The Adventure Collective

The Adventure Collective publishes a series of outdoor adventure sports guides to adventures in Asheville, Boone, Brevard, Chattanooga, Charleston and The Great Smoky Mountains.

Big Daddy Run (Lookout Mountain)

Big Daddy Run (Lookout Mountain)

Big Daddy Run (Lookout Mountain) This area has many different trails to choose from, ranging from gradual gravel roads to steep technical hiking trails. Runners can choose the Guild Trail for an easier gravel road run, or opt for the extremely challenging “Big Daddy” run. The Big Daddy...

Chattanooga Urban Adventure

Chattanooga Urban Adventure

Coolidge Park (Riverfront Area) Coolidge Park lies on the banks of the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga. The park offers multiple grass fields, a giant fountain for kids of all ages to play in, a climbing wall, and a carousel with hand carved animals. Above the middle of the park...

Run the Chattanooga River Walk

Run the Chattanooga River Walk

A great place to go for a run in downtown Chattanooga. A paved, 7 mile pathway that will take runners from downtown Chattanooga, along the Tennessee River, to the Chickamauga Dam. After working up an appetite, check out the Boathouse Restaurant located on the River Walk about 3 miles from...

Raft the Ocoee (Cleveland)

Raft the Ocoee (Cleveland)

The Ocoee River, just 30 miles north of Chattanooga, offers plenty of whitewater rafting action. The 5 mile Middle Ocoee section starts at Ocoee Dam #2 and includes Class III and Class IV rapids with highlights such as Table Saw and Powerhouse. The Upper Ocoee’s claim to fame is that it...

Sunset Rock (Lookout Mountain)

Sunset Rock (Lookout Mountain)

Obvious of its name, Sunset Rock offers a great place for hikers to come and watch the sun go down. A short hike from the parking lot and hikers will find themselves atop an 80 ft, cliff with a front-row view of the Sunset. Over 20 miles of trails branch off from Sunset Rock, so hikers...

Capers Island (Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge)

Capers Island (Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge)

That Capers Island exists as an undeveloped, public island is one of the Lowcountry’s greatest natural assets. Just 15 miles from downtown Charleston, the night sky on Capers’ boneyard beach is darker (and the stars more vibrant) than on any of the populated islands it neighbors. Although...

Folly River to Bird Key (Folly Beach)

Folly River to Bird Key (Folly Beach)

The myriad of tidal creeks, running behind Folly Island, are a fine place to explore by kayak, and it’s only a quick 15-minute ride from downtown Charleston. From the Folly landing head left to the mouth of the Stono River (about 2 miles). The island blocking the inlet’s mouth between...

The Perfect Charleston Weekend

The Perfect Charleston Weekend

Welcome to the Charleston Adventure Guide’s Perfect Weekend section. Below you will find information on things to do in Charleston, SC including nightlife, attractions, and outdoor adventure. Head to the Ravenel Bridge We suggest kicking off your Perfect Weekend by heading to Charleston’s...

Conquer the Isle of Palms Connector (Mt. Pleasant)

Conquer the Isle of Palms Connector (Mt. Pleasant)

At close to 2.25 miles long, the IOP Connector Bridge crosses the Intercoastal Waterway and connects the Isle of Palms with Mt. Pleasant. The deceptive climb up to the crest of the bridge rewards you with outstanding views of the Waterway and Isle of Palms. We suggest starting this run at...

Surf The Washout Folly Beach

Surf The Washout (Folly Beach)

Although it’s hardly consistent year-round, Folly Beach is arguably the best break in S.C., if not the most popular. Surfers come out of the woodwork on big days to ride the popular Washout break, known by that name because of hurricanes’ propensity to cut a new creek through the island...

Standup Paddleboard Isle of Palms

Standup Paddleboard (Isle of Palms)

Before surfboards evolved into the tiny daggers they are today, most were hefty planks. Stand-up paddleboarding takes that history a step further, adding enough girth and buoyancy to the board to allow a person to stand upright and use a paddle to propel themselves through the water. The...

Quest For Adventure Heath Cartee

Quest For Adventure: Heath Cartee

In the first episode of a new series from The Adventure Collective, The Quest For Adventure, we join Heath Cartee of Pisgah Outdoors to gain insight into what motivates his pursuit of adventure and learn more about his philosophy behind pushing himself to continue exploring and seeking...

Graveyard Fields Trail

Graveyard Fields Hiking Trail

Graveyard Fields Hiking Trail (Blue Ridge Parkway): A moderate 3.2-mile out and back hike through a high alpine valley with two picturesque waterfalls. Start the hike at the lower end of the parking area. To access Second Falls, hike down the steep paved path and cross the river...

Skinny Dip Falls Asheville

Skinny Dip Falls & Swimming Hole

Skinny Dip Falls: This three-tiered waterfall along the Yellowstone Prong drops a total of 30 feet through a rocky bend in an ice-cold mountain stream. Perched on the edge of the tallest falls is a rock that juts over a deep plunge pool. While we can’t say that the waterfalls are...

