After 6 active days exploring Brevard’s trails, rivers and waterfalls, you’re gonna need a day of rest. Quantity is rivaled by quality when it comes to adventure here in Transylvania County.
Monday
Morning – early afternoon
Because there is so much to do, a bit of advice: pace yourself. Two, bits, actually, the second being to ease into your stay. On Day One we suggest getting your legs under you with a walk on the Estatoe Trail, a 10-foot-wide greenway that currently runs 6.4 miles from downtown to the Davidson River Recreation Area in the adjoining Pisgah National Forest. It’s a good way to experience both Brevard’s urban attributes as well as its outdoor charms. That 6.4 miles is one way, btw; if you aren’t up for a 12.8-mile roundtrip, consult the website (below) for specific sections to explore. A good option for biking, too.
Mid- to late-afternoon
Check out Brevard’s entertaining downtown, which includes places to grab coffee or a bite to eat, and to check out the local arts scene. For the latter, be sure to check out the Transylvania Community Arts Council Gallery, which features the work of local artists. Plan your visit right and you might be able to take a class from one of the talented local artisans. If you visit in the summer, be sure to take advantage of the nearly daily offerings of the Brevard Summer Music Festival, which features a wide array of sounds, from symphony, opera, and chamber, to jazz and bluegrass.
Tuesday
All day
Wanderful waterfalls Transylvania County’s slogan is “The Land of Waterfalls,” appropriate considering the county boasts 250 notable cascades. Some (Looking Glass Falls along U.S. 276) you can enjoy from your car. Some (Sliding Rock) will take you on a wet and wild ride. Other falls (Hooker, Triple, High) are concentrated in one accessible area (DuPont State Recreational Forest). And others you may have to hike a bit to reach. In any case, you can’t visit Brevard without paying a visit to at least one waterfall. That would be rude.
Find your waterfalls here.
Wednesday
Morning
Take a hike Bracken Preserve is a 395-acre tract on the mountain side of town that opened to the public in 2012. Its 9 miles of trail expose you to a little of everything, including an abundance of native plants, views, waterfalls and wildlife (including Brevard’s famous white squirrels). Conserving Carolina, a regional land trust that has assisted with trail development, recommends a 7.2-mile loop that climbs 1,200 vertical feet, offering a physical challenge with lots of reward. A preserve map and loop description can be found on Conserving Carolina’s website.
Afternoon
Tubing
After a morning of sweaty hiking, what could be better than lolling about in a cool mountain stream? Especially if that lolling occurs in a drifting pink innertube. Brevard is situated on an ideal stretch of the Davidson River: put in at the Davidson River Campground and float for an hour, hour-and-a-half to the takeout. Bring your own tube (a shuttle service is available) or rent one.
Thursday
A day in the woods. Brevard is the gateway to the Pisgah National Forest’s Davidson River Recreation Area, one of the Pisgah’s more recreationally robust areas. Located just outside Brevard, you’ll find miles of trail (some of which is also open to mountain biking). Two suggestions. If you’re looking for a long hike – a really long hike – check out the 30-mile Art Loeb Trail. You can pick up the north-south trail at the Davidson River Campground, where you can count on climbing for the first 20 miles, going from an elevation of 2,100 feet to nearly 6,200 feet. Those first 20 miles are largely through what’s affectionately known as the “green tunnel;” If you want a sexier piece of the Art Loeb you’ll need to drive about 50 minutes up to the Black Balsam access off the Blue Ridge Parkway. You’ll be rewarded with miles of sweeping views as you hike north into the Shining Rock Wilderness. Looking for something a little less … long? A favorite is the 4.7-mile John Rock Loop, which begins and ends at the Fish Hatchery next to the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, and includes a Kodak moment stop on the trail’s namesake outcrop.
Friday
It’s back to the water, for a float on the French Broad River State Trail. The trail has its headwaters just above Rosman to the southwest and passes 115 miles through four North Carolina Counties before entering Tennessee northwest of Hot Springs. Along the way it offers a range of paddling and rafting options, from placid paddling at Rosman to Class IV whitewater in Madison County.
Saturday
Morning
Go for a ride. After the week you just had hiking, would you believe the Brevard area is even better known for mountain biking? The area has more than 300 miles of mountain bike trail, some of it aimed at beginners, a goodly amount geared toward more experienced riders. Not sure where to ride? Hire a guide. Don’t have a bike? Rent one (a nice one, at that). Not a fan of riding rock and dirt? Brevard also has great road cycling. A favorite route: the ride from town up U.S. 276 to the Blue Ridge Parkway and back. Gain 2,555 vertical feet on the 15-mile ride up, lose that elevation on the 15-mile ride back. P.S. The region is also popular for gravel biking and bikepacking.
Learn about your Brevard cycling options here.
Afternoon
Zen on the water. What better way to wind down the week than by standing in a mountain stream encouraging a Royal Wuff to float downstream and work its magic. The Davidson River, Little River, French Broad – more than 500 miles of fishable streams in all. Drop by a local outfitter and see what’s biting where on what.
Learn more about fly-fishing options here.