an itinerary to make the most of your time in nature

Surrounded by conserved or public lands, and only a short drive from the Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah National Forest, Hendersonville welcomes travelers seeking to disconnect from daily worries and reconnect with the natural world. The Blue Ridge Mountain terrain creates an ideal setting for hiking, mountain biking, paddling, ziplining and overall enjoyment of the great outdoors.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Get into the flow of an outdoor weekend with a visit to Ride Kanuga, a downhill mountain biking park that’s a good fit for both beginners and advanced riders. The park has everything needed to outfit inexperienced riders, including instruction. Veteran riders can mount their bikes and go.

FRIDAY EVENING

Check into a Mill House Lodge lakefront condo in Flat Rock, managed by WNC Mountain Rentals, then head to Hendersonville’s Main Street for your choice of restaurants and breweries.

SATURDAY MORNING

After breakfast, go rafting with Green River Adventures. Or, if everyone is up for it, check out their sister attraction: The Gorge Zipline. It is one of the steepest and fastest zipline adventures in the nation.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Back in Flat Rock, do lunch outdoors at Hubba Hubba Smokehouse. This courtyard eatery is right around the corner from Mill House Lodge and wows patrons with slow-cooked, hickory- smoked Carolina barbecue, accompanied by an impressive array of sauces and sides. Work off that barbecue with a visit to DuPont State Recreational Forest Park at the Hooker Falls access area for a three-mile hike to three scenic waterfalls along Little River. Highlights include a swimming area below Hooker Falls and great views of Triple Falls. Falls throughout the forest may look familiar; scenes from The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans were shot here. Mountain bikers should also consider the slick rock trails at DuPont, some of the best of their kind on the East Coast.

SATURDAY EVENING

Take in a gorgeous sunset at Jump Off Rock, a small mountaintop park just 15 minutes from downtown Hendersonville. Go casual with outdoor dining at Guidon Brewing in the Historic 7th Avenue District. Guidon is within walking distance of a second brewery, a distillery and NC's first brandy bar.

SUNDAY MORNING

Get going early for a half-day guided fly-fishing trip with DB bar D Outfitters in Mills River. Enjoy access to private waters where the average size of the trout caught is 17 inches. DB bar D accommodates anglers of all skill levels and offers shorter, two-hour guided lessons for beginners.

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*Only Henderson County portions of these parks are included on this map.