Beautiful hikes and mountains views. Nice picnic area with restrooms available. Several people…read morefishing or playing in the stream. Good place for families.

Amazing views!!!…read more Came here on a group hike and it did not disappoint! We did the 4 something mile loop from the upper parking lot to the waterfall and back to the parking lot. It is hard! The amount of incline is enough but going up the stairs after resting at the waterfall was dreadful. We survived! The views are OMG!!!!! Wow! Breathtaking at each lookout. The stone is so smooth it almost looks painted. It rained a little at one of our lookout stops and it was such a refreshing experience. Cellphone reception here is super limited and so I want to come back in hopes I'll be able to actually track my hike .

What a gorgeous park, even in the winter time…read more Since it's winter when I visited, I can't review all of the incredible summer time water sports but I know this park can get busy then. Winter was in incredible time to visit, easy parking, a chance to chat with the staff at the visitor center, and walk around. The lake is beautiful. I've heard that this area did get some hurricane/ storm damage but everything needed to drive around is up and running! Make a plan to visit next time you're nearby. It's about 1 hour drive from downtown Asheville.

This has the look of one of those parks formed around a dam. Don't get me wrong; I'm all for…read morehydroelectric power, but artificial lakes always feel like they're lacking a certain mystique. This park had an impressive visitor center and restrooms were open even after it closed, though neighboring water fountains were not functioning on a hot summer day. The trail I selected was rugged and had occasional waterside views, most notably on a footbridge that offered a mountain vista. Cell service was not great for me, and while I'd hoped to do a zoom meeting on the run I had to return to more urban areas. But if you actually want to get unplugged, the people on boats here appeared to be having a good time.

Great smaller waterfall that is safer to play in at least when I was there in July. Still some…read moredangerous rocks but it was manageable while I was there and we had a blast.

Really wonderful, hiking and biking trail in between old fort and Black Mountain. Super easy to…read morefind once you plug-in old piney Baptist Church. Don't park at the church, but if you go there, you will see side street parking. The trail itself is about 3 1/2 miles one way. If you park in front of the church which I recommend, then you go uphill for 3 1/2 miles. It's not a horrible uphill though. I took my hybrid bike. Pretty sure you could take a road bike if you wanted but it was nice with a hybrid as there were some potholes . Another benefit of parking and going uphill is the whole way down. You are coasting. What a delight! I'm quite out of shape and I think it took me about 50 minutes to get to the top but I did stop for lots of photos obviously. There are plenty of benches and places to stop along the way. No cars allowed which is nice. I passed a few cyclist, but not too many so it was a good mix of feeling safe, but also getting some solitude in nature. Cheers y'all this one is a keeper.

What a treat this is! Only about 2 hours from Charlotte to…read moreget to this remote resort! If your'e looking for peace and quiet, this is your place! There are multiple cabins with various size of accommodations for large and small groups. I was really surprised to learn it's just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. While it's remote there is a WalMart Supercenter just ten minutes away. Located on the Toe River, there is trout fishing, they also have a stocked trout pond on the property. Tubing on the river and there are several outfitters nearby if you want to go kayaking or canoeing. The big draw is the on-site stables where you can ride horses! The cabins are all updated, heated and A/C some with fireplaces. All the modern conveniences including Cable TV & Wi-Fi.

What an amazing horseback experience! I've done a few trail-guided rides and this was the best for…read moresure! All of our ladies that went with us were so welcoming and kind. Very knowledgeable about their horses and the terrain. Got to go across the river a couple of times and that was such a fun experience! The trail is beautiful and the horses were very sweet! Definitely want to come back next time we come to Spruce Pine!

This fabulous huge park features five picnic shelters with tables and grills, two playgrounds, rest…read morerooms, a gazebo, lighted and paved walking trail, nature boardwalk, 24-hole disc golf course, canoe launch, horseshoe pits and a memorial garden. The walking is well utilized and is open year-round. It is a two mile long loop and leashed dogs are permitted on the trail. [Review 15404 overall, 907 of 2021, number 2954 in North Carolina.]

Beautiful park have had several get togethers and bday parties here, well kept clean safe feeling…read more Tranquil setting at some spots

Hubs and I took a camping trip to the mountains a few weeks ago so we experienced the little town…read moreof Old Fort. Old Fort is known as the "gateway to the mountains" and is about 30 minutes from the Blue Ridge parkway and Asheville. It has beautiful scenery and campgrounds to stay while you are visiting. It is also the home of many hiking and biking trails through the mountains. Before you get into town, do yourself a favor and stock up on your groceries and adult beverages. Not sure if it is a town or county law but there is no alcohol in sight!! We had to drive about 15 miles to stock up on beer and wine. Also, the local grocery store (guess you can call it that) Frisbee's Galaxy, is not helpful for anything. The meats did not look good, they offered little to nothing on our list, and it was dirty and understaffed. That is for another yelp review but you get the jist. Take care of all of your shopping needs before your arrival to Old Fort. Old Fort is definitely your quaint getaway from the hustle bustle of big city life and has an adorable little downtown but appears to have suffered from the bad economy like so many other little towns.

We have a vacation home on Gateway Mountain, just on the outskirts of Old Fort. Old Fort is a…read morequaint little old mountain town with, honestly, not much to offer in the way of vacationing. However, to pass through or to make a quick stop, it's a beautiful old town that still retains its charm from decades ago. It's a dry town, so if you come to eat at one of the very few restaurants, don't expect to have any alcohol. Every Friday night at 7:00pm they have free live bluegrass music at the Old Fort Mountain Music building across from the fire station on Main St. Don't expect anything fancy - all the locals come out to entertain and to be entertained. It's still a fun and interesting experience. There's a wonderful hike up to Catawba Falls, with beautiful up-close views of the waterfall; it's about an hour and a half roundtrip hike. You can also check out Andrew's Geyser, on the other side of town. The shops in town don't have much to offer for anyone other then the locals and there really isn't a downtown with "shopping". If you're looking to shop - even for groceries - I suggest you make a stop into Black Mountain. Old Fort is about 20 minutes from Black Mountain and Marion, 30 minutes from Asheville and Lake Lure/Chimney Rock, and 45 minutes from Hendersonville. All in all, if you're looking for a short stop in an old town that's retained it's quaint, mountain charm, then Old Fort has a few attractions for you. But if you're looking for a vacation spot, this isn't it. Regardless, you'll never meet friendlier or warmer people then the good folks of Old Fort!

This is a beautiful park with a lovely walk near the creek. The outer bands of the hurricane just…read moreleft yesterday so the creek was really high but still beautiful! This is a nice way to get a little exercise and see something pretty in the process. Definitely stop by if you're ever in Bakersville! And while you're at it check out Southern Ridge Cafe because it's awesome and has all the things you could want for a snack or meal!

I love going to walk on the creek walk. Such a pretty walk, and very nice. My daughter loves it as…read morewell.