www.outsideonline.com Open in urlscan Pro
76.76.21.22  Public Scan

Form analysis
1 forms found in the DOM

GET https://www.outsideonline.com

<form class="c-search-form" id="search-form" action="https://www.outsideonline.com" method="get" accept-charset="UTF-8" role="search">
  <fieldset class="c-search-form__fieldset o-fieldset">
    <label class="o-form-item__label is-vishidden" for="s">Search</label>
    <input class="o-form-item__search" name="s" id="s" type="text" value="" placeholder="Search Outside">
    <button role="button" class="o-button o-form-item__button" aria-label="Search">
      <span class="o-icon o-icon--large" aria-label="">
        <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20.41 20.41">
          <path d="M20.41,19l-5.76-5.76a8.24,8.24,0,1,0-1.41,1.41L19,20.41ZM2,8.2a6.2,6.2,0,1,1,6.2,6.2A6.21,6.21,0,0,1,2,8.2Z"></path>
        </svg> </span>
      <span>Search</span>
    </button>
  </fieldset>
</form>

Text Content

Cookie Policy

By continuing to use our website, you agree to our UPDATED Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy.

Outside uses cookies and similar technologies to help our site function, as well
as the placement of cookies and similar technologies on behalf of Outside and
our third-party partners for tailored advertising and marketing. By clicking
“Accept All” you consent to the setting of these cookies and technologies. By
clicking “Decline All” you decline all non-necessary cookies and similar
technologies. Want to know more or manage your preferences? Click "Manage Cookie
Preferences" in the footer of any Outside website.

Accept AllDecline AllCookie Preferences Icon Cookie Preferences



Skip to content

FIND A SHOW NEAR YOU

Tickets for Warren Miller’s 75 are now on sale.

LET’S GO

FIND A SHOW NEAR YOU

Tickets for Warren Miller’s 75 are now on sale.

LET’S GO


Outside Online

 * Home
   
   Be one of the first to try our new activity feed! Tap “Home” to explore.
   
   Got it
 * Featured
 * Outside Feed Outside Feed
 * Gear
 * Run
 * Adventure
 * Health
 * Travel
 * Culture
 * Long Reads
 * Videos
 * Podcasts
 * Paris Olympics

More
 * Outside Feed
 * Home


Search Search

Autumn evening in the beautiful city of Ellijay, in the Blue Ridge Mountains,
Georgia (Photo: rodclementphotography/Getty)
Travel Destinations North America


9 BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN TOWNS IN THE SOUTHEAST

Our National Parks columnist, who lives in Asheville, North Carolina, shares his
favorite southern towns for outdoor access, wilderness, and scenery. Who says
the West is best?

Published:  Aug 26, 2024

Graham Averill
(Photo: rodclementphotography/Getty)

Repost

Share
 * Copy link
 * Email
 * Share on X
 * Share on Facebook
 * Share on Reddit

Graham Averill
Graham Averill is Outside magazine’s national parks columnist, but some of his
favorite adventures have happened inside state parks.



New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and
more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to
lace up! Subscribe today →.

Mountain towns in the Western U.S. get a lot of love. I’ve written plenty of
articles that highlight places like Jackson, Boulder, and Crested Butte, but
these high-profile burgs aren’t the only badass adventure basecamps.

I’ve lived in North Carolina in the Southern Appalachians for the last 20 years,
and while the Southeast is often overlooked for adventure and mountain culture,
we have a bevy of cities with quick access to the diversions we all crave. Not
to mention downtowns so charming you’d think you were on a movie set.

These are my nine favorite mountain towns in the Southeast, ranked according to
my experience and personal preferences, with special points given for bike rides
that end at breweries.


1. ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

Population: 93,775

Best Known For: Breweries and Bike Rides

The urban riparian corridor of the French Broad River passes through Asheville,
by parks, greenways, studios, and restaurants. Photo: Courtesy RiverLink)

Am I biased because Asheville is my home? Yes, but there are reasons why I chose
to settle here 20 years ago, and many more why I stay. Life here is too damn
good for me to consider moving anywhere else.

Asheville is the cultural center of the Southern Appalachians, with one of the
best food-and-beer scenes on the East Coast. The street art and local music
rival that in bigger cities, too. The town itself is so fun you could easily
forget that all this activity sits in a valley surrounded by 5,000- and
6,000-foot mountains that are perfect playgrounds for adventure athletes.

