Few things soothe the soul like fly fishing on a Wild & Scenic river. One such river exists at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina.
Wilson Creek is located about 20 minutes west of Lenoir, North Carolina, in the Grandfather District of the Pisgah National Forest. I had the pleasure of visiting a long-time friend that lives on the river and I have to say I understand the Wild & Scenic designation. From his big, covered porch, we could hear and see the rushing waters cascading over boulders and around the bend. The fishing we did was light and half-hearted, but the riverbank was teeming with avid trout fishermen – and we saw many pulling a successful haul out of the stocked waters.
Wilson Creek is just one of many rivers close by in the Blue Ridge Mountains that will provide a great day of fishing. You also have the Watauga, South Holston, North & South Toe, Nolichucky awaiting your fishing line. If you are looking for an experienced fishing guide in this area, I highly recommend you contact my friend Oli Smith at Blue Ridge Anglers. Oli’s knowledge of the rivers in the area and fishing in general is unsurpassed and whether you catch anything or not, I promise you will not have a dull day.
But our main motivation was exploring the wilderness area on either side of the river (Wilson Creek). So, even if fishing isn’t your thing, you should check out some of the other natural wonders close by including Lost Cove Cliffs (inset photo), Hunt Fish Falls and Grandfather Mountain – all within a short drive of the Pisgah Visitors Center on the river. Hunt Fish Falls is a great day hike of about a mile (each way) where you are rewarded with one of the best “swimming hole/picnic-by-the-waterfall” spots you will find anywhere in the world. It’s truly a beautiful place.
If you are looking for a good base camp from which to launch your attack on this unspoiled setting, check out this vacation rental property on our site – Blue Ridge River Cabin. This four bedroom cabin has recently been restored and remodeled to provide a rustic, yet comfortable accomodation for your adventure in the Western NC Wilderness.
