Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Your guide from the Hemlock Inn, Bryson City

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Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, North Carolina
Dedicated in 1936 to the memory of poet Joyce Kilmer, this 3,800 acre virgin forest preserves many huge trees hundreds of years old, over a hundred feet high, and as much as 20 feet around at the base. Sycamore, several species of oak, basswood, Yellow Poplar, beech, hemlock, dogwood and many others can be seen from over 60 miles of trails. This is a "must" for those who enjoy nature.

A walk through Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is a journey back in time through a magnificent forest with towering trees as old as 400 years. Some enormous yellow-poplars are over 20 feet in circumference and stand 100 feet tall. The floor is carpeted with a garden of wildflowers, ferns, and moss-covered logs from fallen giants.

The only way to see the impressive memorial forest is on foot. The figure-eight Joyce Kilmer National Recreation Trail covers 2 miles and has two loops: the 1¼-mile lower loop passes the Joyce Kilmer Memorial plaque, and the upper ¾-mile loop swings through Poplar Cove, a grove of the largest trees. The trailhead parking area has a flush toilet and picnic tables. No camping or overnight parking is allowed.

The memorial forest is beautiful in all seasons. Many wildflower show off their blooms in the spring before tree leaves open and shade the forest floor. Summer is wet, green, and lush -- a time when the forest is noticeably cooler than the parking area. Fall signals the gradual color change from greens to red, orange, yellow, and maroon. Then the leaves fall revealing the "bones" of the mountains.

Directions: Take Hwys. 19 South/74 West to Hwy. 28 West south of Bryson City (toward Fontana ). Just beyond the settlement of Stecoah, turn left onto Hwy. 141 to Robbinsville. Take Hwy. 129 north from Robbinsville to a well marked forest service road into Joyce Kilmer Forest . For an alternate return route, take Hwy. 129 South out of Robbinsville to Topton. Turn left on Hwys. 19 North/74 East through Nantahala Gorge to Bryson City.

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Hemlock Inn
Adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
P.O. Box 2350, Galbraith Creek Rd, Bryson City, NC 28713
phone: 828-488-2885 / fax: 828-488-8985
Reservations taken from 7:30 AM until 11:00 PM EST
e-mail: hemlock@dnet.net

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