SIMILAR READS

The 10 Most Beautiful Hikes in the U.S.
You Can Stay On Site at These Animal Sanctuaries
These Are the Best Riverfront Cabins in North Carolina
The 10 Best Bike Towns in America, Ranked
Asheville, North Carolina, is known as a center for architecture and art in its
River Arts District, and its access to biking, hiking, boating, fishing, and
climbing. (Photo: Sean Pavone/Getty)

World-class road cycling begins and ends in town, while epic hiking and mountain
biking options start within 20 miles in every direction. The French Broad River
provides mellow daytime paddling options on the west side of downtown as well as
multi-night adventures, thanks to developed campsites along the French Broad
Paddle Trail, while hardcore paddlers have flocked to Asheville for the
prevalence of class IV and V creeks deeper in the mountains.

Best Adventures in Asheville, North Carolina

At 6,684 feet, Mount Mitchell is the highest peak in the country east of the
Mississippi River. It is in the Black Mountain area of the Appalachians, within
20 miles of Asheville. (Photo: Duane Raleigh)
 * There are hundreds of miles of singletrack in the surrounding Pisgah National
   Forest, but for a quick post-work ride, I head 15 minutes west of downtown
   (12 miles) to Bent Creek Experimental Forest, which has more than 20 miles of
   trails. Lower Sidehill is my favorite piece of singletrack, partly because of
   the long gravel climb to reach it, but mostly for the two miles of flowy,
   mildly technical downhill.
 * Roadies should head straight for the Blue Ridge Parkway, which forms a
   half-circle around Asheville. I like the climb up Town Mountain Road, which
   leaves directly from downtown and heads north on the parkway until I either
   get tired or hit 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell 33 miles later. Youngblood
   Bicycles has both mountain- and road-bike rentals (from $85 a day).
 * For an epic hike or trail run, drive south on the Blue Ridge Parkway for 30
   miles to the 6,214-foot Black Balsam, a high-elevation bald with 360-degree
   views of the surrounding peaks. It’s my wife’s favorite spot for a scenic
   photo shoot. You can reach the summit in a .5-mile hike along the Art Loeb
   Trail, or you could knock out a bigger loop that takes in Black Balsam and
   neighboring Tennent Mountain, another 6,000-footer with its own tree-free
   summit views. A five- and 10-mile option each uses the same trail system.
   Through the magical forest: Lisa Raleigh of Black Mountain, North Carolina,
   on the Mountains to Sea Trail on Mount Mitchell. (Photo: Duane Raleigh)

Where to Eat and Drink in Asheville, North Carolina

 * Everyone is going to have an opinion, but I like the vibe at Burial Brewing,
   where you can drink the potent Surf Wax IPA in a beer garden next to a mural
   of Tom Selleck and Sloth from Goonies.
 * Asheville has its fair share of James Beard-nominated chefs, but I get
   excited about eating a Bibim Bap from El Kimchi, a food truck with shifting
   locations throughout town each night. Try to catch El Kimchi at New Belgium
   Brewery, which has a massive lawn above the French Broad River.

Where to Stay in Asheville, North Carolina

 * Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins has one-bedroom A-frame cabins, each
   complete with a record player and selection of vinyl, next to the French
   Broad River within walking distance of a climbing gym, greenway system, and
   the bars and restaurants within the River Arts District (from $198 a night).


2. CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE

Population: 185,000

Best known for: Rock climbing and singletrack

The downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, skyline, showing Coolidge Park and Market
Street Bridge (Photo: Chattanooga Tourism Co)

Chattanooga is easily the largest city on this list, but don’t let the size
dissuade you. The location is perfect, as Chattanooga sits in the foothills of
the Southern Appalachians with the steep slopes of Lookout Mountain and the
Cumberland Plateau rising from the edge of town. I’m always amazed by how close
the adventure is to downtown Chattanooga.

The lush hardwood forests of the surrounding mountains hold expansive sandstone
cliffs and boulders, making Chattanooga a hotbed of rock climbing, while recent
years have brought an explosion of mountain-bike trail development. Meanwhile,
the Tennessee River wraps around downtown, giving paddlers immediate access to
endless miles of flat-water boating. I’ve spent a lot of time paddling a SUP on
the Tennessee River, in awe of the buildings and bridges that comprise downtown.

Seeing the town of Chattanooga, Tennessee, from the water (Photo: Chattanooga
Tourism Co)

And the city has whole-heartedly embraced the outdoors, with leaders actively
working to make it one of the first designated National Park Cities in the
world, trying to apply a national park ethos to the entire city.

