EAST OF ASHEVILLE

Because the area was still recovering from Hurricane Helene, much of the Blue Ridge Parkway was closed during my visit. So instead of driving through the mountains, I decided to take to the nearby mountain town of Black Mountain.

I started my morning with a hike to Catawba Falls. There are so many beautiful waterfalls in the Asheville area, so I wanted to see as many as I could while there.  The hike to the base of the falls is an easy 2.2 mile round trip hike. The wide and relatively flat trail stays near to the stream which gives the hike that lovely background sound. At the bridge to cross the river are the stone ruins of a 1900s hydroelectric plant. 

Catawba Falls is beautiful at the base of the lower falls, but there is so much of the 150 foot tall falls, so once I was ready I took a deep breath, I started the climb up the 580 stairs to the base of the upper falls.

While the climb is tough, the view of the cascading lower falls distracted me enough to keep going. About halfway up the climb a lookout tower provides expansive views of the Pisgah National Forest.  

Instead of the cascading falls of the Lower Catawba Falls, the Upper Catawba Falls freefall 50 feet into the pool below.  Completing the climb to the Upper Falls makes the hike about 3 miles. 

On the way to the falls, I saw these large sculptures within a meadow, so I decided to take a stop to see them close up on the way out.  While I know that this is someone’s private property, I didn’t see any no trespassing signs or no parking signs, so I decided that the owner would be okay with people admiring their work. The sculptures are mostly made of metal and replicate the animals and shapes of nature. 

Catawba Falls is just outside the small town of Old Fort.  I took a quick drive through the town to see the murals and historic buildings. Soon, I was back on the road to Black Mountain. 

Black Mountain calls itself the “prettiest small vacation town in America” and I can see why. Established in 1893, the town became a central point for commercial trade and westbound immigration. Even though the train line no longer runs through the town, people still come here for the access to the mountains beyond. The town has repurposed the historic buildings into more modern uses and has become a tourist hub. The old train depot has been converted into an art gallery, painted rocking chairs are available throughout the streets, and wind chimes and glass ornaments decorate the small gardens patios. The town has all the artisan, craft, and tourist shops you could want along with some cafes and a brewery.  It makes for a nice place to spend a few hours. 

WEST OF ASHEVILLE

On my drive from the Smoky Mountains to Asheville, I added two small towns to my itinerary.  Just outside of the Smoky Mountains is Cherokee.  As the name suggests, this is the reservation home of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation.  As the nation’s oldest Native American cooperative, Qualla Arts and Crafts showcases the beautiful woodwork, basket weaving, jewelry, embroidery, and more of the Cherokee Nation.  Individual local artists are featured with their picture and short bio to give a story to the pieces. 

I also took a stroll around Island Park. While the park is an island, it is only a short bridge away from the main roads of the town, so it doesn’t quite have the quiet retreat vibe of an island. However, I enjoyed the StoryWalk featuring stories and drawings from local 5th grade students about Cherokee culture. There is also a bamboo forest on the island, and walking through the 40-foot-tall stalks of bamboo did make me feel like I was away from it all for a short period of time. 

The second stop on my drive was Lake Junaluska. This Christian conference and retreat center welcomes visitors to meditate in peacefulness of the lake and surrounding mountains from its lakeside walking path, which encircles the lake for either a 2.6 mile or 3.8 mile stroll and includes a Bushy the dog sighting; the view from inspiration point, where a bald eagle’s nest can be seen at the top of one of the neighboring trees; or the small curved labyrinth path, where I had to square off with the resident Canadian geese.