Cross the state line north of Hiawassee and you’re in Clay County, North Carolina, where Hayesville sits above the north shore of Lake Chatuge. It’s the quietest of the four towns we serve — the county has fewer than 12,000 people — and for a lot of our guests that’s precisely the appeal.
It’s also, unexpectedly, a serious craft town.
The John C. Campbell Folk School
This is the reason people from all over the country know Hayesville’s name. Founded in 1925 in nearby Brasstown, the Folk School sits on 270 acres and teaches traditional Appalachian craft — blacksmithing, woodturning, weaving, pottery, basketry, cooking, music, dance — in week-long and weekend classes.
You don’t have to enroll to visit. The campus is open to walk, there’s a craft shop selling work by regional artisans, and the school hosts contra and square dances and concerts that are open to the public. It’s one of the most genuinely special places in these mountains.
Their Fall Festival in early October brings 200+ craft vendors and live music and dance across multiple outdoor stages. If you’re timing a trip, that’s the weekend.
The historic square
Hayesville’s square wraps around the 1888 Clay County Courthouse — one of the oldest surviving courthouses in western North Carolina, now home to the Clay County Historical & Arts Council museum. Nearby, the Old Jail Museum occupies exactly what it sounds like.
The square is small, walkable, and hosts most of the town’s events. There are local shops, a few good places to eat, and benches under the trees.
Also on the square: the Peacock Playhouse, home to the Licklog Players, one of the oldest community theater companies in the region.
Lake Chatuge from the North Carolina side
Lake Chatuge straddles the state line, and the North Carolina shore is quieter than the Georgia side. Jackrabbit Mountain Recreation Area is the standout — a Forest Service area on a peninsula with a swim beach, boat ramp, campground, and an excellent network of mountain biking and hiking trails right on the water.
The Jackrabbit trail system runs roughly 15 miles and is well-regarded by mountain bikers, but the loops are gentle enough that hikers and families use them happily too.
Hiking and waterfalls
- Fires Creek Recreation Area — a large, quiet Forest Service area north of town with trout fishing, picnic areas, and the strenuous 25-mile Rim Trail. The Leatherwood Falls loop is short and easy.
- Chunky Gal Trail — yes, that’s really its name, and yes, everyone asks. It connects to the Appalachian Trail and makes a good day hike.
- Appalachian Trail — crosses US-64 west of town at Deep Gap.
- Lake Chatuge Dam Overlook — easy, quick, and scenic.
The festival calendar
- Tractor Parade & Agricultural Day — late September, tractors through the square at noon, hay maze, kids’ games
- Steins & Wine Festival — early October, regional wineries and breweries downtown, 21+
- John C. Campbell Folk School Fall Festival — early October, 200+ vendors
- Punkin Chunkin Festival — mid-October, and it is exactly what it sounds like: catapults, air cannons, and trebuchets hurling pumpkins across a field, plus a chili cook-off
- Candy Cane Market — December, a free holiday craft market
Current dates are on our events page.
When to visit
October is Hayesville’s month without much competition — three major festivals, peak foliage, and perfect hiking weather. Book early.
Summer means the lake, and Jackrabbit’s beach and trails.
Spring brings wildflowers, full creeks, and quiet trails.
Winter is very quiet, in the best way. If you want a cabin, a fire, and nobody bothering you, this is the place and the season.
A note on crossing the line
Hayesville is about 20 minutes from Hiawassee and 35 from Blairsville, so staying in one town and playing in another is completely normal here. Guests routinely book a Georgia cabin and spend half their trip in North Carolina, or the reverse. Don’t let the state line shape your planning.
Staying in Hayesville
Little Bear Rentals manages cabins and homes in the Hayesville and Clay County area — lakefront places on the north shore, mountain-view cabins, pet-friendly options, and larger homes for groups.
Browse our Hayesville rentals →
Not sure which town suits your trip? Call us at 706-896-2327. We know all four, and we’ll tell you honestly which one fits what you’re after.
