Another hidden gem in Pisgah National Forest is this place. To enter, you need to go through the…read moregated entrance which is currently unmanned until the tourist season begins which I believe is coming up soon. Then it will be $5 per person, not car. It was nice watching people enjoy the water.

This site definitely did not disappoint! We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon with the family. I was…read moresurprised that my granddaughters were not afraid to go down the rock slide. I was the family photographer. I certainly had lots to photograph! There was ever a great rock to lean against for taking pictures. My suggestion is that you bring along a change of clothes, wet shoes, snacks, a camera, sunscreen and life jackets for the little ones. I forgot my wet shoes and my son forgot a change of clothes. There is a rest room where you can change clothes. There are also lifeguards until 5 PM. They stayed open after 5, but did not charge admission. When we return we will go later in the afternoon. The lines are shorter and after 5 you don't have to pay the $5 per person admission charge. I definitely will return when we visit the area again. We enjoyed a great time!

We love PNF. We try and make it at least once a year and get a cabin just outside of Brevard. There…read moreis so much to do and so beautiful all seasons. It's snowing right now. We love it up here and will continue to visit Pisgah National Forest as much as possible.

I had so much fun hiking Sam's knob. It was beautiful and shorter compared to looking glass. This…read morepark is such a gem. I visited the ranger station before hiking and he game me a wonderful fun fact about the part being named after a biblical mountain. I'll let you look up the rest. If you are looking for waterfalls, sliding rocks, friendly rangers, beautiful summits check this park out.

Easy and beautiful, I hate that it's a little drive for us…read more The leaves are amazing this time of year

On a not-quite-hot day that was a bit humid, this was a bit of a workout for someone like me who…read moredoesn't hike much. A level parking lot with restrooms, I left the van there and followed a family carting a cooler, a baby stroller and a bunch of towels. I figured that if they could do it then I sure could. And then they peeled off at the level part and I started up the hill. There's a sign with a warning that it's steep. I ignored the sign at my own peril and climbed up to the view point. Totally worth it. It's quiet other than the sound of crashing water and a few birds in the distance. The view of Triple Falls is amazing. Not an easy climb - I would say this is "moderate plus" because of the incline. It is somewhat smooth but not wheelchair capable and there's a definite risk of slipping on the climb back down. [Review 20013 overall - 3454 in North Carolina - 988 of 2023.]

Fun gym, considering the location in a small town. Interesting problems, nice holds, friendly…read morestaff, a few steep areas. Pleasantly surprised.

We came here with kids while on a Moms and kids trip in the mountains of western NC when kids…read moreneeded a break from outdoor stuff. They could not have been nicer or more accommodating. The kids had the best time ever and the pricing was very fair. We will definitely be back!

We have come to Sycamore Flats on many occasions over the years. It has always been a fun place to…read morerelax and enjoy the mountains. It's right on the Davidson River so swimming, fishing and wading are just about perfect. There are grills scattered around the property so you can cook a lunch or dinner while enjoying the rushing water so close by. There's also a large bathroom which comes in handy if you're spending more than one or two hours here. Sycamore Flats It's the first recreational river location you come to when you're driving from Brevard up Hwy 276. Parking is free. One caution: on weekends in summer, it gets very crowded very quickly, so come early to stake out your favorite spot.

If you like history, you should definitely check out Silvermont. It's amazing how they are…read moreutilizing this historic mansion. You can take a tour of the preserved second floor. Please note, the tours are at select times on certain days. lol. We totally lucked out. The bottom has been converted to a senior center. What an amazing place for them to gather. There is a very short 1/2 mile paved path around the property. It was a very nice walk. I'm glad we had the opportunity to check this place out.

Dog bags? Check. Interesting swings, including a wheelchair one? Check. Free and well-used…read moretennis courts? Check, but maybe not for long. Clean restrooms, too. This treat of a place is a great resource for the city and visitors. The interior needs love, and currently looks like a turf war is going on.