Best Adventures in Chattanooga, Tennessee

 * There are more than 100 miles of singletrack within 20 miles of downtown
   Chattanooga, and most have been purpose-built in the last decade for mountain
   bikers. Stringer’s Ridge, a city park with six miles of bike trails in town,
   offers a great quick spin, but I’ve spent entire days geeking out on Raccoon
   Mountain, eight miles from downtown, where roughly 30 miles of fast,
   technical single track unfold.
   Raccoon Mountain Mountain Biking Trails (Photo: Courtesy Trailforks)
 * Rock climbers might have more to choose from than mountain bikers around
   Chattanooga. The city opens up the Walnut Wall, a 50-foot-tall limestone pier
   holding up a city bridge, to climbing occasionally, via toprope and on
   bolted-on holds. But the Tennessee Wall, a sandstone cliff hanging over the
   Tennessee River in Prentice Cooper State Forest, 15 miles from downtown, has
   to be the crown jewel. The T-Wall has more than 600 established routes, most
   of which require trad skills and gear. The routes range in difficulty from
   5.5 to 5.13, with something for everyone.
   Peaceful early-morning paddle under a bridge on the Tennessee River in
   Chattanooga, in the foothills of the Appalachians (Photo: Chattanooga Tourism
   Co)
 * There are whitewater runs in the mountains surrounding town, and the
   Tennessee River Blueway runs for 45 miles through the Tennessee River Gorge,
   offering multi-day flatwater canoe trips. But I’m always drawn to the
   eight-mile-long Tennessee Riverpark, which has multiple access points for
   boaters downtown. Rent paddleboards at L2 Outside ($30), in Coolidge Park,
   and see town from the water.
 * What you can see above ground is just the beginning; there are more than
   7,000 caves within an hour’s drive of Chattanooga. Most are wild caves on
   private property that are closed to the public, but Raccoon Mountain Caverns
   offers guided adventures through a network of chambers and tunnels that have
   streams and waterfalls (from $60).
   Hike to Sunset Rock, an overlook on the western bluff of Lookout Mountain,
   for the amazing view. (Photo: Chattanooga Tourism Co)

Where to Eat and Drink in Chattanooga, Tennessee

 * For years, my one complaint about Chattanooga was the prevalence of chain
   restaurants over local options, but recently the food scene has exploded with
   great one-of-a-kind options, especially in the Southside neighborhood, which
   is tucked into a revitalized industrial district. Check out Ernest Chinese,
   which serves well-crafted Chinese-inspired dishes with fun tiki drinks. I’m a
   sucker for tiki drinks.

Where to Stay in Chattanooga, Tennessee

 * There are plenty of hotels throughout Chattanooga, but I have a soft spot for
   The Crash Pad, an upscale hostel with private rooms (starting at $70) that
   caters to the adventurous, with a lobby stocked with local guidebooks and
   free crash-pads for guests who want to boulder.


3. BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA

Population: 19,756

Best known for: Appalachian State (go Mountaineers!) and 5,000-foot peaks

Boone, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, is the home of
Appalachian State University and a center for bluegrass, hiking, skiing, golf,
fishing, climbing, and bouldering. (Photo: Sean Pavone/Getty)

Nestled inside North Carolina’s High Country and surrounded by 5,000-foot peaks,
Boone is the perfect blend of college town and adventure hub. Downtown blends
with Appalachian State University’s sprawling campus, which absolutely bustles
with life when school is in session, especially during football season in the
fall.

But Boone would make it on this list even without all that youthful vibrancy,
because the mountains that envelope the community are stacked with adventure,
from cycling the winding blacktop of the Blue Ridge Parkway to climbing in the
Linville Gorge. Boone has skiing in the winter, rock climbing from fall through
spring, and plenty of hiking and road and mountain biking year round.

Jaron Moss on the route Edge of a Dream at Ship Rock. While the climbing at this
isolated cliff is overall steep and serious, the route goes at a relatively
friendly grade of 5.7. (Photo: Jaron Moss/Blowing Rock TDA)

As for the town itself, it’s a mix of college-friendly dive bars, boutique
shops, and high-end restaurants with elevated southern fare. I like Boone more
and more every time I visit, and I’m secretly hoping my kids decide to go to
college at App State so I can go more.

Best Adventures in Boone, North Carolina

 * Mountain bikers should head straight to Rocky Knob Park, which boasts10 miles
   of purpose-built trails with features designed to help rippers progress
   through technical challenges as well as jumps and drops. A paved pump track
   has fast lines and great views of the surrounding mountains. To be honest,
   I’m jealous of this park.
   Rocky Knob Park Mountain Biking Trails (Photo: Courtesy Trailforks)
 * If you prefer your adventures on two feet, take the opportunity to explore
   the Linville Gorge Wilderness, which protects 12 miles of the 2,000-foot-deep
   canyon of the same name. The terrain is steep, loaded with granite cliffs and
   boulders and shrouded in a dense hardwood forest. At the bottom of the gorge
   is the tumultuous Linville River. I’ve scrambled around the gorge many times
   and am always blown away by the views and the solitude it offers. Most people
   just hike the short distance to Linville Falls, but check out the 2.4-mile
   Babel Tower Trail, which requires a scramble to the top of a rocky
   outcropping, but delivers a view into the heart of the gorge, as well as of
   neighboring Shortoff Mountain and Hawksbill Mountain. You can extend your
   hike down to the river via the Linville Gorge Trail.
 * When winter sets in, choose from among three downhill ski resorts:
   Appalachian Mountain, Sugar Mountain, and Beech Mountain. I like Beech for
   the mountaintop bar and view from its 5,506-foot summit.