Warren WIlson Trails

Warren Wilson Running Trails

Warren Wilson Running Trails: The numerous hiking and running trails at Warren Wilson College are some of our personal favorites. The area is home to miles of great singletrack that carves through rolling meadows and beautiful forests seemingly endless options for exploration. One of our...

Hiking Roan Mountain

Roan Mountain Hiking Trail (Appalachian Trail)

Roan Mountain Hiking Trails: The Appalachian Trail, the nation’s longest marked footpath at 2,178 miles, has numerous access points near Asheville. We like the rugged Roan Mountain section near Bakersville. From the Carver’s Gap (5,500 feet) parking area we recommend heading...

Blue Ridge Parkway Cycling Brevard

Blue Ridge Parkway Ride (Brevard)

Blue Ridge Parkway Ride (Brevard): Climb US 276 through the Cradle of Forestry to gain scenic views of the expansive Pisgah National Forest and the site where forestry first began in the U.S. Head South to gain views of Looking Glass Rock, a towering dome of granite deep in Pisgah...

Mountain Biking At Lake James

Mountain Biking At Lake James (Paddy’s Creek Bike Trails): Taking a mountain bike ride on the extensive trail system at Lake James State Park is a great way to enjoy the outdoors at your own pace.  Around 15 miles of singletrack mountain bike trails are now open at the...

Mike Stam Linville Bouldering

Quest For Adventure: Mike Stam

The Linville Gorge is renown as one of the top backpacking spots in the country. In addition to hiking the gorge also features world-class paddling, climbing and bouldering. The Linville River area is unique due to the type of stone, which is largely characterized as being river-polished...

Best Places To Ride Electric Bikes In Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC is a beautiful city with plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure. And what better way to explore the city than on an electric bike? Here are some of the best places to ride electric bikes in Charleston: The Battery: The Battery is a beautiful waterfront promenade that...

Southern Appalachian Loop Trail

Southern Appalachian Loop Trail

The Southern Appalachian Loop Trail measures over 350 miles in length. First pieced together by Matt Kirk, the SALT, is currently 99.4 percent complete. With the exception of a sliver of undeveloped land on the state line between North Carolina and South Carolina in Transylvania County...

Oconaluftee River Fly Fishing

Oconaluftee River Fly Fishing

Hook A Hawg On The Cherokee Reservation: Ready to hook up with a hawg on the fly rod? We recommend heading to the Oconaluftee. While most mountain trout average 9″ – 10″, on the heavily stocked Oconaluftee trout are measured in pounds, not inches. A 2.2-mile stretch near...

East Fork French Broad Fly FIshing

Fish The East Fork (Brevard)

Catch a “Grand Slam” on the East Fork: Once a closely guarded secret, this roadside stream near Rosman has emerged as the region’s most popular Delayed Harvest stream. The state stocks 17,735 trout along 4.75 miles of East Fork Rd. downstream of the Glady Fork...

Explore Lake James

Explore Lake James: Large lakes with expansive mountain views are hard to come by in the Asheville area. However, just 40 miles east is the 6500 acre Lake James with 150 miles of shoreline and sweet views of the Black Mountain Range and the nearby Linville Gorge. Your best bet for...

Graybeard Trail

Montreat Hiking Trails (Asheville)

Montreat Trails: The trail system above Montreat College boasts over 20 miles of hiking trails on 2500 pristine acres. With so many trails to choose from we suggest stopping at the Montreat Conference Center to pick up a trail map or view it online by clicking the image below. A suggested...

Looking Glass Rock Boulders

Looking Glass Boulders (Brevard)

North Side Boulders At Looking Glass Rock: Tucked away beneath the 500-foot-tall North Face of Looking Glass Rock are a handful of classic boulder problems well worth a visit. Thanks to the blocky granite of Looking Glass, the boulders have a unique style unlike most other areas in WNC...

Boone Cross Country Skiing

Cross Country Ski The Viaduct

Cross Country Ski The Viaduct (Boone Winter Adventures; Blue Ridge Parkway): In the winter, when snow blankets the mountains and valleys of the High Country, there are few places more beautiful to take in the view than the Blue Ridge Parkway near Grandfather Mountain. What makes the...

Rocky Knob Mountain Biking Park

Rocky Knob Mountain Biking Park (Boone Mountain Biking): Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Boone, North Carolina, Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park offers a thrilling and accessible escape for mountain biking enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you’re...

Charleston Magnolia Plantation

Audobon Swamp Garden

Audubon Swamp Garden (Magnolia Plantation and Gardens): By the time most visitors to Magnolia Plantation have walked the ornate gardens, navigated the topiary maze, and played in the petting zoo, they breeze by the Audubon Swamp Garden on their way out the gate. But the 60-acre...