More Activities

With our mild winters, early springs, sunny summers and colorful autumn, Clay County is the perfect place for outdoor activities as well as indoor fun.  Nearby are several great golf courses with mountain or lake views, horseback riding, gardens, rodeos, dirt track racing and historical sites.   You can go tubing down Brasstown Creek in nearby Warne.

See Fun on the Lake for more information on swimming, walking, and picnic sites around the Lake, or see Heritage and Historical for sites to visit.

You can find more fun things to do in our Find a Business section, particularly the Recreation listings.

We are in the middle of three great whitewater rivers.  The Tuckaseegee is an easy whitewater river great for families who want to paddle themselves or with a guide and is an hour east of Hayesville.  The Nantahala River is a water rollercoaster with Class II and III rapids 53 minutes northeast, while the Ocoee River 50 minutes west offers the most thrills with several Class IV rapids.

Indoors you can catch a star show at the Young Harris Planetarium, watch a concert or show at one of several theater venues, or even check out old-time automobiles.

Clay County is a big fan of barn quilts with many located on buildings all over the county.  Check out the ones around the square downtown, and you will see more throughout the county.  For more barn quilt info click here.

The Clay County Recreation Center and Parks offer a great variety of indoor and outdoor activities including pickleball courts, ball fields, a Rec Center, playground, pavilion and picnic tables along the Hiwassee River.

The Recreation Center has a workout room and gymnasium for Clay County residents.  Youth sports are held for ages 4 up to 12 in soccer, basketball, baseball, softball and tee-ball.

The Clay County Park Campground and Gibson Cove Campground have four miles of paved walking paths and bike trails including the walk over Chatuge Dam, plus campsites and fishing spots.  There is a sandy beach with swim area, a playground and picnic tables.

The site has boat ramps and launching spots for kayaks and paddleboards. Restrooms, shower facilities and campsites are only open during the late Spring and Summer seasons, however, the grounds themselves are accessible for year-round enjoyment.

If you are ready for your own adventure, put in a kayak at the boat ramp next to SMM Farms off Tusquitte St, just north of downtown Hayesville.  It’s a 2.5 hour trip down the scenic Hiwassee River to a takeout on the left at Sweetwater Park just before the Fires Creek Bridge (takeout just past the stone steps).  Enjoy an easy paddle with mostly Class I and an easy Class II rapid.  Along the way you can stop on the right where crystal clear Fires Creek enters the river.  You will want to wait two hours after TVA releases water from Chatuge Dam so the water is not too low.  Check the TVA website or app for release schedules.