Western NC is jam-packed with every imaginable activity for a broad spectrum of interest. The Cedar Mountain area is blessed to be the site of many of these locations.
THE ADVENTURIST
exploreBrevard.com
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WILD MOUNTAIN RIDES
www.wildmountainrides.com
https://www.facebook.com/WildMountainRidesTouringMapsandApparel/
Ride DRACULA'S DRIVEWAY!!!
Transylvania County's ONLY shopping stop for
Wild Mountain Rides merchandise
Pick up your free touring map at Creekside!!!
Download Wild Rides map app fromApple Store and Google Play!
DUPONT STATE FOREST
http://www.visitwaterfalls.com/the-great-outdoors/waterfalls/
Spanning over 10,000 acres of rolling hills and rocky crags between Brevard and Hendersonville, NC, Dupont State Forest houses some of Transylvania County’s most exciting climbing, biking and hiking opportunities.
The forest was established in 1996 following the generous sale of the land from the Dupont Corporation. The magnificent 2200 acre tract at the very heart of the forest, containing High Falls, Triple Falls and eerily beautiful Bridal Veil Falls was added to Dupont in 2000. Easily accessible from downtown Brevard, Dupont State Forest offers myriad opportunities for fishing, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and horseback riding. Other notable waterfalls in DuPont include Grassy Creek Falls, Wintergreen Falls and Hooker Falls.
DuPont has also served as a backdrop in several major motion pictures. Scenes from The Last of the Mohicans were shot at Hooker Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Triple Falls. Many pivotal action sequences in the smash film The Hunger Games were also shot in DuPont State Forest.
DuPont State Forest is located 10 miles south of Brevard on US 276. The DuPont State Forest office is located within the forest off Lake Julia Road. (828) 877-6527
Hooker Falls
GPS: 35.201944 N / 82.623889 W Hooker Falls is at the site of a former grist mill, where Little River drops off 13 feet before flowing into Cascade Lake. Park at the Hooker Falls parking lot. Walk around the gate in the parking lot and along the dirt road, bearing left at the fork and continuing parallel to the river. You’ll see Hooker Falls on the left.
Bridal Veil Falls
GPS: 35.176944 N / 82.620833 W Bridal Veil Falls is accessible from the Hooker Falls parking lot, via High Falls or from Reasonover Rd at the Fawn Lake lot. From the High Falls shelter, continue up to the Covered Bridge trail and turn left, then left on Buck Forest Rd trail. Cross the bridge and turn right on Conservation Rd trail. Walk about 1.5 miles then turn right on Bridal Veil Falls trail, which ends near the base of the falls in about .5 miles. From Reasonover Rd, park in the Fawn Lake access lot. Walk the Conservation Rd trail to the airport runway. Continue on Conservation Rd trail parallel to the runway and as it bears right toward Lake Julia. Pass the horse barn on your left and take Bridal Veil Falls trail to the base of the falls. 4 mile round trip
Triple Falls
GPS: 35.198889 N / 82.617500 W From the Hooker Falls parking lot, cross over Staton Rd. Walk along the road towards bridge and cross it. Descend to the Little River. Take the trail running parallel to the river and hike upstream about 1000 feet on level ground. The trail bends to the right and ascends 1000 feet. Triple Falls is on the left.
High Falls
GPS: 35.192778 N / 82.614444 W From Triple Falls, High Falls is a 15-min. walk upstream. Stay on the trail until it ends at High Falls Trail. Turn left and walk 2000 feet along the river. Turn right at the next intersection and continue up a moderate slope (900 feet) to views of High Falls. There is a trail to the bottom of the falls on the left. Steps to the right take you to the High Falls shelter.
Grassy Creek Falls From the Buck Forest parking on Sky Valley Rd, walk up the road to the covered bridge and stay on Buck Forest Rd for about .5 miles, passing the right turn for Conservation Rd. Cross Grassy Creek and turn left on Lake Imaging Trail (road). Continue for a short distance to the marked Grassy Creek Falls trail on the left and follow it to the top of the falls.
