10 Best Outdoor Adventures in and Around Asheville

DuPont State Recreational Forest encompasses 10,000 acres in the Little River Valley near Asheville. It contains numerous waterfalls and mountain lakes accessible via 80 miles of roads and trails in mountainous terrain. Among the top-rated routes is Triple Falls Trail, a 2.9-mile loop near Hendersonville. Some reviewers have said it’s a bit steep but very rewarding.

DuPont State Recreational Forest has been used as a location for films, including “The Hunger Games” and “The Last of the Mohicans.” Bridal Veil Falls was used in both films. In addition to hiking, the forest accommodates horseback riding as well as fishing for those who have a North Carolina fishing licence.

The French Broad River, the third oldest in the world, is a source for recreation throughout western North Carolina. It starts in Rosman, runs through Asheville, and continues some 200 miles into Tennessee. A seven-mile float in a tube or on a paddleboard from Hominy Creek to Pearson Bridge in Asheville goes through Asheville’s River Arts District, the location of more than 150 studios. Another self-guided float meanders through the Biltmore Estate, providing great views.

On the North Fork of the French Broad River near Rosman along Highway 215, you can see three waterfalls. Take a guided boat trip for some fly fishing. Watch others float or swim from the New Belgium Brewery, or walk along the greenway.

Outdoor recreation, scenic drives, phenomenal viewpoints, and one natural thrill ride are among what you’ll find in Pisgah National Forest. It contains some 500,000 acres, whitewater rivers, waterfalls, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails. Drive to Asheville’s most iconic peak, Mount Pisgah. At the Cradle of Forestry, take a guided walk and see historic buildings from the nation’s first forestry school.

See Looking Glass Falls, among the most photographed in the South. Get a 360-degree view from Looking Glass Rock, elevation 4,000 feet. If you want a quick thrill, take a 60-foot ride down Sliding Rock, a natural waterslide. If that’s not for you, you can watch from one of two observation decks.

The elegance and grandeur of a colossal home are surrounded by breathtaking gardens and 8,000 acres that allow biking, hiking, and birding, among other activities, at the Biltmore Estate. The house itself – the nation’s largest – is a French Renaissance castle featuring 250 rooms and 175,000 square feet of floor space. The meticulously manicured gardens were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, famed for New York City’s Central Park.

Take advantage of 22 miles of walking and hiking trails outside. Stop by Biltmore Winery for a tasting. See farm animals, browse at shops, visit the Biltmore Legacy Museum, or dine at Cedric’s Tavern in Antler Hill Village. Take a guided horseback ride or relax in a horse-drawn carriage.

Grandfather Mountain is an iconic peak about 75 miles north of Asheville known for its remarkable vistas and ecological diversity. The mountain got its name from pioneers who believed they saw the face of an old man in one of the cliffs. It’s home to a private nonprofit operation that borders Grandfather Mountain State Park.

A main attraction is walking across the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge. Grandfather Mountain is also home to the Wilson Centre for Nature Discovery, which has interactive exhibits on flora, fauna, weather, and geology of the mountain, as well as an eatery called Mildred’s Grill. Eleven trails lead through gentle forests and across rugged peaks.

The North Carolina Arboretum offers an impressive mix of natural and managed landscapes. It has 65 acres of cultivated gardens, 10 miles of hiking and biking trails, multiple areas designed for observation and reflection, rotating art and science exhibits, and a bistro and gift shop. It also offers guided trail walks through its botanically diverse forests as well as self-guided explorations and an EcoLab with live reptiles and amphibians.

It’s located in the Pisgah National Forest in the Southern Appalachian Mountains south of Asheville. Reviewers who’ve admitted they “aren’t really into flowers” nonetheless reported being overwhelmed by the beauty and serenity they encountered.

No Taste Like Home Foraging Tours seems to love wordplay as much as it loves guiding people “off the eaten path” to gather wild edibles. In its Foraging Tour, expert guides lead people through woods and meadows to collect any of some 500 edibles, depending on weather and season. Afterwards, participants have a cooking demo, tasting, and the option to have what they’ve found prepared at several of Asheville’s top restaurants.

Another option is the Wild Food Stroll, in which edibles are observed but not collected, then later sampled at a restaurant. Guides include a naturopathic doctor, an ethnobotanist with a degree in Appalachian studies, and a forager who once supplied items to 75 restaurants.

Asheville Wellness tours aims to take the yoga experience beyond the living room or peaceful studio and into the gorgeous and serene Blue Ridge Mountains with its mountain yoga hike. Starting at the Bearwallow Mountain Trail about 35 minutes southeast of Asheville, a guide leads a one-mile hike to a summit, stopping along the way to share information about the area’s history and ecosystem. The guide then leads an hour of yoga and brings the group back to the trailhead.

You can join the hike regardless of your level of experience with yoga. The sessions are offered at sunrise and, during warm-weather months, around sunset.

Following the Asheville Urban Trail, you’ll learn a lot about local lore while running into the likes of George Vanderbilt, Thomas Wolfe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and O. Henry – at least figuratively. The 1.7-mile tour explores Asheville’s notable residents, history, architecture, and art. It’s guided by 30 public plaques, the first of which is in Pack Square. The tour’s creators encourage you to start anywhere along the route, though, and “you’re not breaking any mountain laws if you veer into a tavern, restaurant, store, or conversation.”

The Asheville Urban Tour website has the route as well as a printable map. The website has an audio element for each station in addition to a 14-minute video that summarizes the tour.

Want a thrill? Ride a ¾-mile zip line 350 feet off the ground between trees in an old-growth forest. That represents the biggest dimensions included in the Mountaintop Tour at Navitat Canopy Adventures. You can scale it down slightly with the Treetop Tour – max height 80 feet, longest zip line about ¼ mile. Why not be truly daring? Book a package that includes both.

The zip line tours located in Moody Cove are made to be fun (and safe), but Navitat takes trees seriously. The company is committed to conservation and environmental education. It’s also sympathetic to those who might not be into thrill rides – you can watch the daredevils while touring the area in an RTV.