Intro Devil’s Courthouse towers ominously above the beautifully delicate pink beds of Pisgah National Forest. At its summit, a sinister looking rock formation is the stage for a devilish local legend. Folklore tells of a cave at the cliff’s base which the Devil himself used as a cliffside courthouse. He certainly did miss a heavenly […]
Intro Sam Knob stands tall above a high country meadow. The 6,050 foot summit is located near the confluence of the Western North Carolina “holy trinity:” Pisgah National Forest, Middle Prong Wilderness, and Shining Rock Wilderness. Views from the top of this semi-heath bald are expansive and interrupted only by the surrounding giants of the […]
Intro Your journey to the top of Cammerer will begin on Chestnut Branch Trail, which runs beside a picturesque creek plunging its way through a rhododendron filled holler for the first mile and half. You will share this section of trail with a group of stoic, old-growth oak trees which were lucky enough to survive […]
Intro Imagine living on the untouched, beautiful lands of a national park. For centuries this was a reality for a wily community of Appalachia’s finest who called Cataloochee Valley home. At the time of the park’s inception, a community of 1,200 flourished in the lush valleys and hillsides of Cataloochee. On official orders, these settlers […]
Intro When we take the time to relax beside the roaring waters of an Appalachian stream, something incredible happens to our psyche. The roaring thunder of the water drowns out all the worries and doubts you carried from “real life.” The continual flow of a mountain stream ignites an innate sense of oneness with our […]
Intro Mt. Sterling towers above the Pigeon River Gorge on the northern end of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Sterling is a mountain steeped in history and covered in an elegant mix of hardwood and evergreen forestry. The mountain was mistakenly named after a 2 foot streak of lead that crosses the Pigeon River […]
Intro A leg-pumping incline to the top of Stone Mountain gives way to a gentle and serene walk back down. The smooth granite face of Stone is one of the greatest fall watching spots in central Carolina. And the calm, rocky pool at the bottom of the towering Stone Mountain Falls is an excellent rest stop […]
Intro The Appalachian Trail follows the crest of the Appalachians along the North Carolina and Tennessee state line. In between the soaring mountains of the Great Smokies and the rolling hills of Hot Springs, the AT passes over the grassy bald known as Max Patch. The man-made meadow on top of the mountain was once […]
Intro Famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed the grounds at Biltmore with visitors in mind. Flowers, shrubbery, and trees were his brush strokes as he intended the landscape to resemble a “walk through painting.” If you are looking for an upscale adventure close to town come play on the meticulously manicured grounds of Biltmore. […]
Intro The Big Creek/Spencer Gap/Shut-In loop is an excellent trail run in the heart of South Pisgah. The tour begins at the rim of the Mills River Valley and drops down into a forgotten corner of the North Mills area. A long steady climb up Big Creek culminates in a heart pounding grade to the […]