Connestee Falls
GPS: 35.163611 N / 82.731667 W This falls is often referred to as a “double” falls. It has two sets of breathtaking cascades. Travel south 5.5 miles from Brevard on US 276. There is a parking lot on the right (Connestee Falls Park), walk to the back of the lot and follow a short path to the observation deck.
Hunger Games Waterfalls
Welcome to the Arena! As you walk the trail toward Triple Falls in Dupont State Forest imagine a world where the ‘Capitol’ controls your every move. Hike the steep hill and listen for the waterfall. It takes a little effort to get there but it is so worth it. At the overlook you can see the full waterfall. The movie, The Hunger Games, only shows a portion of the idyllic waterfall. Walk down the stairs to get the close up perspective of Katniss nearly stepping on Peeta. Stand on the rock at the base of the stairs and imagine that scene in the movie.
The trek to the scene where Katniss runs to escape the fireballs and jumps into the water to ease the pain of her burning leg is a much longer hike than Triple Falls. The soothing pool of water that gave Katniss only a second of relief before the Careers found her is at the base of Bridal Veil Falls. No matter which route you take to this fall, it will be at least four miles total. Bridal Veil is a very unique cascading waterfall with lots of fun boulders to climb.
Once you’re finished imagining Katniss’ world, remember you’re free and the beauty that surrounds you is there for you to enjoy. Thank goodness you won’t have to use a snare to catch a rabbit for your dinner! You can just head to town for some lamb stew.
As you experience the forest as Katniss did, please be warned that movie magic helped propel her across the river and for your safety you should NOT attempt to repeat her course. The number one cause of accidental death in the forests is falling from the tops of waterfalls.
Directions to Triple Falls: To get to Triple Falls from Brevard leave downtown traveling south on 276 (Main Street). Stay on 276 for a little over 10 miles and turn left onto Cascade Lake Road. After another 2.5 miles turn right onto Staton Road (if you end up on a gravel road you missed the turn). Once on Staton Road you will travel a little over 2 miles – when you cross the bridge turn left into the parking area. Park in either the old lot or new one and take the newly, beautiful constructed foot traffic only bridge that runs below the road and takes you safely to the trail. You can’t miss it!
Directions to Bridal Veil Falls:
Park at Buck Forest lot or High Falls access off of Staton Rd. This parking area is before the Hooker Falls parking area and will be to the right on Staton Road. Hike Buck Forest and cross over a covered bridge that is at the top of High Falls. Take a right on Conservation Rd and hike to a right turn on Bridal Veil Falls Rd. At the end of the road, the trail turns into a nice single track leading to the base of the falls. Hike to the falls is just about 2.2 miles – for a roundtrip of 4.4 miles.
Hike & Run DuPont State Forest
http://brevardnc.com/play/hike-run-dupont-state-forest/
Hiking DuPont State Park is a treat for hikers, runners, bikers, waterfall hunters, and horse riders. The trails are well maintained and easily accessible as well as breathtakingly beautiful. If you have time for just one trail in DuPont we suggest Triple, High, and Hooker Falls – three trails in one.
Mountain Bike DuPont State Forest
http://brevardnc.com/play/mountain-bike-dupont-state-forest/
Kids Loop – Easy
Micajah Trail – Easy
Cascade Road – Easy
Burnt Mountain Loop – Moderate
DuPont Trail 1, Moderate
DuPont Fawn Lake Trail, Moderate 
THE LAST DRAGONS
APPALACHIA'S HELLBENDERS
http://herpsofnc.org/eastern-hellbender/
Video: https://vimeo.com/108512185
The hellbender is a very large salamander with a flat body shape and wrinkled folds of skin on its sides. It has a broad, flat head with small eyes and a broad, flat tail. Hellbenders are typically brown to orange in coloration. Larvae have feathery gills and irregular blotches. They absorb their external gills after about 2 years of growth. They become adults between 5 and 8 years. Mudpuppies (Necturus maculosus) are the only other large salamanders in their geographic range and are easily distinguished from hellbenders by their red, feathery gills.
