Forests & Parks

DUPONT STATE RECREATIONAL FOREST

Spanning over 10,000 acres of rolling hills and rocky crags between Brevard and Hendersonville, NC, Dupont State Recreational Forest houses some of Transylvania County’s most exciting climbing, biking, and hiking opportunities.

The forest was established in 1996 following the generous sale of the land from the Dupont Corporation. The magnificent 2200-acre tract at the very heart of the forest, containing High Falls, Triple Falls, and eerily beautiful Bridal Veil Falls, was added to Dupont in 2000. Easily accessible from Downtown Brevard, Dupont State Recreational Forest offers myriad opportunities for fishing, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Other notable waterfalls in DuPont include Grassy Creek Falls, Wintergreen Falls, and Hooker Falls.

DuPont has also served as a backdrop in several major motion pictures. Scenes from The Last of the Mohicans were shot at Hooker Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Triple Falls. Many pivotal action sequences in the smash film The Hunger Games were also shot in DuPont.

Gorges State Park

One of the newest additions to Transylvania County’s numerous parklands, Gorges was founded in 1999 following a generous sale from the Duke Energy Corporation. The lush park straddling the high edges of the Jocassee Gorges is a temperate rainforest and home to at least twelve species of endangered plant and animal life, as well as an impressive roster of rare plant and animal species, unique to Gorges’ unusual ecosystem. The dramatic topography features many beautiful waterfalls and allows for all kinds of things to do, including hiking, climbing, mountain biking, fly fishing, and camping.

Gorges State Park is very visitor-friendly. Access roads, parking areas, trails, and an impressive visitor center have transformed Gorges into North Carolina’s best state park.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Known as “America’s Favorite Scenic Drive,” the Blue Ridge Parkway winds through the heart of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, with over 16 miles traversing the northern border of Transylvania County. Constructed beginning in the 1930s as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, the Parkway was designed to showcase the region’s natural beauty and connect the Great Smoky Mountains to Shenandoah National Park.

The section in Transylvania County encompasses some of the highest elevations along the entire Parkway and offers sweeping views of iconic landmarks such as Cold Mountain, Looking Glass Rock, and the Pisgah Ledge. This stretch features numerous scenic overlooks, access points to Pisgah National Forest and the Cradle of Forestry, and trailheads leading to treasured destinations including Mount Pisgah and Fryingpan Mountain. With its unparalleled vistas, biodiversity, and recreational access, the Blue Ridge Parkway in Transylvania County is both a cultural legacy of early 20th-century conservation and a gateway to some of the Blue Ridge’s most beloved landscapes.

Headwaters State Forest

The 6,730-acre Headwaters State Forest is located in southern Transylvania County near Rosman and Cedar Mountain. The forest was established in September 2018 with the intention to combine natural resource conservation objectives with recreation opportunities. Management at Headwaters State Forest focuses on conserving the lands that surround the upper reaches of the East Fork French Broad River.

Headwaters State Forest provides visitors with an undeveloped, primitive setting. The forest is open to foot travel, including hiking, hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing. The land is considered rugged and remote, so visitors should have contingency plans prepared prior to arrival on site. Cell phone service is very poor or non-existent, and parking is limited.

panthertown valley

Panthertown Valley, often called the “Yosemite of the East,” is a 6,300-acre backcountry preserve located in the Nantahala National Forest just west of Transylvania County. Characterized by its dramatic granite domes, high-elevation bogs, and rare Appalachian ecosystems, the valley is a nationally significant natural area that protects the headwaters of the Tuckasegee River.

Managed in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and conservation organizations, Panthertown Valley provides critical habitat for endangered species, including native Southern Appalachian brook trout and rare plant communities. Its panoramic overlooks, wild trout waters, and cascading falls draw hikers, anglers, equestrians, and nature enthusiasts seeking solitude and scenic beauty in a true wilderness setting.