THE MOUNTAINS
Western North Carolina
The Blue Ridge, the Smokies, and the Appalachian Trail. The NC mountains are a great place to visit any time of year and one of the best kept secrets in the Southeast.
Asheville restaurants, brewery picks, Blue Ridge Parkway hikes, and western NC itineraries. Tap below to get your free guide.
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Wildflowers are blooming, waterfalls are running full, and the trails are mostly quiet. April and May are beautiful.
Cool temps, green ridges, and creeks perfect for swimming. A great escape from the summer heat in Charlotte.
The busiest season. October leaf color on the Blue Ridge Parkway is incredible. Book your trip early.
Snow on the ridges, ski resorts open, and the most peaceful time to visit the mountains.
The highest peak east of the Mississippi River, right here in NC
America's most visited national parkway runs straight through western NC
Arts, breweries, the Biltmore, and one of the best food scenes in the South
More waterfalls per square mile than almost anywhere in the eastern US
The mountains of western North Carolina stretch across roughly 25 counties and contain some of the most dramatic scenery anywhere east of the Rockies. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs along the spine of the Appalachians for nearly 470 miles, connecting Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains and passing through some of the best overlooks and hiking trailheads in the region. On a clear fall day with the leaves turning, there is nowhere better.
Asheville sits at the center of it all, a mid size city at 2,100 feet elevation with a food and beer scene that punches well above its weight. The Biltmore Estate, the largest privately owned home in the United States, draws visitors year round. The River Arts District has turned old industrial buildings into working studios and galleries. And the surrounding mountains give the city a backdrop that makes even a short walk feel like a reward.
Beyond Asheville, each corner of western NC has its own character. Boone and Blowing Rock sit at over 3,500 feet in the High Country, cool even in summer, snowy in winter, and home to Appalachian State University and some of the best hiking along the northern Blue Ridge. Bryson City is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and direct access to the national park. Brevard has Pisgah National Forest in its backyard, Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock, and DuPont State Forest are all within a short drive.
The waterfalls alone are worth the trip. Western North Carolina has more than 500 named waterfalls, more per square mile than almost anywhere else in the eastern United States. From the 411 foot Whitewater Falls near Cashiers to the roadside drama of Looking Glass Falls in Pisgah, the mountains deliver at every turn. Come in October for the leaves, come in spring for the wildflowers and rushing water, or come in summer to escape the heat. Any season works.
Asheville restaurants, brewery picks, Blue Ridge Parkway hikes, and western NC itineraries. Tap below to get your free guide.
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