Lake Junaluska, North Carolina

Start your adventure by parking in the Cosby Picnic Area Parking Lot near the entrance of the Cosby Campground. (127 Cosby Picnic Area Rd, Cosby, TN 37722.) Then backtrack through the parking lot about 100 yards until you see the sign marking the start of Gabes Mountain Trail.  The trek to Hen W...

If you're in Asheville, NC and want a fun place to be outside, buzzing with activity-- you'll need to check out Carrier Park. Here, you can run along the trails, bike in the Velodrome (former race track), launch your kayak or inner tube from one of the free launches, hammock from a tree, do yoga ...

Start at The Davidson River Campground just outside of Brevard, NC (276 Pisgah Ranger District). Have a shuttle car or a friend waiting at the Daniel Boone Boy Scout camp for the finish line. Hop on the 30.1 mile long Art Loeb Trail at the trailhead in the Davidson River Campground. Pull into th...

Pisgah National Forest, in my opinion, is one of the best national forests in the United States. Being just a short drive from Great Smokey Mountain National Park it has all the feel of being in the smokies with more to explore. Pisgah has anything you could want to see or do from tens of water...

You can drive this highway getting different views during the different seasons. Along the drive, have your camera ready for beautiful vistas, Looking Glass Falls, and many adventures along the highway. The views are especially beautiful in the autumn with the leaves changing colors. This route d...

The Pigeon River is a dam controlled river that winds its way through North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The river provides beautiful views as one paddles along via raft or kayak.  Cutting through portions of the Pisgah and Cherokee National For...

Close to downtown and in between several bed and breakfasts in Montford, NC, you'll find Montford Park. Though you may not expect it, the park boasts a couple of tennis courts, a basketball court, and some green space for picnicking, relaxing with friends, or getting lost in a good book.  People...

Charlies Bunion via Kephart Loop is a loop trail located near Cherokee, North Carolina. This is a longer version of the Charlies Bunion hike starting from the Newfound Gap parking lot. The added benefit of this longer loop is the opportunity to see more of the Great Smokey Mountains! You'll pass ...

Kephart Prong is a pretty easy hike in close proximity to the Visitor Center on the North Carolina Side of GSMNP. 2 miles up the trail, you'll arrive at Kephart Shelter, where you can rest and enjoy vies of the Kephart Prong. Once you've had your fill, head back down the way you came.  During th...

Rhapsodie Falls is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina.

If you're in Asheville, it'll be quite difficult to miss out on going to or at least hearing about Pack Square Park. The park is bustling with activity as it's a common, middle ground place for people to meet up, to take a lunch break, or to catch some rays of sun on a warm day. It's also a commo...

The Martin Luther King Jr Park includes a large multi-purpose field as well as a playground that's great for kids. It's the perfect place to go solo to clear your head and chill with a book or with family and friends for an outdoor game.  Right at the entrance to the Park stands a statue of Mart...

Hidden in the eastern reaches of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cosby region receives a fraction of the visitation of Gatlinburg or Cherokee. This section of the park preserves some of the best deciduous old-growth forest in the eastern United States. Individual tulip trees and eastern ...

This is an awesome hike to do if you're short on time or have hours to kill. Because it is so easy to access, it doesn't take very long to get down to it and can be accessed by two separate trails. Both trails are well maintained, however, while there are some blazes, it is not heavily marked. Th...

This is probably one of my favorite hikes I've done in Panthertown Valley. Its also one of the easier views to access. You start from the Salt Rock Gap Parking lot, taking the Blackrock Trail (447) up Blackrock Mountain. This trail is located about 100 yards to the left if you are standing lookin...

Panthertown Valley has a unique system of trails, with each trail having a specific number. Some of the trails listed at the information hut in the parking lot are accessed by taking one or two other trails to get to the start of the trail you are seeking. That is the case when hiking to Granny B...