Pisgah Forest and Brevard Focus:…read more Largest draw to the area is the White Squirrel Festival and Pisgah National Forest with other festivals scheduled dead in the heat of the summer. Small town Feel: You will know everyone if your kid is in school. Yes, long-timers will make it known that they do not like "outsiders" but only on social media. Most people are friendly. Many family-friendly activities. The library runs events/activities for kids. There are two skate parks, a kids-based ninja park, a community recreation center (mainly for sports), a few dance schools, community sports (kids), art classes, etc., Brevard Music Center, small farmers market on Saturdays, PARI. This is not a college town and really is not geared to this demographic. Town management is trying to improve and grow the area, however, some of the plans are seemingly misguided and are more focused on bringing in money as opposed to focusing on the residents and those needs. While improvements do bring in new residents and taxes, etc. it seems as though the current needs are on the back burner. Downtown Brevard: This is a hilly area so the elderly may have issues with walking around - there are benches. Parking can be difficult. It is small and filled with stores that rely heavily on tourism dollars and would do better to permanently close off the area creating a walkable, paved area and re-routing traffic around this section to increase foot traffic. The emergency department is downtown. It gets very loud with the emergency sirens, motorcycles, truck engines from semis (including logging). Keep this in mind when deciding where to live. Pisgah Forest - Gun use (all kinds) on personal property is legal - as in you think you are in a normal neighborhood and 30 feet away your neighbor can target practice. Other considerations - crowing roosters and whatever you like. Private Roads: Lots of them and if an accident happens on one, you seemingly have no recourse. Apartment and Home Rentals: Even within normal economic times it is very difficult to find a place to rent - average recorded rental rates on the internet are patently wrong, double anything you see. Make sure you do a sex offender search. Apartment Complexes: Broad River Terrace (income restricted), Mountain Glen Apartments (1 bed/1 bath), Morgan Manor (multiple buildings owned by different owners - difficult to locate a management company), Laurel Villages (persons with disabilities and low income), Cedar Hill Apartments (small and located against the hospital), Collwell Drive Commons (next to a busy road, and against a gas station). We used a local real-estate company who took our money, had one property available, and then told us that they had to give the property to the other applicant "because they had applied a long a while ago..." Real Estate: The average home was built somewhere from 1910-1970s. New homes are rare and those that have been built are higher in the hills and exorbitantly expensive. There is an excessive amount of Airbnb and Vrbos in the area, to the detriment of residents. When purchasing land "the steeper, the cheaper." Can you afford to pump water uphill? Mobile/manufactured homes are not unusual. Super Fund site: Former Ecusta Paper Mill site close to forest. Developers are trying to build homes and businesses on the outer edge... Summers: Large increase in tourism and camp kids whose peak entertainment is being loud inside Walmart and Ingles Road Quality: The state will not pave the main highway through town (the most used road in the area); therefore cracks, faded lines, potholes, especially in front of the Food Lion plaza. However, millions were spent an unnecessary round about. There is a deathtrap intersection coming off of S Broad Street, S Caldwell St, and 64. Schools: Pisgah Forest (title one), Brevard Elementary, Brevard Middle School and Brevard High School, Davidson River School (troubled students), Mountain Sun School (private with outdoor learning aspect), numerous private religious schools, Brevard College, Transylvania Community College. Can choose where your child attends school in NC, so you are not stuck to a district. Daycare: Pisgah Collective (expensive outdoor daycare that is affected by weather for closures), Nanna's and Mommy's, etc. Flooding: Is a prevalent issue in this rainforest-type area. Pools: Two public in Franklin Park and Rosman. Community Garden: In a neighborhood near Caldwell - homeless encampment is also there. Water: Is highly chlorinated. Library - Well stocked, neat and clean, semi-annual books sale event, bookstore upstairs. Check out of puzzles and activities available. Grocery stores: Grocers Outlet (scratch-n-dent/discontinued food), Food Matters (organics/wellness), Aldi, Ingles (higher prices), Food Lion, Sav-More (part of Ingles, not really cheaper) Restaurants: There are no chain sit-down restaurants here, plenty of fast food. Rosman is more of a lower income area.

MERRY FALLS is a beautiful roadside waterfall found along the gravel portion of Cascade Lake Road…read morejust outside the boundaries of the beautiful & rugged Dupont State Recreational Forest of North Carolina. The exact GPS location is 35.200645, -82.643481, but if you are skilled at reading maps, the waterfall is located just north of where the East Fork of Laurel Creek merges with a lesser no-named creek or about 500 feet south of where the East Fork merges with the main Laurel Creek. There is no hiking required to view the falls, but if you wanted a closer, more in-person pic at the base it would require a fairly easy goat scramble down the semi-steep roadside embankment. Different hiking websites claim the falls to be anywhere from 30 to 50 feet. However, using the topography lines on AllTrails I have calculated the height of the waterfall to be approx. 47 feet tall from top to the lower cascade. The main two tiered fall itself is approx. 35 feet tall with another 12 feet of cascades from the base. On the day I visited the falls it had rained 4 of the previous 6 days, so the falls were full and beautiful! FINAL THOUGHTS This is not a typical destination waterfall, but it IS an excellent bonus stop when touring the larger high volume waterfalls in the area such as nearby Triple Falls, High Falls, Hooker Falls and Raven Cliff Falls. You could also visit the spill wall of the Cascade Lake Dam approximately 2.25 miles north of Merry Falls on Cascade Lake Road. It is built in such a way that by itself it is a beautiful drive-worthy waterfall. ENJOY!!! 2021 / 42

Our 14-year-old son has been going for 9 years...well, one year was missed due to COVID. Gwynn…read moreValley is one of his favorite places and the staff are what make it special. He has learned a lot and grown each year, finding challenges and successes. We love Gwynn Valley!

I worked as a cabin counselor two summers at this camp. I have worked at other camps also and this…read moreis by far the very best one! The values of the owners and the experience for everyone involved is highly valued for generations to come. The connections campers and staff make here are long lasting and everyone looks forward all year long to returning for their summer camp time here.

Gorgeous place, easy parking on the side of the roads with multiple stopping areas. Dog friendly…read moreand people friendly. Able to swim and to walk around (very cautiously) on rocks. Relaxing to just lay on a massive rock and listen to the waterfall.

5-Stars for simply being a beautiful waterfall relatively close to town and located just a few…read moreshort steps from the road, no hiking required. There are 3 viewpoints: road level, mid-level down a short set of stairs, and at the base down a second set of stairs. This is a great option for people with little kids, people with limited mobility, or those just short on time. There is limited roadside parking. Free to visit. No restroom. Easy peasy.