Where to Eat and Drink in Boone, North Carolina

 * A lot of students survive on the massive burritos at Black Cat, and I’ve
   certainly enjoyed my share of their All Nighter (eggs, sausage and potatoes
   smothered in melted cheese). But I’m also in love with the fried chicken and
   biscuits served at the slightly more refined Proper. Appalachian Mountain
   Brewing makes some of my favorite beer in the South, especially their Spoaty
   Oaty Pale Ale.

Where to Stay in Boone, North Carolina

Boone and its surrounding area are known for scenic rivers, streams, and lakes,
which draw anglers in search of trout and other fish. (Photo: Amanda
Lugenbell/Blowing Rock TDA)
 * Grab a room in Rhodes Motor Lodge, a boutique hotel in a renovated 1960s-era
   roadside motel. The lobby bar makes great cocktails, and the lodge has
   recently partnered with the locally owned Speckled Trout Outfitters to offer
   guided fishing and hiking packages (from $130 a night).


4. DAMASCUS, VIRGINIA

Population: under 800

Best Known For: The Appalachian Trail

This year’s Appalachian Trail Days Festival. Held every May to celebrate hiking
and hikers, it is the biggest event of the year in Damascus and features live
music, programs and presentations, giveaways and workshops, and of course,
hikers. (Photo: Town of Damascus, Virginia)

There’s small, and then there’s Damascus. Damascus has fewer people than my
graduating high school class in the suburbs of Atlanta (go Harrison High
Hoyas!). And yet this tiny hamlet in the mountains of southwest Virginia has
become known as Trail Town USA.

Damascus is the crossroads for a handful of high-profile paths, most notably the
Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has its headquarters here,
and one weekend every May, more than 25,000 people descend on the town for
Appalachian Trail Days, a celebration of the world’s most famous footpath (I’ve
attended several times and can tell you that through-hikers like to party).

And the A.T. is just one option here. The 34-mile Virginia Creeper Trail is one
of the greatest rail-trail bike rides in the South because of its length and
mountain scenery, and the Iron Mountain Trail is a rocky hike and bike trail
with ridgeline views that was part of the Appalachian Trail until a reroute in
the 1970s. But I like Damascus mostly for its proximity to Mount Rogers National
Recreation Area, which protects 200,000 acres of Virginia’s tallest mountains,
boasting more than 400 miles of trail for hiking and biking.

Damascus, Virginia, is a small town with a big identity, as Trail Town USA, a
meeting place on the Appalachian Trail. (Photo: Town of Damascus)

Best Adventures in Damascus, Virginia

 * If your idea of a good time is riding a bike for 17 miles downhill without
   ever having to pedal (and really, who wouldn’t like that?), you should
   definitely do the Virginia Creeper Trail, part of which passes through the
   Mount Rogers rec area. I took my kids to ride the Creeper when they were in
   elementary school, and it was probably the only time they didn’t complain
   about the pedaling. Start at Whitetop Station and cruise the crushed-stone
   path back into town. There’s at least one ice-cream stop along the way. Blue
   Blaze has bike rentals (from $15) and shuttles (from $24).
 * To see the best of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, hike this
   5-mile out and back on the A.T. that starts in Grayson Highlands State Park
   and crosses Wilburn Ridge, where a herd of wild ponies roam, and ends on top
   of the 5,729-foot Mount Rogers. I go for the above-treeline views, and I
   could spend an entire afternoon scrambling on the trail’s boulders, but it’s
   the feral ponies that make this hike so unusual and photogenic.

Where to Stay in Damascus, Virginia

 * Brinkwaters Hotel has 13 suites in the heart of downtown. The place partners
   with Speckled Trout Outfitters for stay-and-play packages that include guided
   hiking and fly fishing (from $157 a night).

Where to Eat and Drink in Damascus, Virginia

 * The Wicked Chicken focuses on hot wings (dry rub and sauced) and burgers,
   served on a large outdoor patio. Appalachian Heritage Distillery and Brewery
   is located directly on the A.T. in downtown Damascus. It makes vodka, gin,
   and a variety of whiskies out of a pot still, and the bar serves classic
   cocktails and hosts live music and karaoke on weekends.