Habitat/Range: Hellbenders can be found in northern Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, western North Carolina, southwestern Virginia, and up the Appalachian mountain chain into Pennsylvania and New York. They predominately inhabit waters that eventually empty into the Mississippi River.
Diet: Hellbenders eat crayfish, aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and salamanders (including other hellbenders).
Public land managers would like to dispel the myth that there is a bounty on the head of the hellbender.
Staff at the Pisgah Ranger Station shared an Instagram video with The Transylvania Times this week of a man on the Davidson River trout fishing, telling another man that he had heard from a "game warden" that there is a $200 bounty on the giant salamander that they found near the river bank. This is simply not true, according to N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission biologist Lori Williams. Williams said that this is a rumor that she has heard circulating among local anglers.
"There absolutely is no 'bounty' on hellbenders," she said. "Again, they are a protected, state-listed species. Other misconceptions that need to be corrected: hellbenders are not venomous, poisonous, toxic or harmful. They do not harm fish populations, they do not ruin a fishing rod if you catch one and they are not bad luck. To the contrary, one could argue these harmless, giant salamanders are very good luck because of their role in the ecosystem and as an indicator of good water quality for people, fish and wildlife alike."
Hellbenders are what biologists refer to as "indicator species," meaning a healthy population of them indicates that water quality levels are high and they are happy. This time of the year, hellbenders are active after a long winter. They do not eat much all winter, lowering their metabolisms. In spring, they spend a lot of time foraging for their preferred meal, crayfish. Hellbenders do scavenge for dead fish on riverbanks, according to Williams.
"Springtime is when we get the most reports from anglers who happen to catch a hellbender on hook and line," she said. "Furthermore, if an angler keeps his or her day's catch on a stringer in the water and it happens to be near a hellbender, it is not uncommon to see that hellbender take a sudden interest in it and try to scavenge an easy meal. We hear many stories of anglers encountering hellbenders in this way.
"It is a myth that hellbenders harm trout populations, especially given the many hundreds of thousands that are stocked in a year in hatchery-supported waters in the mountains. What's good for trout is good for hellbenders and vice-versa."
Williams said that if anyone sees a hellbender on dry land, then they were usually caught by a human and injured or intentionally harmed. She said hellbenders are completely aquatic, meaning they feed, mate and live in the water. Williams also said that leaving rocks in place is one of the easiest ways for people to help the hellbenders.
"For all the other stream animals like fish, crayfish and macroinvertebrates (stream bugs) that are a source of food for everything else, hellbenders indicate good water quality and are sensitive to pollution and poor habitat quality," she said. "Hellbenders are a protected species in North Carolina.
"It is illegal and unethical to harm, harass, collect or kill hellbenders. People can help by spreading the word among their friends and families to leave these animals alone."
Williams said that it is hard to say what the exact punishment for anyone convicted of harming or collecting a hellbender would be, but that it would be a Class 1 misdemeanor and comes with discretionary penalties, which could mean fines and/or jail time.
Anyone who sees others trying to harm, kill or collect hellbenders should report the incident immediately to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission at 1-800-662-7137.
CRADLE OF FORESTRY, PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST
https://www.facebook.com/Cradleofforestryinamerica
Nestled a few minutes from Brevard, this heritage site is the birthplace of science-based forest management.
George and Edith Vanderbilt – of the nearby Biltmore Estate – are accredited for this living legacy. Some 87,000 aces of the Vanderbilt’s “Pisgah Forest” tract became the nucleus of the Pisgah National Forest, established in 1916.
This 6,500 acre heritage site in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains was created by Congress in 1968 to “preserve, develop, and make available to this and future generations the birthplace of forestry and forestry education in America.”
