozens of art exhibits that help portray the Cherokee culture and tell the story of their past in western North Carolina.

Nantahala National Forest

The Nantahala National Forest is home to more than half a million acres of forest landscape in western North Carolina. Visitors can choose from trailheads of varying difficulty, with the most difficult trek reaching the highest point in the forest at nearly 6,000 feet. One of the park’s highlights is its waterfalls. You can take the half-mile hike to the 75-foot Dry Falls, where the water cascades over a bluff into the river, allowing you to walk under the falls while keeping dry.