Bryson City, North Carolina, is more than just a postcard-perfect mountain town — it’s where Olympic kayaker Evy Leibfarth grew up learning to paddle the rapids of the Nantahala River. “I think it really instilled that love of being outdoors in me from a really young age,” she says. 

　　Her days here are simple and stacked: lunch at River’s End, afternoon runs on Deep Creek Trail, and long training sessions on the river’s slalom gates. The variety is part of the magic — from beginner-friendly floats to Class IV cascades, the Nantahala has it all.

　　When she’s not on the water, Evy finds peace in the trails and the tight-knit energy of downtown Bryson City — just a few blocks wide but full of character. 

　　It’s where she found her footing as a competitor and as a person. “To me, Bryson City is just where it all started — kind of where I found myself.”

　　This video is sponsored by Visit NC.