Call Us! - 800.828.4244 / 828.693.9708

Outdoor Adventures

Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway
NC
800-228-7275 or (828) 298-0398
View Website
 
View Amenities

Blue Ridge Parkway follows the mountain ridges from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. The Parkway’s 469 toll-free miles combines natural beauty, mountain forests, wildlife, wildflowers and magnificent views.  Located 15 miles north of Hendersonville.

  • Nature Trails
  • Dog Parks
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Picnic Area
  • Camping

Open Weather Permitting

Cradle of Forestry in America

Cradle of Forestry in America
11250 Pisgah Hwy
Pisgah Forest, NC
828-884-5713 or 828-877-3130
View Website
 
View Amenities

Reopens April 6, 2019, through October

The Cradle of Forestry in America is a 6,500-acre Historic Site within the Pisgah National Forest, set aside by Congress to commemorate the beginning of forestry conservation in the United States. Outdoor activities include two guided trails, which lead back in time to seven historical buildings, including a 1915 Climax locomotive and an old sawmill.

  • Reservations or Fees
  • Nature Trails
  • Dog Parks
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Picnic Area

 

DuPont State Recreational Forest

DuPont State Recreational Forest
High Falls parking lot, 1300 Staton Rd,
Cedar Mountain, NC
(828) 877-6527
View Website
 
View Amenities

DuPont State Recreational Forest encompasses 10,268 acres in Henderson and Transylvania counties that include waterfalls and 80 miles of roads and trails wandering through mountainous terrain. Open to the public for hiking, mountain biking, swimming, and horseback riding. Fishing is allowed with a valid NC fishing license. Hunting is by special permit only. Many scenes from the 2012 hit movie, The Hunger Games and the 1992 film, The Last of the Mohicans were shot in DuPont State Recreational Forest. The Hunger Games were filmed entirely in North Carolina. Download the Hunger Games film locations. dupont-hunger-games-shots.pdf

  • Bicycle Trails
  • Nature Trails
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Picnic Area

Open Year Round

Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Great Smoky Mountain National Park
NC/TN
(865) 436-1200 or (865) 436-1230
View Website
 
View Amenities

Great Smoky Mountain National Park covers seven counties in North Carolina, with the northern fringe of the Smokies in Tennessee. The 520,000-acre park is one of the largest wilderness areas in the Eastern United States, covering more than 88 square miles. The park contains some of the highest peaks in the East, with elevations in excess of 6,000 feet. Activities include hiking, horseback riding, campgrounds, nature trails, trout fishing and several visitor centers.

  • Bicycle Trails
  • Reservations or Fees
  • Nature Trails
  • Dog Parks
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Picnic Area
  • Camping

Open Year Round

Holmes Educational State Forest

Holmes Educational State Forest
1299 Crab Creek Road
Hendersonville, NC
(828) 692-0100
View Website
 
View Amenities

Holmes Educational State Forest offers a series of well-marked trails, accented by exhibits and displays depicting ecology of a managed forest. Picnic sites with tables and a spacious picnic shelter (with grills) are also available. Located about 8 1/2 miles from downtown Hendersonville.

  • Nature Trails
  • Playground
  • Hiking
  • Picnic Area

Open March – November

Jump Off Rock

Jump Off Rock
Laurel Park Highway
Hendersonville, NC
(828) 693-4840
 
View Amenities

Jump Off Rock is a scenic overlook, which provides a panoramic view of rolling pastures, the Blue Ridge and Pisgah mountain ranges.  Jump Off Rock also holds an Indian legend that has been passed down for many, many years. Over 300 years ago a young Cherokee Indian maiden received word that her young Indian Chief had been killed in battle, so she climbed to the edge of the rock and jumped off.  Indian legend has it that on moonlit nights you can see the ghost of the maiden on Jump Off Rock. Jump Off is located about 5 miles from downtown at the end of Laurel Park Hwy.  The park is open daily, sunrise to sunset. No admission charge.

  • Nature Trails
  • Hiking

Oklawaha Greenway Trail

Oklawaha Greenway Trail
Connects: Jackson, Patton, Berkley, Sullivan & William H. King Parks
Hendersonville, NC
View Website
 
View Amenities

The Oklawaha Greenway Trail stretches 3.25 miles, connecting Jackson Park, Patton Park, Berkley Park, Sullivan Park & William H. King Memorial Park.  It is a relatively flat paved trail and is handicap accessible. The Greenway is a 10-foot-wide asphalt path for cyclists and pedestrians. Mileage signs have been installed every quarter of a mile along the trail to help trail users know how far they have traveled and how much farther it is to their destination. Benches, water fountains, and three bicycle FixIt Stations are available along the trail. Blue light phones have been installed along the greenway using grant money from the state Department of Transportation.

Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National Forest
1600 Pisgah Hwy
Pisgah Forest, NC
(828) 877-3265
View Website
 
View Amenities

The Pisgah National Forest 501,691 acres stretches across the eastern edge of Western North Carolina’s mountains. The Forest offers hiking trails, fishing, camping, picnic sites, and spectacular waterfalls. The attractions include Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock, Pisgah Forest State Fish Hatchery, Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, The Cradle of Forestry and the North Mills River Recreational Area.

Sliding Rock – Pisgah National Forest

Sliding Rock – Pisgah National Forest
7851 Pisgah Highway
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
(828) 885-7625
View Website
 
View Amenities
  • Parking fees during summer season (Memorial Day – Labor Day), and on weekends until end of October
  • Restrooms available when park is staffed (see above)
  • Located 7.6 miles from the junction of US Highways 64 and 276
  • 60-foot smooth rock face natural water slide that leads down into a 7-foot deep pool
  • Lifeguard on duty May – September, as well as Saturdays & Sundays until the end of October from 10am – 6pm
  • Personal Flotation Devices available when park is staffed ($5)

See website for rules and regulations!