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A travel guide for Marion, Old Fort, Lake James, Linville Falls and Little Switzerland, NC.Book Your Stay
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Experience the Blue Ridge
Our Favorite Spring Hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains!
Hit the trails to find stunning spring views and waterfalls across the mountains. Here are some of our top picks.
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The Blue Ridge Parkway
Little Switzerland, Linville Falls, The Orchard at Altapass, Crabtree Falls, and spectacular views! Year-round access to trails and the Parkway.
A Photographer's Dream →
Blue Ridge Views! The best views come from the hardest climbs.
With elevation ranges from 1,100 feet above sea level to 4,000 feet above sea level, you'll find a variety of trail conditions and challenges.
Trails for beginners to experts. →
Waterfall Trails
Hike into Pisgah to find amazing waterfalls, the region boasts over 200 waterfall trails.
Western NC Waterfalls →Your Travel Guide To Little Switzerland, Lake James, Marion, Old Fort & Linville Falls
Welcome to the Blue Ridge Traveler's Towns and Trails! We'll help with travel plans, introduce you to the awesome people, places, and happenings in and around our Blue Ridge Parkway communities, the City of Marion, Old Fort, Lake James, Little Switzerland, and Linville Falls, North Carolina.
You'll find epic backcountry trails crisscrossing an approximate 70,000-acre section of the Pisgah National Forest. Check out spectacular waterfalls, hiking trails, first-rate trout streams, and wilderness areas.
To learn about new trail developments, follow the G5 Trail Collective. https://www.G5trailcollective.org
They're working to connect a section of 30+ mile trails. This will be an awesome part of the Old Fort trail system.
Pisgah puts the "mountain" in mountain biking on sites like Woods Mountain! Catch some wind on our back-country single-track downhill runs. Beginners and intermediate riders will be challenged on trails at Lake James State Park. They're less technical but challenging and ideal for beginners with 15 miles of bike trails.
Meet our makers! We have a mind-blowing creative culture. These people are responsible for creating our iconic public art displays, locally sourced foods, distinctive craft beers, wines, mead, and specialty shop restoration finds. Their innovation translates into the creation and celebration of original, annual events, the small ones are always the best! Our online event calendar will help you add an event to your next get-away.
If you're looking for more authentic mountain cultural experiences, head up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The independent nature of mountaineers is alive and shared with finds in locally-owned shops, food offerings, the performing arts, and original music.
Imagine life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when you stop by the North Carolina Mineral Museum, Historic Carson House, Emerald Village Museum, and Mountain Gateway Museum. Each site interprets different pieces of our region's historic puzzle.
Call us and share your vacation ideas. We're here to help you plan an unforgettable and relaxing get-away.
Note: All images are property of the McDowell Tourism Authority or tourism partners and are not to be copied, duplicated, re-printed, or shared electronically.