5. DAVIS, WEST VIRGINIA

Population: 660

Best Known For: Skiing. Seriously. The skiing is great.

Twilight in the small town of Davis, West Virginia (Photo: Courtesy West
Virginia Department of Tourism)

I mentioned Davis in my guide to West Virginia, but this tiny town deserves its
own spotlight. Thanks to a duo of downhill resorts and a cross-country touring
center, Davis is a ski town first and foremost, which is a rarity in the
Southern Appalachians, but it has just as much to offer bikers and hikers.

The chain of mountains running along the border of West Virginia and Virginia
make Davis hard to reach if you’re driving from the east, and the 100 miles that
separate it from Harrisonburg can take more than two hours, but this journey of
a thousand curves (a challenge to my motion-sick-prone stomach) is worth the
effort.

Davis is small, but has just enough conveniences (a few restaurants, a brewery,
cabins, and a couple of hotels) to make it comfortable, and it certainly has
more than its share of outdoor adventures, from waterfalls to single track to
the ski runs.

Best Adventures in Davis, West Virginia

 * There are almost 20 ski resorts scattered across the Southern Appalachians,
   but Davis might be the region’s only true ski town. Canaan Valley Resort and
   Timberline Mountain Resort offer a combined 200 acres of lift-served terrain.
   Canaan Valley is great for beginners and intermediates, with long, usually
   uncrowded groomers, but I love Timberline’s steeper terrain and gladed runs,
   which will entertain even the best skiers. Driftland Ski has rentals (from
   $35) and a full array of winter gear, such as the gloves you forgot at home.
   Whitegrass Ski Touring Center is the cultural hub of the town, not just for
   its 18 miles of groomed track and copious backcountry XC options, but for its
   lively apres vibe. I’ve never had a bad time at Whitegrass. Never.

The White Grass Ski Touring Center is a cross-country and backcountry ski
facility in Canaan Valley, West Virginia, with the best vibe around. (Photo:
Graham Averill)
 * The warm months are full of hiking and biking. Blackwater Falls State Park
   protects 2,358 acres a mile south of downtown, including a chunk of the
   1,000-foot-deep Blackwater Canyon. The hike to Lindy Point is only .3 of a
   mile, but you should do it, as a prominent rock outcropping gives you a
   bird’s-eye view into the chasm.Blackwater Falls State Park, in the Allegheny
   Mountains of West Virginia, feature the 62-foot cascade of Blackwater Falls,
   and 20 miles of trails.
 * Mountain bikers can pedal the 18-mile Canaan Loop Road, a gravel and dirt
   forest road that traverses the valley, crossing streams, running through
   meadows and leading to a variety of singletrack options, like the Davis
   Trail, which connects with Canaan Loop Road, dropping 600 feet in under three
   miles of rocky, rooty fun. Check out Blackwater Bikes for rentals (from $50 a
   day) and more local trail beta than you could ever possibly need.

Blackwater Falls State Park, in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia,
features the 62-foot cascade of Blackwater Falls, and 20 miles of trails.
(Photo: Courtesy West Virginia Department of Tourism)

Where to Eat and Drink in Davis, West Virginia

 * Stumptown Ales brews a variety of beers in town, but is at its best when
   crafting an IPA. Try their Holy Citra double IPA if you don’t have to wake up
   early in the morning. Trailhead Coffee has always had what I need to fix that
   double IPA fog, and Hellbender Burritos is a town staple.

Where to Stay in Davis, West Virginia

 * Canaan Valley State Park has lodge rooms and cabins, all renovated in the
   last few years (from $178.50), and you’ll be able to pick up the trail system
   right out your door.


6. HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA

Population: 51,000

Best Known For: Mountain biking and Shenandoah National Park

Harrisonburg, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley and near Shenandoah National
Park, has a historic and walkable downtown, with parks and trails. (Photo: Visit
Virginia)

Harrisonburg sits in the middle of the Shenandoah Valley, sandwiched between
Shenandoah National Park to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west.
It’s one of the larger towns on this list with a busy downtown full of breweries
and eclectic restaurants, all with a progressive vibe thanks in part to the
presence of James Madison University and its college-student demographic.

A young student visiting Shenandoah National Park helps to rehab an illegal
campsite during a weeklong school program for learning about the environment.
The national park is just 24 miles from Harrisonburg. (Photo: Courtesy NPS)

Venture past downtown and you hit bucolic pastures quickly, as Shenandoah Valley
is known for its patchwork of small farms. Outdoor adventure is also imminently
accessible.