Continuing a legacy of forest conservation history, the Cradle of Forestry offers a snap shot of life at America's first school of Forestry along the Biltmore Campus Trail. You can also take a picturesque walk along the Forest Festival Trail complete with a restored 1914 logging locomotive, or take a simulated ride with firefighters aboard a helicopter on their way to a roaring fire in the wilds of Idaho in the Forest Discovery Center Exhibit Hall. Come explore the sights and sounds, check out the events and activities, and plan your adventure at the birthplace of Forest Conservation in America - the Cradle of Forestry in America.
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
We are CLOSED November-March.
Fishing in Brevard and Transylvania County
Our corner of North Carolina is truly a fisherman’s paradise. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, Brevard offers the experience of a lifetime. Trout love it here and you’ll love catching them here. Our winters are mild allowing the trout to spawn almost like salmon. Fish between 16 and 20 inches are commonplace in the Davidson River. Need help getting started both Headwaters Outfitters and Davidson River Outfitters offer guided fishing, as well as classes, learn from the best and catch your fish today. For details please check out there websites:
headwatersoutfitters
davidsonflyfishing
Trout Fishing
-NOVICE level – East Fork of the French Broad River, Little River and North Mills River
-INTERMEDIATE level – North Fork of the French Broad River, South Mills River (days hike into the gorge from Pink Beds)
-EXPERT level – Main Davidson River between Looking Glass Creek and Avery Creek
Rainbow Trout, East Fork of French BroadSmallmouth Bass and Muskie
Fish for Smallmouth Bass and Muskie along the French Broad River in the Brevard area.
Smallmouth Bass, Davidson River in FallWild Fish
Fish for wild fish all summer long in Looking Glass Creek and Courthouse Creek. Fall fishing on the Davidson River provides lots of fun catch and release opportunities.
The following stocked lakes are all within 20 minutes of Brevard.
- Cascade Lake and Cedar Lake are near DuPont State Forest
- Pontown near the Arboretum
- Tannassee and Wolf Lakes (just outside the county)
HIT THE LINKS
Sherwood Forest Golf Club- Smack dab in the middle of the mountains of western North Carolina is this beautiful 18 hole 3 par golf course. This course is opened year round for golfers of all ages. Membership is not required but Available.
Hours of operation vary by season:
November – February 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
March – April 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
May – August 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
September – October 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Rates vary by weekday, Weekends, holidays and winter rates
Location:
29 Cardinal Road Brevard, NC 28712
Greenville Hwy., 9 miles S. of Brevard- Phone: 828.884.7825
Connestee Falls Golf Club- is a semi-private, mountain golf course
within the Connestee Fall. Its beautiful greens combined with its challenging course, makes this a golfers dream. A member ship is not required but they are Available.
The golf course is opened year round unless the temperature is 40 degrees and below.
Daily fees vary by summer/winter rates, a 9 hole/18 hole game, as well as if you are a property owner, golf member and a non-property owner. They do provide a discounted rate for all police, fire EMT etc. Contact Connestee Falls Golf Club today.
Physical Address
98 Overlook Clubhouse Dr.
Brevard, NC 28712
Tee Times: 828-885-2005
Fax: 828-883-9400
connesteefallsgolf.
Caesars Head, along with Jones Gap State Park and other wildlife preserves in upper Greenville County, create the protected Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. With more than 50 miles of easy to strenuous hiking trails dotted by trailside camping, visitors to Caesars Head can avail themselves of majestic Blue Ridge Mountain panoramas in the verdant, secluded valleys of the area. Marvel at the beauty of Raven Cliff Falls, the excitement of mountain river fishing in the Middle Saluda, or just enjoy the sights and sounds of abundant wildlife during a picnic outing with family and friends.
