The woodland setting of the Village quickly makes visitors forget that today's civilization is only a few minutes away. Dense trees, small streams and the silence of the woods add a unique quality at the Oconaluftee Indian Village. Interest in Native Americans by non-Indians has been reflected in the Village's attendance growth during the past few years. Adjacent to the Village is the mile-long Nature Trail that provides visitors the opportunity to walk through the woods and see a variety of trees, plants and flowers indigenous to the western North Carolina area. There is no entrance fee to walk the trail.
Photo opportunities abound along the walk.
Many visitors confuse the Cherokee Indian Reservation and the Oconaluftee Indian Village. The Reservation contains 56,000 acres and is home to nearly 12,000 members of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. Reservation lands and highways entering the Reservation are always open while the Village is a cultural attraction that is open from mid-May through the latter part of October.