Grandmother Mountain Boulders (Linville): First discovered for their bouldering potential in the mid-1990s, the Grandmother Mountain area near Boone, NC now hosts more than 400 problems and some of the best stone in the entire Southeast, all in a stunningly beautiful and cool sub-alpine...
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...
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...
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...
Bass Lake Running Trails (Blowing Rock): Head out to Bass Lake if you’re looking to get in some exercise and explore relatively flat terrain near Boone. There is a .08-mile loop around the lake that is easy. For a little for adventure on some steeper terrain, try the 3-mile side...
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...
Blowing Rock Boulders: First tapped for their bouldering potential in 1985 by Joey Henson, the Blowing Rock Bouldering Area features a wide-range of problems from V0 to v10. With flat landings, incredible rock quality, a beautiful forest setting, and more than enough problems for the...
Nolichucky River – Class II, III, IV: Passing through remote wilderness, the Nolichucky combines the best of both for adventure and nature lovers. The free-flowing river runs strongest in the spring, traveling through a remote gorge on the full-day paddle. Challenge the Nolichucky’s...
Yancey Ridge Trail (Wilson Creek): If you’re looking for a challenging mountain biking ride with some fun climbing and technical descents, look no further than Yancey Ridge. This is a good loop through the Wilson Creek Area of Pisgah National Forest and begins with a...
Grandmother Mountain Bouldering (Boone Bouldering Guide): The hidden gem of the High Country and one of the area’s premier bouldering locations year-round thanks to its cool high elevation climate is Grandmother Mountain. First tapped for its climbing potential in the mid- to late...