- Picnic tables, shelters
- Store
- Hiking trails
- Primitive campground
- Drinking water
- Public restrooms
- Dogs allowed
-
Hours of Operation:
- Standard time: 9:00a-6:00p
- Daylight savings time: 9:00a-9:00p
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Admission or Parking Fee:
- Children and Youth (ages 0 - 15), Free
- Adults, $2.00
- South Carolina senior citizens, $1.25
- Camping Fee: $4.00-$5.00 per campsite per night
Located in Greenville County, SC.
8155 Geer Highway
Cleveland, SC 29653
864-836-6115
E-Mail: CaesarsHead@scprt.com
Rainy Day
When Mother Nature gets in the way of your outdoor adventures here are a few suggestions on how to spend your time.
Co-Ed Theater, Main Street, Downtown
For 75 years, this theater has been a staple of Brevard’s active downtown. The prices are great ($6.5 matinees, $7.50 evenings) and the popcorn is really fresh. Shows typically run daily at 1pm, 4pm and 7pm.
Brevard Rock Gym, Downtown
Brevard’s indoor rock climbing gym provides a fantastic option for rainy day activity. This is also a great place to find a guide for the real thing. They offer all types of guided climbs for all levels of climbers. Family Friendly. Hours 4pm to 9pm Tuesday – Friday, 12pm to 8pm Saturday, Closed Sunday and Monday.
THE LEARNING CENTER AT PARI
www.pari.edu
Nestled in the mountains of the Pisgah National Forest at a former NASA facility, The Learning Center at PARI takes science and technology out of the classroom and into the realm of the imagination.
The 200-acre historic campus includes cabin lodging and on-site dining, hiking trails, hands-on space and earth science exhibit galleries, scenic mountain views and campus tours. The Learning Center at PARI strives to engage learners of all ages, educators at multiple levels, and provide institutions with our unique facilities. We see this culmination of efforts providing the inspiration and education for the next generation of thinkers.
The Learning Center’s Exhibit Gallery showcases a spectacular collection of gems, minerals, and rare meteorites. Specimen examples include samples from Mars, the Moon, and glowing fluorescent minerals. Recently acquired exhibits include a Redstone rocket engine, 1/3 scale Apollo 11 Lunar Module model, the ATS-6 satellite and models (donated and on loan) from the Smithsonian Institution.
For additional details, timing and reservations, please call (828) 862-5554.
ADDRESS:
1 PARI Drive
Rosman, NC 28772
PHONE:
828.862.5554
Fred W. Symmes Chapel
"Pretty Place"
Pretty Place Chapel - Blue Ridge Mountains
The chapel is closed from dusk to dawn.
REMEMBER: LEAVE YOUR PETS AT HOME.
Like all Y of Greenville properties, pets are NOT permitted at Camp or Symmes Chapel.
The Allison-Deaver House
www.facebook.com/Allison-Deaver-House-400520490077222/
http://www.tchistoricalsociety.com/?page_id=9
The Allison-Deaver House is the oldest standing frame house in Western North Carolina. Slated for demolition in 1987, a group of citizens quickly formed the Transylvania County Historical Society and bought the house, barn, and the nearly four acres of land. Over the last 25 years, the Society has restored and maintained the house as a tribute to the early settlers, as an example of remarkable mountain-crafted architecture, and as a gift to present and future citizens.
In 1815, when most mountain dwellings were log cabins, Benjamin Allison built a two-story three-over-three room frame house based on the design of row houses in England and America’s east coast. Allison, who had eleven children and most likely needed more space for his family, sold the house to William Deaver in 1830. By 1840, the house was more than doubled in size and by 1860 the Charleston-inspired double porches had been added and William Deaver’s home, seven slaves, and 5,117 acres in scattered locations reflected the prosperity achievable in the mountain economy. Today the Allison-Deaver property is a part of the North Carolina Civil War Trails Program.
LOCATED AT:
2753 Asheville Hwy
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 (view map)
Open Hours: June 2, 2018 Saturdays and Sundays 1:00 pm-4:00 pm and close October 20th. The house is also open for tours by appointment .
Transylvania County Historical Society
P.O. Box 2061, Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 884-5137