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Canton, North Carolina

Western North Carolina’s home of adventure

Canton, North Carolina is located in the Smoky Mountains about 20 miles west of Asheville. The Pigeon River flows right through the middle of this historic mill town, fueling much of its history and growth while providing plenty of adventure for those who seek it. Canton’s Main Street is on the National Register of Historic Places and offers much of what you’d expect from a Haywood County town: delicious food, local shopping, and plenty to do.

This mountain town is home to some of the most iconic hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway, like Shining Rock and Graveyard Fields. Beautiful Lake Logan and its 260-acre Smoky Mountain sanctuary are just a short drive from Canton’s Main Street. The Southeast’s longest-running Labor Day celebration is held here every year. The historic Colonial Theater sits in the Main Street district, waiting to delight. And of course, the Pigeon River plays host to a handful of fun outdoor adventures, like fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and tubing to name a few. Explore with us and see why they call this place “where the mountains kiss the sky.”

CENTRALLY LOCATED TO ALL WESTERN NC HAS TO OFFER!

Canton, North Carolina is in the Great Smoky Mountains, only 20 miles west of Asheville and near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Located around our town are nods to the rich culture and history that make us so special. And hey, we didn’t do it all on our own—nature provided one heck of a playground for all our lucky visitors, too.

Canton’s darn near a perfect place to call home while you’re in Haywood County. It’s a short drive to our other towns: Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Lake Junaluska, and Clyde. You can reach Asheville in 27 minutes or you can hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway and let the road take you to your next adventure.

Explore Our Region

  • 13 Minutes → Lake Junaluska
  • 20 Minutes → Waynesville
  • 23 Minutes → Maggie Valley
  • 27 Minutes → Asheville
  • 31 Minutes → Pisgah National Forest
Graphic map of Canton, NC

#CantonNC

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CANTON, NC, HISTORY

Our name has changed, but our reputation as a hard-working mountain town certainly hasn’t. What was once “Buford,” “Vinson,” and “Pigeon Ford,” is now named Canton after the Ohio town of the same name, where the steel of our iconic bridge over Pigeon River was sourced. Along the banks of this scenic river lies Evergreen Packaging, a long-standing paper mill that now produces Starbucks cups, among other things. In 1906, Canton’s first Labor Day Festival was held as a celebration of the workers who helped construct this vital paper mill—and we haven’t stopped hosting this annual bash since. Much of the architecture found along Canton’s historic Main Street district has remained standing since construction in the early 1900s and is still well-used, including the Colonial Theater, which regularly hosts concerts, plays, festivals, weddings, and conferences.