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Cullowhee North Carolina Map

Explore Cullowhee, North Carolina, with this interactive street and satellite map.

This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official USGS topographic sheets — plus USGS aerial imagery, a labelled USNG grid overlay, a distance and bearing tool, and a GPS grid-reference readout. See How to Use This Map below.

Interactive Map of Cullowhee, North Carolina

How to Use This Cullowhee, North Carolina Map

This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for Cullowhee, North Carolina. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture. Drag the map to pan to any area of North Carolina or beyond.

Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).

TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official USGS topographic maps from The National Map — contours, hydrography, land cover and shaded relief, the same mapping used for hiking, hunting and back-country navigation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lakes. Imagery shows USGS aerial photography, mostly 1-metre NAIP. The search box finds any US town, county or landmark by name, so you are not limited to Cullowhee.

Reading the map like a paper quad. Click Grid to overlay the U.S. National Grid (USNG), labelled along the edges exactly as a printed topographic sheet is — at normal zoom the squares are one kilometre across, so you can read a six-figure grid reference by eye and judge distance directly off the map. Click Measure, then tap two points, to get the distance between them together with the grid bearing in degrees and mils, the true bearing, and the magnetic bearing to set on a compass.

Click 📍 My position to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are and reports your position as a USNG grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude — USNG being the format FEMA and US search and rescue teams work from — with a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need cell coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even where the map itself cannot load.

City	Cullowhee
State	North Carolina (NC)
County	Jackson County
Country	United States of America
Timezone	Eastern Time (America/New_York)

Latitude	35.313711
Longitude	-83.176533
Population	7,682
Density	778.9 /km²
Incorporated	N/A
ZIP Code	28723
Area Code	828
County Seat	Sylva
School District	Jackson County Schools

🌦 Goto Cullowhee Weather Page: Cullowhee, North Carolina — Weather Warnings, Forecast, Radar, Satellite & Current Conditions

About Cullowhee, North Carolina

Cullowhee is a locality in Jackson County, North Carolina, United States. It has a population of approximately 7,682. The population density is 778.9 people per km². Cullowhee is located at 35.3137°N, 83.1765°W. It observes the Eastern Time (America/New_York) timezone. ZIP code: 28723.

Cullowhee occupies a verdant basin where the Tuckasegee River carves a deliberate path through the landscape. It lies 12.2 miles south-southeast of Cherokee Indian Reservation, NC (from Cherokee Indian Reservation, NC: bearing 166°T), and is situated 5.0 miles southeast of Sylva. The surrounding terrain rises into steep, forested slopes, defining the boundaries of Cox Cove just a mile away. Air in this inland territory remains cool and damp, often clinging to the valley floor as the morning light begins to shift across the hillsides. While the Great Smoky Mountains remain visible as a rugged silhouette on the distant horizon, the immediate topography is defined by the intimate scale of these interior ridges. Residents often walk the trails of the Jackson County Greenway, where the earth feels soft underfoot and the presence of the river remains constant.

Cullowhee maintains an economy deeply intertwined with the presence of Western Carolina University, which serves as the primary anchor for local development. The academic influence fosters a cycle of intellectual growth and seasonal transitions that dictate the rhythm of commerce and daily activity. Historically, the area relied upon the natural resources of the river and the surrounding timbered slopes, though the modern industry has shifted toward education and professional services. Small businesses and service providers have organized themselves to support the needs of students and faculty, ensuring a steady, if modest, flow of trade. Even as the decades have passed, the local labor market retains a focus on institutional stability rather than large-scale manufacturing.

Cultural life in Cullowhee reflects the Appalachian ballad tradition, echoing through the halls of the university and the quiet homes scattered along the hills. The Jackson County Greenway provides a space for quiet reflection, contrasting with the vibrant energy found during college sports seasons. Notable individuals such as the author Horace Kephart have left a lasting impression on the regional consciousness through their dedication to the preservation of the landscape. Bear Creek Lake, located eight miles away, offers a destination for those seeking the stillness of open water amidst the dense foliage of the region. Life here moves with a deliberate pace, colored by the changing hues of the hardwoods and the persistent, flowing presence of the Tuckasegee River.

Nearby Outdoor Places

American Eclipse (Public Artwork) — 0.2 mi, 235° SW
Fine Art Museum (Museum) — 0.6 mi, 228° SW
Performance Hall (Theatre) — 0.6 mi, 225° SW
Catamount Statue (Monument) — 0.7 mi, 242° SW
Jackson County Greenway (Local Recreation) — 0.9 mi, 314° NW
Jackson County - East Laporte River Access Park (Local Recreation) — 1.9 mi, 122° SE
Nantahala National Forest (National Forest) — 2.1 mi, 170° S · 533k acres
Wayehutta OHV Trail System (Attraction) — 3.9 mi, 041° NE
Jug Hill Gallery (Gallery) — 4.9 mi, 328° NW
Freedom Pavilion (Gallery) — 4.9 mi, 327° NW
Jackson County Veterans Memorial (Monument) — 5.0 mi, 325° NW
Founding of Jackson County and Time Capsule (Monument) — 5.0 mi, 325° NW
Dills Cove Falls (Historic Ruins) — 5.4 mi, 327° NW
The Fugitive Train Wreck (Attraction) — 6.3 mi, 309° NW
Bear Lake Reserve (Attraction) — 8.9 mi, 129° SE
View Doubletop Mountain (MP 435.3) (Viewpoint) — 9.5 mi, 056° NE
Pisgah National Forest (National Forest) — 11.1 mi, 072° E · 511k acres
Middle Prong Wilderness (Wilderness Area) — 11.1 mi, 072° E · 7,482 acres
Pisgah National Game Refuge (National Conservation Area) — 12.2 mi, 067° NE · 72k acres
Mandara Spa Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort (Attraction) — 12.7 mi, 327° NW
Needmore Game Land (State Conservation Area) — 13.4 mi, 247° SW
Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Arts Centre) — 13.5 mi, 254° W
Shining Rock Wilderness (Wilderness Area) — 13.9 mi, 072° E · 18k acres
Too-Cowee;ᎧᏫᏱ (Historic Ruins) — 14.1 mi, 256° W
Mountainside Theatre (Theatre) — 14.2 mi, 326° NW
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (National Park) — 14.2 mi, 359° N · 521k acres
Oconaluftee Indian Village (Museum) — 14.5 mi, 325° NW
Chattooga, North Carolina, South Carolina And Georgia Wild and Scenic River (Wild & Scenic River) — 14.9 mi, 169° S · 17k acres
Gorges State Park (State Park) — 18.9 mi, 141° SE
Horsepasture, North Carolina Wild and Scenic River (Wild & Scenic River) — 19.0 mi, 144° SE · 1,400 acres

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