Harrisonburg is probably a bike town first, hosting a number of events, from the
Shenandoah Mountain Bike Festival to the Alpine Loop Grand Fondo, and the town
has earned Bronze Level Ride Center status from the International Mountain Bike
Association (IMBA) for its quality of trails and events and prevalence of good
bike shops. But there’s also downhill skiing 15 miles east of town at
Massanutten Resort and hiking and fly fishing 25 miles east in Shenandoah
National Park.

Best Adventures in Harrisonburg, Virginia

Shenandoah Bicycle Company is the hub of Harrisonburg cycling. Rentals and
bike-route maps are available. (Photo: Visit Virginia)
 * OK, I made a big deal out of the mountain biking around Harrisonburg, but if
   I have to pick a single ride to do in the area, it’s a road ride of Skyline
   Drive, the 105-mile two-lane blacktop that runs through the center of
   Shenandoah National Park. This is bucket-list road-ride territory with dozens
   of overlooks, more than 10,000 feet of climbing if you do the whole thing,
   and national-park lodging, like Big Meadows Lodge, along the route so you can
   break it up into multiple days. I haven’t done it yet, but friends have told
   me it’s amazing.
 * For a quick hike, head to the Hone Quarry Recreation Area, in George
   Washington National Forest, 20 miles west of town, and climb the steep but
   short one-mile out-and-back Cliff Trail to a rocky outcropping with
   long-range views of the Allegheny Mountains. Several trails begin in the
   recreation area, so you can pick up others if you want to go longer, or hit
   the 5.5-acre Hone Quarry lake to fish for stocked trout.
 * Mountain bikers will love Rocktown Trails, a stacked-loop system built by the
   Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition in the 75-acre Hillandale Park, with
   short cross-country loops, jump lines, and a pump track. Stop into Shenandoah
   Bicycle Company for tuneups or in-depth info about the local trails. The
   place also has beer on tap.

Where to Eat and Drink in Harrisonburg, Virginia

 * Harrisonburg is home to half a dozen breweries, but Three Notch’d is my
   favorite. Their downtown Collab House always has a small batch beer on tap
   that rotates weekly. Jimmy Madison’s has an upscale college-bar vibe with a
   great whiskey selection and southern fare, like the Wafflewich, which places
   fried chicken between two thin waffles.

Stay: Most of the lodging in Harrisonburg trends towards big chain options, but
if you want something more historic, book a room at Friendly City Inn, a bed and
breakfast in a restored Civil War-era home (from $159 a night).


7. ELLIJAY, GEORGIA

Population: 1,927

Best Known For: Mountain biking

Ellijay, in North Georgia, offers a historic downtown, hiking, biking, fishing,
rafting, and kayaking. (Photo: Courtesy of Pick Ellijay)

Ellijay is the unofficial mountain-bike capital of Georgia, with some of the
prettiest and most technical singletrack I’ve ridden east of the Mississippi
within 10 miles of the town. The mountains aren’t particularly tall (most peaks
tap out below 3,000 feet), but the forest is dense and the trails are decidedly
old school, with plenty of fall-line descents and climbs. Or go whitewater
paddling or check out the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail close to
town.

The town is just 75 miles north of downtown Atlanta, and has become a popular
weekend getaway for adventure-minded city dwellers there. Ellijay is a little
sleepier than many other mountain towns this close to the South’s biggest city,
so you come here for the adventure, not the nightlife.

Best Adventures in Ellijay, Georgia

Biking in serene woods on the Pinhoti Trail (Photo: Courtesy Mulberry Gap)
 * There’s plenty to do around Ellijay, but mountain biking is the main
   attraction. In general, the singletrack is technical with lots of roots and
   plenty of steep climbs, and you’re riding through a thick hardwood forest
   loaded with creeks to cross and waterfalls to see. The 22-mile BearHoti loop
   is my favorite ride, because it combines choice pieces of the best downhills
   in the area on Bear Creek Trail and Pinhoti Trail with plenty of gravel road
   climbs.
 * You can paddle or tube a three-mile section of the Cartecay River upstream
   from downtown Ellijay with class II-III whitewater. I grew up an hour from
   Ellijay, and this was the first whitewater I ever paddled. The Cartecay River
   Experience rents out kayaks (starting at $30) and runs shuttles (starting at
   $7 per person).

Where to Eat and Drink in Ellijay, Georgia

Thirsty? Cartecay River Brewing welcomes you with a beer garden over the water.
(Photo: Courtesy of Pick Ellijay)

 

 * Climb up to the covered third-floor patio of The Roof Ellijay, which has
   southern comfort food, from boiled peanuts to shrimp and grits, with a view
   of downtown and the green slopes rising beyond. Cartecay River Brewing, a
   small operation on the outskirts of town, has a beer garden overlooking the
   river.

