Enjoy spectacular mountain views of Grandfather Mountain and Linn Cove Viaduct, with distant views into the Piedmont, from the hike on Rough Ridge. Just a 1/3-mile uphill hike from the parking area (Milepost 302.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in…
At milepost 297 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, explore the impressive Julian Price Park. It's only seven miles north of the Linn Cove Viaduct at Grandfather Mountain. The above photo was taken from the Parkway overlook at the lake. Rent a boat or…
This 1243-ft. concrete segmental bridge on the Blue Ridge Parkway snakes around the slopes of Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. It was completed in 1987 at a cost of $10 million and was the last section of the Blue Ridge Parkway to be…
Linville Falls is probably the most photographed waterfall in North Carolina. It is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Milepost 316.4, about 66 miles north of Asheville. You can hike to five viewpoints via two trails leaving from the Visitors…
Linville Gorge is one of Eastern America's most scenic and rugged gorges, created by the scouring action of the Linville River. Sometimes it is referred to as the "Grand Canyon of Eastern USA." The steep walls of the Gorge enclose the Linville…
Log Hollow Falls is a 25-ft. waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest. While it's an easy one-mile round-trip hike to reach, it's still a hidden jewel that many waterfall-lovers miss. Plus, there's a second unnamed 80-ft. waterfall about a quarter…
Many of you have probably seen the above view of Looking Glass Rock (elevation 3,970 ft.) from the Blue Ridge Parkway, south of Mount Pisgah and near Graveyard Fields. The stone face in Pisgah National Forest looks impossible to hike, and you…
The hike to High Shoals Falls is one of the most scenic in western North Carolina. It's located in South Mountains State Park, south of Morganton (about 70 miles east of Asheville). You have two options: hike one mile to the 60-foot waterfall and…
Soak in the views from top Sam Knob (elevation 6,045 feet), located near the Blue Ridge Parkway on the edge of the Shining Rock Wilderness. The impressive looking peak has steep rocky slopes, but the 2.2-mile roundtrip trail winds up the slope to…
Setrock Creek Falls is a hidden gem of a waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest at the base of Mount Mitchell. These photos were taken after a good rain, so normally the water flow is less. It's an easy 1/2-mile hike to the 75-ft. waterfall,…
The massive Pisgah National Forest is divided into three districts. The Pisgah Ranger District includes the Brevard area with places such as Looking Glass Rock, Sliding Rock and many waterfalls.
Within the Pisgah Ranger District…
From the top of Shortoff Mountain (elevation 2,883 ft.), soak in some of the most spectacular views in the North Carolina mountains, with sweeping vistas of the Linville Gorge and Lake James. The Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, also known as…
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the impressive (and big) Sierra Nevada Brewery and sample some brews. Unwind with brews in their Taproom and enjoy lunch or dinner in their massive restaurant, a showpiece for the brewery with 400 indoor seats, a…
Spring 2023 Update: Due to damage caused by Tropical Storm Fred in 2021, Skinny Dip Falls is closed and poses a risk to visit.
Skinny Dip Falls is a refreshing swimming hole and soaking spot on a hot summer day with clear, cold…
Slick Rock Falls is a 35-foot waterfall in Pisgah National Forest that cascades across an overhanging cliff. It's most impressive after some good rains. During dry periods it reduces to a trickle. On a hot day, it's refreshing to stand underneath…
Asheville Museum of History opened in the fall of 2023 and tells stories of the mountains, a region with a rich and diverse—and sometimes misunderstood—past. The museum established by the Western North Carolina Historical Association, a group…
Just a little north of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Wildwater's Pigeon River Adventure Center, conveniently located near I-40, making it an easy 60-mile drive from downtown Asheville. You can enjoy a full day of outdoors exploration…