Welcome Hungry Hikers, Bikers and Forest Folks
Located in the heart of outdoor country, just minutes from DuPont, Caesars Head, and Jones Gap state parks Cedar Mountain is the gateway to some of the best hiking and mountain biking in the country. A beautiful, quick 10-mile scenic drive from downtown Brevard or a short trip from Hendersonville, Cedar Mountain is a great spot for locals and visitors alike.
Dupont State Forest: DuPont State Recreational Forest is a 10,000-acre (40 km²) mixed hardwood forest, boasting four major waterfalls, two rivers, several lakes, impressive granite domes, and unique Appalachian swamp bogs. Spanning both Henderson and Transylvania counties, North Carolina, a major portion of the land once belonged to the DuPont Company, which then sold it to the state. The forest was used to shoot scenes from the 1992 film The Last of the Mohicans as well as the 2012 box office hit The Hunger Games. Containing nearly 100 miles (160 km) of multi-use trails and roads, the forest is widely used for many recreational activities, including mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, wading, and kayaking. Click HERE for more information
Caesars Head State Park: Located just over the South Carolina State Line, Caesars Head State Park is famous for the granitic gneiss outcropping atop the dramatic Blue Ridge Escarpment, which gives Caesars Head State Park its name. Every fall, from the easily-accessible overlook atop the rocky peak of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, sight-seers are treated to the Hawk Watch program and a spectacular view that extends into North Carolina and Georgia. Caesars Head connects to Jones Gap State Park in what is known as the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, an 11,000-acre area of pristine southern mountain forest. Hikers can take a number of loop and traverse hiking trails that connect the parks, and trailside camping is available for those who choose the longer routes. One of the most popular trails at Caesars Head is the two-mile Raven Cliff Falls trail. This hiking trail leads to 420-foot Raven Cliff Falls, where a suspension bridge offers one of the two publicly accessible overlooks to the falls as they plunge deep into the mountain cove below.
Jones Gap: Visitors can find the peace and serenity of a deep mountain cove at Jones Gap State Park. Trails and 11,000 acres of pristine mountain woodlands join the park with Caesars Head in what is known as the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. The Jones Gap State Park trails allow hikers to traverse between the two parks, as well as connect to a portion of the Foothills Trail South Carolina hikers know and love. The park includes great trout fishing on the state’s first designated scenic river, the Middle Saluda River. The park also features a living lab for the park’s hand-on ecology learning center.
Brevard: Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Brevard has plenty to do and see year-round. Fans of live music will always find something to appreciate in the country seat of Transylvania County, while classical music-lovers will enjoy performances at the award-winning Brevard Music Center. Brevard also boasts multiple music festivals held throughout the year. The area surrounding Brevard has been nicknamed “The Land of Waterfalls” due to the scores of breathtaking falls, including Looking Glass, Sliding Rock and Connestee Falls. Mountain bikers are happy here, too, as Pisgah National Park and DuPont State Forests contain nearly 200 miles of bike trails through beautiful outdoor country.
Hendersonville: Hendersonville features many elements of an idealized small town, with an inviting downtown, unique shops, lots of parking, and the gleaming dome of the old county courthouse. Visitors can stroll enjoyably four hours, wandering the length of downtown on Main and Church streets and generating an appetite for the many eateries you’ll find.