Where to Stay in Ellijay, Georgia

A women’s mountain-biking camp at Mulberry Gap, a biking resort with
accommodations and camping near Ellijay  (Photo: Courtesy Mulberry Gap)
 * Mulberry Gap is a mountain-bike camp with cabins and campsites on a property
   that has its own pump track, bike shop, hot tubs, and restaurant (rustic
   cabins start at $60 per person). It’s a very cool scene that attracts
   mountain bikers from all over the southeast; I try to hit Mulberry Gap at
   least once a year. The facility is 12 miles west of downtown, but you can
   ride straight from the property and hit some of North Georgia’s most storied
   trails.


8. HELEN, GEORGIA

Population: 578

Best Known For: Its Bavarian-themed downtown

You are not dreaming. This is the skyline of Helen Square downtown in the faux
Bavarian town of Helen, Georgia. (Photo: SeanPavonePhoto/Getty)

OK, let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way: Helen has a faux Bavarian
vibe. Last time I was there, they were pumping polka music through outdoor
speakers hidden in the bushes. Towns with themes aren’t for everyone. I’m not
even sure they’re for me. But I still love Helen because the cheese factor is
harmless and the location of the town is prime.

Anna Ruby Falls are located near Helen in the Chattahoochee National Forest,
though entered through Unicoi State Park. A .4-mile paved trail leads to the
falls. The trail is smooth but with inclines. There is a shorter, fully
wheelchair-accessible alternative from the visitors’ center. (Photo: Explore
Georgia)

I’ve used the Bavarian burg as a basecamp for road-cycling adventures, hiking
excursions, and fly-fishing escapades for years. You can even tube (or fish) the
Chattahoochee River right through downtown. Helen is surrounded by
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, within striking distance of North
Georgia’s best hiking and rock climbing, while Unicoi State Park’s 1,029 acres
sit just two miles north of downtown.

Best Adventures in Helen, Georgia

Yonah Mountain has historically offered climbing on the granite face, but you
can also hike to the summit view. (Photo: SeanPavonePhoto/Getty)
 * Hikers should head six miles south of Helen to ascend Yonah Mountain, a
   3,166-foot-tall knob with a granite face (located on one side, with the main
   area southwest-facing) that’s been attracting Atlanta-based climbers for
   decades. But the views from the top are just as sweet if you hike the
   4.4-mile out and back Yonah Mountain Trail, which rises 1,500 feet over a mix
   of dirt road and single track trail before delivering you to a grassy meadow
   at the granite-edged summit. On a clear day, you can make out the skyline of
   Atlanta 80-ish miles south.
   Yonah Mountain (Photo: Courtesy Gaia GPS)
 * The mountains of North Georgia are loaded with high-quality fly fishing, from
   wide, floatable rivers to tight backcountry creeks. The Chatahoochee is the
   obvious draw for anglers visiting Helen, although the tubers do a good job of
   scaring away the fish in the section through town. For quieter water, I head
   to Smith Creek, within Unicoi State Park, where a mile-long section of the
   stream below Unicoi Lake is known for producing foot-long rainbow and brown
   trout. Unicoi Lodge even offers an intro to fly fishing class if you’re new
   to the game.
 * A number of classic road-cycling rides begin and end in Helen, including the
   classic Six Gap Century, which takes in six iconic mountain climbs
   surrounding the town. I’m not always game for a century ride, so I typically
   choose the the 25-mile Piccolo route, which is part of the annual Gran Fondo,
   a large group ride that focuses on camaraderie over racing, on a smaller loop
   through Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, but still climbing more than
   1,700 feet.

Where to Stay in Helen, Georgia

Ever wondered what a barrel cabin looks like? Well, now you know. Unicoi State
Park, Georgia. (Photo: Explore Georgia)
 * Unicoi State Park has a variety of lodging options, from lodge rooms to
   barrel cabins. Check out the glamping sites, which are fully-furnished safari
   tents within walking distance of Smith Creek (from $149 a night).

Where to Eat and Drink in Helen, Georgia

 * You’re in a cute facsimile of Germany, so you should probably get a bratwurst
   and pretzel at Hobfrauhaus, and then wander down the street to King Ludwig’s
   Beer Garden and have a German lager outside.


9. TRAVELERS REST, SOUTH CAROLINA

Population: 8,486

Best Known For: Greenway pedaling and the Great Blue Wall

Still water on a May day in Table Rock State Park, on the edge of the the Blue
Ridge Mountains, South Carolina. The park contains trails, cascades and
waterfalls, and wildflowers. (Photo: Teresa Kopec/Getty)

The western border of South Carolina is defined by a string of mountains that
rise steeply from the Piedmont in a dramatic fashion known as the Great Blue
Wall. Travelers Rest sits at the base of that wall of peaks, making it the
perfect basecamp for exploring the area’s lakes, waterfalls, and thick,
jungle-like forests.

