[guitar music]
- I think a lot of people think that the state ends
in Asheville, but we're a hundred miles west of Asheville,
and it has always been like the best kept secret.
There's a little bit of everything in Clay County
if you wanna be outdoors.
- Population of Clay County is around 12,000.
I think it's really known for its outdoor opportunities
and scenic beauty.
The county seat is Hayesville.
- [Derek] A town of about 400 people
with a historic courthouse, shops, restaurants, and more,
in close proximity to the outdoor attractions
that make Clay County stand out.
- Lake Chatuge is a lake that sits in Clay County,
North Carolina, and in Townes County, Georgia,
and it's got about 132 miles of shoreline.
It's about 13 miles long.
Lake Chatuge stands out, for one thing,
because of the mountain backdrops we have.
- [Joanna] Lake Chatuge is known
as an awesome recreation lake, boating, fishing.
- [Derek] Or a relaxing swim close to shore.
If exploration is on your agenda,
there are several places around the lake to rent
jet skis and different kinds of boats.
- There's a lot of fingertip peninsulas.
There's a lot of coves that people love to go and fish in.
You can get on your kayak or you boat,
and go out to an island, and just explore.
- [Derek] You can also get close to the lake
on foot or bike thanks to a path
across the Lake Chatuge Dam.
Built by the Tennessee Valley Authority in the early 1940s,
Lake Chatuge and and its dam generated power
for World War II preparations.
- It later became more of a recreational lake,
but it's always been a flood control basin.
The lake is relatively spread out.
It has easy access points, good launch areas.
There's good camping on the lake.
- [Derek] Lake Chatuge doesn't only offer
on the water recreation opportunities.
There's plenty to do around the lake also.
- People can ride the trails in the morning,
and be out on their boat in the afternoon.
There's something for everybody on the Jackrabbit Trails.
There's a lot of hiking that takes place on these trails,
and you'll see everybody walking their dogs on it.
- [Derek] Or maybe even an adventurous cat.
Jackrabbit Mountain also has bike tune-up
and repair stations, something that could come in handy
on the newest section of trails.
- We just completed a 4.9 mile Rabbit Ridge Trail,
a more challenging trail that is geared
toward the more advanced rider.
It has a lot more climbing, rock gardens,
banked berm turns, and a lot of jumps.
Clay County not only has Lake Chatuge,
we have streams, and rivers, and waterfalls,
a wealth of resources for people who like being outdoors.
- We've got some great streams like Fires Creek.
Some of the best things to do at Fires Creek are fishing,
swimming, and hiking.
The waterfall here is called Leatherwood Falls.
This particular spot is just a very popular spot to come
and swim, and tube, and picnic.
- [Derek] And a part of North Carolina that may be
new territory to many visitors.
People of Clay County are happy to share
the community they love.
- We're pretty proud of our trails, and our community,
and our lake, and our streams, and our mountains,
so we invite everybody else to come out
and enjoy it as much as we do.
- For more information about Lake Chatuge, Clay County,
and Hayesville, and all the things you can do there,
go to claychambernc.com