A Destination Unto Itself

If our mountain temps in winter and spring leave you feeling more invigorated than hibernated,  you can find a selection to fit your outdoor needs at Highland Hiker.

The original store is in Highlands, with owners David and Carol Wilkes opening the Cashiers location in 1995. Their son Chris, and his wife, Hilary, are the general managers. Located at the corner of the Crossroads, it has become a destination unto itself.

After leasing the building for 30 years, the Wilkes purchased it and some of the surrounding land in 2025. “We’re excited to be able to add some things this year,” says Manager Lec Hobbs, “now that the Wilkes own the building and some of the green space around it.”

An avid gardener, Hobbs is planning to host some fun pop-ups in the summer in the greenspace, showcasing native and local plants. He’s been the Cashiers store manager for nearly 15 years, and he’s proud of the store’s repeat customers. Over the years, he has outfitted kids who came into the store with their families and now come back to shop as adults.

The Cashiers store has a wide selection of clothing, hats and gear to attract hikers, campers, fly fisherman and paddlers. They carry a wide variety of popular brands, including Keen, Barbour, Columbia, Mephisto, Frye and Hunter. You can also find handmade knives, fireplace accessories and belt buckles; binoculars and monoculars in a variety of stylish colors by Nocs Provisions; and leather backpacks, laptop bags, and duffle bags by Jack Georges. And the staff doesn’t forget the littlest ones. There is a space dedicated to children’s outdoor clothing.

Nearly all of the staff have their own outdoor passions and pursuits and love swapping stories of their adventures with customers. “Our staff takes great pride in fitting boots and making sure customers get the right fit,” says Hobbs. He likes to joke that they are a sock store that sells boots! “Socks are often an afterthought, but they should be on top of everyone’s list. Good socks are an essential item.”

What’s a mistake people make when shopping for outdoor clothing? “Many people, particularly the ones who come here from warmer climates, buy the heaviest jacket they can find to put over their t-shirt,” says Hobbs. “But there is an art to layering, and the correct layers can keep you comfortable in a variety of temperatures.”

In addition to all the gear, people may be surprised the store has a book corner filled with colorful and informative books by local authors. “We’ve enjoyed curating the books and now we have a nice selection of books on nature and local history, many of them written for children,” says Hobbs.

And in our increasingly digitized world, it’s nice to know that some things don’t change…like needing a well-researched and updated map of day hikes in the area. The Highland Hiker’s “Guide to Day Hikes” has consistently won the top spot of the most popular item sold at the store. The Guide is a little book with a BIG amount of info. The book lists all the trails, waterfalls and scenic views in the area and includes maps, rankings and GPS coordinates. Now in its 36th edition, the Guide is updated and reprinted every year so customers know they can trust that they are not hiking on private land if they stick to the hikes listed in the Guide.

Hikes Not To Be Missed

“Panthertown Valley is definitely one of my favorite places to hike,” says Hobbs. Panthertown is home to the Panthertown Valley, Bonas Defeat and the Big Pisgah tracts of national forest public land.

“Friends of Panthertown are excellent stewards of the land,” says Hobbs. The mission of Friends of Panthertown, a 501(c) (3) non-profit is to work in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to conserve Panthertown as a backcountry natural resource and enable sustainable recreation. The staff and volunteers maintain 30 miles of public trails and lead interpretive education programs in the backcountry area located within Western North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest.

Whiteside Mountain is a "must do" hike, says Hobbs. From the Highlands Chamber, “Whiteside Mountain, with its sheer cliffs rising to an elevation of 4,930 feet and featuring breathtaking views, has long been a landmark for travelers. The two-mile round-trip hike to the summit follows a trail steeped in history, once used by the Cherokee and later by early European settlers. Climbing several hundred feet in elevation, hikers are rewarded at the top with sweeping views that extend across North Carolina and Georgia.”

For those interested in reading more stories about Whiteside and those who have hiked it before us, Hobbs highly recommends the book, The Mountain at the End of the Trail: A History of Whiteside Mountain, by Robert Zahner.

Here’s to spring and getting outdoors!

Highland Hiker

Highlandhiker.com

47 NC-107, Cashiers, NC  28717

828-743-1668

601 Main Street, Highlands, NC 28741

(828) 526-5298

561 Main Street, Highlands, NC 28741

(828) 526-8673