Gear Up for Adventure Shopping Guide for Hitting the Outdoors What’s your favorite way to play in Transylvania County? Maybe that’s not a fair question. After all, it can be tough picking your favorite activity in an outdoor adventure mecca. Our corner of the mountains has some of the top rock climbing and mountain biking in the Southeast, renowned fly fishing, and scenic hikes that are always worth the trek. It doesn’t get much better than that! Well, it can get a little bit better with the right gear. With premiere outdoor adventures come top-notch outdoor outfitters, ready to help you gear up for any excursion. We’ve paired up a few of our favorite adventures in Transylvania County with local, knowledgeable outfitters to set you up for success in the outdoors. Mountain Biking Transylvania County is one of the premier destinations in the country for mountain biking. A lesser-known gem for going off-road is the Bracken Mountain Preserve, which has approximately 9 miles of multi-use trails. The adventurous single track of Bracken acts as a kind of connector between the bustling town of Brevard and the wide-open spaces of Pisgah National Forest, making it a perfect spot for mountain biking. Gear Up: Earth Mountain Bicycles No bike? No problem! Rent quality bikes from Earth Mountain Bicycle. They also offer bicycle repairs, retail, coffee, and local beer. Plus, they’re the only bike shop on Main Street in Downtown Brevard. The Hub Get the biking gear, rentals, outdoor equipment, and cold...
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The Ultimate Guide to Water Activities in Brevard & Transylvania County, NC Summer approaching means warmer temperatures and a corresponding urge to cool off. Luckily, there’s no shortage of ways to do just that in the Land of Waterfalls. The Adventurist invites you to discover the many ways you can paddle, fish, swim, tube, slide, and generally have the time of your life in our refreshing rivers, stocked streams, and alluring lakes. Read on to learn what it takes to go with the flow. Waterfall Hunting Waterfalls abound throughout the county thanks to numerous tributaries that flow down from some of the highest peaks east of the Rocky Mountains. Consider Pisgah National Forest, DuPont State Recreational Forest, and Gorges State Park as sensible starting points. For an overview of the most popular falls in each public land, click here. You can also pick up a copy of our Adventure Guide and Waterfall Map at the Visitor Center on 175 East Main Street in downtown Brevard, or access it here. And please remember while our waterfalls are beautiful, the areas around them can be dangerous. Protect yourself and your loved ones by learning how to Be Waterfall Wise. Paddling & Paddleboarding The French Broad, the third oldest river in the world, offers multiple ways to travel as far as your heart and paddle will take you and is the ideal place to build your paddling skills. Its consistent current and gentle rapids make for an ideal day on the water, whether you’re a...
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Escape the Ordinary: Unusual Outdoor Experiences and Stays Adventure opportunities of every kind abound in Brevard and Transylvania County. But there is a whole host of under-the-radar experiences awaiting your discovery. Here are some exciting ways to create new memories in North Carolina’s Land of Waterfalls. Dive into a new adventure Oxbow River Snorkling offers a different way of seeing the natural world: an underwater tour of our mountain rivers and streams. Best of all, you’ll be guided by a freshwater biologist who will help you identify a fascinating variety of native species, including the Eastern Hellbender Salamander. This unique aquatic adventure is best experienced during the spring, summer, and fall. Escape the daily grind If you love coffee and you love hiking, Nero Coffee’s Guided Coffee Hikes might be just the thing. This Brevard-based business offers four different hikes and all of them end with a freshly brewed cup of joe perked up especially for you right beside a waterfall. Hungering for an even more satisfying experience? Nero Coffee Hikes has also partnered up with Food for Adventures to offer meals cooked by a waterfall. Book a llama, mañana Looking for something truly unique? Then try a llama hike offered by Earthshine Lodge. Their experienced guides will match you and you group up with friendly llamas that you can lead on a 1 ½ hour excursion in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Star light, star bright Transylvania County is renowned for the dark sky conditions that make star gazing here an...
