Cold Hiking at Unaka Mountain Beauty Spot

Unaka Mountain Beauty Spot is well known for its breathtaking panoramic views. You can see the surrounding Tennessee and North Carolina mountains for miles from this 4,440 ft elevation. You can see both Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests as well as the Nolichucky River Valley. I've driven up to this spot several times throughout the years since the early 1990s.

This beautiful place certainly lives up to it's name. The grassy bald at the top sits at the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. It is where the Appalachian Trail passes over Unaka Mountain. It is part of the Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountain Range. This spot is best known for viewing glorious sunsets.

Beauty Spot is one of the easiest attainable lookouts in Northeast Tennessee. It's a very short walk from the gravel parking area and leads up to a stunning view like the one you see above. My cell phone camera does not give this view much justice, but it was amazing!

Today, the access road was closed and covered in several inches of snow. From the main road, the hike up is about 2 miles to the parking area. To get up to Beauty Spot, it's another short walk. For me, it seemed like the road would never end.

I saw two men in skis with a little dog in a sweater coming down the road. I asked how much further to the top. It was only about half a mile more. You're almost there they said. I got a burst of energy and finally came to a fork in the road. Beauty spot was up to the right. I was almost there.

Once I got to the top, I snapped my picture and took several long deep breaths. I felt a deep sense of gratitude. I am very thankful that I could climb that mountain in the snow. Cold exposure has a healing affect on the nervous system which in turn calms the mind and body.

On my way back down, I noticed three sets of fresh foot prints. I could clearly see the brand of hiking boots in the crisp snow. The puppy dog prints are my favorite.

Try to get out in nature as often as you can. Now is the perfect time to expose your body to the brisk cold outside. Even a quick walk around your neighborhood is enough to stimulate healing from daily stress and invigorate your whole body. Just be sure to wear a hat and take lots of long, deep breaths. 😉

Next time, I hope to capture the sunset.

Peace ✌️