It would be easy to label Travelers Rest as just a bedroom community for the
larger city of Greenville, South Carolina (you can ride your bike the ten miles
between the two towns, after all). But Travelers Rest has its own small-town
charm as well as access to the Upstate’s copious outdoor gems, from steep
cycling routes to steeper rock climbing routes and everything in between.

I’ve watched downtown Travelers Rest grow with new restaurants and breweries
over the last several years, thanks largely to the development of the Swamp
Rabbit Trail, a 17-mile paved rail trail, popular with cyclists and runners,
that begins on the edge of town and finishes in Greenville. There’s also
downhill mountain biking, rock climbing, and plenty of hiking.

Best Adventures in Travelers Rest, South Carolina

The author’s family cruises on the Swamp Rabbit Trail path in Travelers Rest,
South Carolina. (Photo: Graham Averill)
 * Travelers Rest offers quick access to a trio of public lands. Let’s start
   with Paris Mountain State Park, eight miles east of downtown, which has
   almost 20 miles of mountain-bike trails. The park is known for its technical
   climbs and fast, flowing downhill. A 10-mile lollipop loop, the Paris
   Mountain Loop, takes in the best trails, including Sulphur Springs Trail,
   which is loaded with sweeping, banked turns and drops.
 * Higher up on that great blue wall, Jones Gap State Park and Caesars Head
   State Park combine to form the 17,000-acre Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area,
   with more than 60 miles of hiking trails. The Middle Saluda River offers
   quintessential backcountry trout fishing, thanks to the tight corridor and
   steep nature of the stream, which drops 1,000 feet in four miles. Or hike the
   easy four-mile out and back to Jones Gap Falls on Jones Gap Trail.
   Caesar’s Head State Park, 23 miles from Travelers’ Rest, is named for a
   granitic gneiss outcropping high on the Blue Ridge Escarpment. The park
   offers camping, birdwatching, fishing in the Middle Saluda River, and hikes
   through the forests and to the 420-foot Raven Falls. (Photo: Courtesy
   Discover South Carolina/SCPRT)
 * A 2,684-tall granite dome, the Cherokee landmark Table Rock, is the
   centerpiece of Table Rock State Park, 20 miles west of town. It’s a beacon
   for climbers looking for a multi-pitch adventure with a long approach hike
   and mega exposure. Access is limited to certain sections of the monolith
   because of peregrine-falcon nesting, but the east and southeast faces of the
   rock are open. Sunrift Adventures has all the gear you could need, as well as
   bike and boat rentals (from $20 for a half day).

Where to Stay in Travelers Rest, South Carolina

 * Splurge for a room at Hotel Domestique, a high-end lodge owned by the retired
   pro cyclist George Hincapie that draws inspiration from European chateaus in
   its architecture and cuisine. The inn also has an onsite sauna and cold
   plunge, as well as a fleet of rental bikes that come pre-loaded with
   Hincapie’s favorite training routes that begin from the property (rooms start
   at $378 a night).

Where to Eat and Drink in Travelers Rest, South Carolina

 * The food scene in Travelers Rest has come a long way in recent years, so you
   can get everything from Caribbean fusion to street tacos. Check out Monkey
   Wrench Smoke House for BBQ staples like pulled pork and brisket, served on an
   expansive back lawn. Swamp Rabbit Brewery, which is known for its
   award-winning stout, sits in downtown.

Graham Averill is Outside magazine’s national-parks columnist. He’s lived in
multiple mountain ranges and on both coasts, but settled down in the Southern
Appalachians 20 years ago and has yet to regret it.

The author, Graham Averill, at home in his corner of southern Appalachia (Photo:
Courtesy the author)

For more by this author, see:

> The 10 Best Bike Towns in America, Ranked



> 8 Surf Towns Where You Can Learn the Sport and the Culture



> The Best Ways to Get Outside in West Virginia



Filed to:
 * Asheville
 * Biking
 * boating
 * Fishing
 * Georgia
 * Hiking
 * North Carolina
 * Skiing
 * South Carolina
 * Tennessee
 * West Virginia

Lead Photo: rodclementphotography/Getty


POPULAR ON OUTSIDE ONLINE


sms
Share





JOIN OUTSIDE+

Enjoy coverage of racing, history, food, culture, travel, and tech with access
to unlimited digital content from Outside Network's iconic brands.

Learn More
Facebook Icon Instagram Icon

 * Advertise
 * Privacy Policy
 * Contact
 * Careers
 * Terms of Use
 * Licensing & Accolades
 * Digital Archives
 * Site Map
 * Gear Up Give Back



© 2024 Outside Interactive, Inc