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Kidding Around: Seven Sensational Family-Friendly Suggestions As we celebrate the Year of the Trail, it’s helpful to remember that some trails just go with the flow. From the 3rd oldest river in the world to numerous tributaries and streams, there are multiple ways to get on the water in Transylvania County. Here are four great ways to enjoy our storied waterways. As we celebrate the Year of the Trail, it’s helpful to remember that some trails just go with the flow. From the 3rd oldest river in the world to numerous tributaries and streams, there are multiple ways to get on the water in Transylvania County. Here are four great ways to enjoy our storied waterways. One of Brevard’s special qualities is its appeal to visitors of every age. This is especially true for kids. Watching a child discover the many wonders of the outdoors is a gratifying experience to which any parent can attest. In addition, Brevard’s summer camps have welcomed children for more than 100 years, introducing them to exciting outdoor adventures like hiking, camping, rock climbing, paddling and more. But even shorter visits with family to Brevard can yield all manner of unforgettable joys, from finding a rare specimen at a gem mine to discovering the secret that explains why we have the largest concentration of waterfalls in North America (some 250 in all). Here are seven sensational suggestions for family-friendly experiences in Brevard that will leave a smile on everyone’s face and memories to...
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Going With The Flow Often, people think of trails as winding routes across terra firma. Yet the truth is, rivers are the original trails – carved by Mother Nature over eons, they journey across the land following the path of least resistance, resulting in surprises around just about every bend. As we celebrate North Carolina’s Year of the Trail, we want to honor Transylvania County’s first trail: the French Broad River, third oldest river in the world, and its many tributaries. To take us on this journey, we caught up with Jack Henderson, MountainTrue’s French Broad Paddle Trail Manager. Enjoy this Q & A with a passionate advocate for the French Broad River. (Editor’s note: We have paraphrased and edited this interview for brevity.) Q&A Q&A: Tell us a little about yourself, Jack. I’ve been living in western North Carolina since 2010 and have worked for a variety of recreation and conservation groups with focus upon public access and natural resource protection. Prior to joining MountainTrue, I was with RiverLink. Along with Hartwell Carson, who is the Riverkeeper for the French Broad, I help manage the French Broad River Paddle Trail. Q&A Q&A: What makes the French Broad River such a significant, meaningful body of water? It flows from its headwaters within Transylvania County to the confluence with the Holston River where it forms the Tennessee River. It covers a wide variety of ecological, cultural, geological and topographical components in a relatively small physical space. Q&A Q&A: What makes...
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Go With The Flow As we celebrate the Year of the Trail, it’s helpful to remember that some trails just go with the flow. From the 3rd oldest river in the world to numerous tributaries and streams, there are multiple ways to get on the water in Transylvania County. Here are four great ways to enjoy our storied waterways. 1 1 Discover River Snorkeling Want to try something a little out of the main stream? How about exploring the fascinating aquatic life beneath the surface, guided by a freshwater biologist? Ox Bow River Snorkeling offers trips in Pisgah National Forest that will open your eyes to an underwater world teeming with life – including over 30 fish species, numerous invertebrates (including crayfish) and the protected eastern hellbender salamander. 1 2 Tubing on the Davidson River Pisgah National Forest The Davidson River parallels US-276 as it journeys through Pisgah National Forest, giving you lots of convenient put-in and take-out options. But if you’ve never tubed the Davidson and don’t own tubes, we recommend this trip: Rent your tubes from Davidson River Rafting at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest. Drive up US-276 and park your car at the Davidson River Campground. Put in at the bridge (commonly referred to as the Job Corp bridge). From here you’ll have an hour-long float down the Davidson. When you’re done, you can retrieve the car by walking the Eastatoe Trail (on the opposite side of the river from US-276) back to the Davidson River Campground–...
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Leaf Your Worries Behind Five Out-of-the-Car Ways to Get Out and Enjoy Fall Color In Brevard The high mountains and lush forests of Brevard and Transylvania County are particularly spectacular when the leaves start to change. The month of October (and sometimes into November) produces spectacular hues in an ever-shifting palette of reds, yellows, oranges, greens, and near-purples. While you can get a front-row view of the color show from pretty much anywhere in Transylvania County, mild temperatures and easy access to outdoor adventure mean that you can enjoy the season change from a host of thrilling locations. Here are a few ideas to take your leaf game to (sometimes literally) the next level: 1. Paddle the Upper French Broad. Take a trip down one of the oldest rivers in the world, as it runs through a scenic landscape marked by high mountains, lush meadows, and all the colorful flora and fauna that call the area home. The trip is gentle and fun for all ages and abilities (though you might run into a small Class I rapid), so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to bask in the beauty of the season. 2. Cycle the Blue Ridge Parkway. The high twists and turns of the Blue Ridge Parkway have long offered cyclists some of the most rewarding rides and jaw-dropping vistas around. Cooler temperatures and the stunning fall color of the landscape make rides this time of year even more dazzling. 3. Hike to High Falls. DuPont State Recreational...
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