South Mountains State Park and Mount Mitchell State Park offer a variety of amenities for horseback riders, including many miles of trails.
Cyclists flock to western North Carolina for its scenic roads and strenuous off-road courses that take advantage of the area terrain.
Linville Gorge offers three different mountain-biking trails, ranging from an easy, eight-mile ride to the Linville Gorge Loop, which is an advanced 49-mile trail. South Mountains State Park features a challenging 18-mile bike loop. Cyclists are also welcome along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Nearby Asheville is a rock climber’s delight with multiple opportunities to scale cliffs and a strong community of rock-climbing enthusiasts. A key spot is Chimney Rock Park, 25 miles south of Asheville and convenient to Lake James.
