Looking for inspiration for a new bike ride, hike, climbing spot, running trail or paddling trip? Look no further… The Adventure Collective’s outdoor adventure guides to Asheville, Boone, Brevard, Charleston, Chattanooga and The Smokies has an adventure for everyone. Explore our recommendations below or hone in on a specific category or destination in the sidebar links.
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...
Coontree Picnic Area & Swimming Hole: One of Brevard’s best swimming holes and a great place to stop for a picnic in Pisgah National Forest is found at the Coontree Recreation Area in Pisgah National Forest, located just outside of Brevard on US 276. While there are a lot...
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: 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...
French Broad River Family Fun: The French Broad River flows 219 miles starting in nearby Transylvania County northward through Asheville into Tennessee. Along the way the river provides some excellent recreational opportunities including whitewater rafting and more mellow floats and...
Azalea Road Park Dog Friendly Trails: Azalea Park along the Swannanoa River in east Asheville has several dog-friendly options. The real gems of the park are the Swannanoa River and great mountain views. There is a trail that runs along the river that is ideal for a flat, easy walk with...
Wilma Dykeman Riverway: Bike, walk, or run the Wilma Dykeman Riverway – Carrier Park and the French Broad River Park (part of the Wilma Dykman RiverWay) on Amboy Road offer two miles of flat, paved greenway trails perfect for biking with younger children. Pedal by the French Broad...
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...
Cedar Rock Mountain Biking Trail: Short but sweet, the 1.5-mile Cedar Rock Trail features a steep climb up large slabs of granite and tops out with killer views of Dupont State Forest. Take Big Rock trail from the top of the mountain for a fast, technical downhill over slickrock and...
Bent Creek Trail Running (Asheville): Combine the 2.1-mile Wolf Branch and the 0.6-mile Ledford Trail to create a seamless single-track run across streambeds and through pine and fern forests. Bent Creek is an endless outdoor paradise so grab a map and add some other trails for a longer...
Ledges Whitewater River Park (Asheville): When it comes to whitewater paddling, the Asheville area is known as one of the top destinations in the east. For local paddlers looking to hone their skills, the Ledges Whitewater Park has long been a fun destination for a short session on the...
French Broad River: One of the most popular new activities to hit the Asheville area is the sport of Standup Paddle Boarding-a cross between canoeing and surfing that first got its start in the ocean. Folks here in Asheville prefer to get their kicks on the French Broad River. The slow...
The Chimneys (Linville Gorge, Pisgah NF): The .7-mile hike to the 21 Chimneys atop Linville Gorge is among the most beautiful vistas in North Carolina, amidst one of the most remote areas in the Blue Ridge. The steep climbs are a great area to set up top ropes, with slightly overhanging...
Rumbling Bald Rock Climbing & Bouldering: In 2008, the state parks system acquired a tract of land for Chimney Rock State Park that assures public access to this climbing wonderland. The mountain’s cliffs are known for their ultra-classic crack climbing, thin face...
Davidson River Running Trail (Brevard): The Davidson River Exercise Trail is a great warm-up run for the more advanced adventurer and a nice workout for the beginner runner. The exercise trail is a 1.5-mile flat, mostly wide loop with some rocks and roots that runs in between the Davidson...
Bracken Mountain Trail Running Loop: For a leg-burning trail run, check out the loop at Bracken Mountain Preserve that clocks in at approximately 6 miles, with 1000′ of elevation gain. Bracken Mountain Preserve is a beautiful 395 acre section of public land, and the trail winds...
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...
Graybeard Hiking Trail (Black Mountain): This adventure heads east of Asheville to the Montreat Conference Center. At 2,500 acres of pristine wilderness open and ready for an awesome outdoor experience. The landmass of the Montreat community, as a whole, is approximately 4,000...
Cedar Rock Trad Climbing (Pisgah National Forest): With a vast difficulty range that accommodates all skill levels and over two dozen varied climbs, Cedar Rock is a popular yet typically uncrowded climbing spot. The dome’s main wall features classic climbs like Cedar Pie and Toads R...
DuPont Mountain Bike Trails: The DuPont State Recreational Forest is renown for its incredible waterfalls and excellent trails for hiking, running and mountain biking. With nearly 100 miles of mountain biking trails coursing their way through the beautiful forests just outside of...