For the runners, it's 4.8 miles for the complete track. If you shorten it by using the bridge,…read moreshave 1.5 miles off. Long walk does parallel traffic for .25mi, be aware. Swans and geese abound, and beautifully surrounded by mountains, as well as a few lovely homes. There are plenty of fishing and launching spots. And a crepe and custard shoppe - when you're not there for exercise. All around peaceful and pleasant place to run/walk/visit. Highly recommend!

This place is small but it has alot to choose from. We had a wonderful time at the lake kayaking,…read moreswimming at the pool and playing minigolf. We were killing time while waiting for a room. It was a really hot day. It also has some small shops, a church and a crepe place. The scenery is amazing.

This has been our favourite walk forever. Do not let the couple of bad characters hinder you from…read morethis beautiful hike, because getting to the top is its own reward with sheer beauty. This property was donated to the state park and open to all. Very clean and well-kept trails, dog friendly, and a nice place to rest and relax, including restrooms at the science centre.

I discovered this place through my daughter. She has gone here twice- once through her middle…read moreschool, and once through a local camp. She raved about it, and we finally got a chance to check it out. So happy we did! Purchase Knob was generously donated by the McNeil-Gilmore family to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is 535 acres of land that rises ultimately to 5,086 feet at the knob. In the meadow below the knob, at 4,850 feet, there are two buildings housing offices, a lab, a classroom for fifty students, and housing for up to eight scientists. Views are 180 degrees. You can hit the Cataloochee Divide Trail here, too. A refurbished cabin originally from the 1870s is nearby, which I will get to in a bit. When you get to the park, you will be blocked by a gate with a sign to the left identifying the park. It is open once in a while for scheduled visits/field trip students. It is easy to get your vehicle locked within the park. (People cannot get locked in.) Park your car on the sides of the road. Just walk around the gate if it is locked. Bring water, and a jacket in the spring or fall. The 2.5 mile round trip trail is basically a wide, dirt road that will eventually lead up to the main buildings. It is well maintained. When you get a glimpse of the building at the top, you will also see a grass trail leading upwards. I would take that trail. It is a shortcut. If you like to walk, just keep going, and the road will eventually lead to the building as well. On the way up, you will see many types of wildflowers. We heard (up) and spotted a hawk (down). I got a photo of nightshade, all the while with my body centimeters from a hidden cliff edge. Be careful on grassy edges! The open areas and tree-filled areas were of equal beauty. In early September I saw purples, greens, grays, and yellows, all framed by a clear blue sky graced by fluffy clouds. Your soul will take this in, and it will hold on to it. When we got to the top, we relaxed. We did not go to the knob proper. We used the very clean bathrooms, and laid down in the field right in front of the buildings. There is a water fountain. You are allowed on the deck, but not in the buildings unless you are with a scheduled group. There are picnic tables grouped close together, and bear-proof trashcans and recycling bins. You can check out the outside of the weather station that is a bit away. I would not traipse around the adjacent fields. I saw tagged plants and left that area so that we would not screw up any data. If you decide to go to the actual knob, you have to blaze your own trail. As of two days ago, the footbridge leading to Cataloochee was out. There is a sign warning of that; be careful crossing creeks. Anyway, that trail is easy to find; just look for signs. Check out the bulletin board for lists of the types of birds and butterflies that you can see there. I saw (possibly) a Cloudless skipper. It was fluorescent yellow! My first. To get down to the restored Ferguson cabin, just leave via the "grass carpet" trail. Make an obvious right and hitch your horse, or kids. This right will lead you to the cabin. The Fergusons were the first farmers to have an elevated farm. Their apples are still there. Do not pick anything. Do not get in the boar trap. Do not get near bears. Do not bother the cow spirits. Call to make sure horses are indeed still allowed. Bears and boars can hurt you. We leave all snacks in the car. You never know. Call the general number to see if bear activity is intense before going to this park. Middle school and up teachers, call this number to schedule a visit: 828-926-6251. This park welcomes wimpy and tough hikers mid-March through November. Call if you have a desire to hike in the deep winter. Remember to check out the Purchase Knob WebCam online for weather and views. To get to this park, take Exit 20, stay on 276 South for five miles. Get on Hemphill Road and stay on Hemphill Road for four miles. This review is dedicated to my daughter Sophie, a quick, beautiful trailblazer.

If you want to tube the French Broad in WNC, this is where you need to be. After being greeted by…read moretwo adorable friendly dogs, the owners made us feel so welcomed. After a detailed safety briefing, we were driven to the put in location. After a very relaxing float that included some rapids, we were provided with free photos and video of our adventure. In my case, I struck something sharp in the water, deflating my tube. Another group that started the same time we did called the owners for me, and in just a few minutes, I had a new tube! This is a well run, affordable business with the greatest owners! Close to Asheville in Marshal, NC. Don't waste your time anywhere else, this is where you need to be!!!

We had the best time. Jim was super kind and helpful. And the pups were a welcoming crew as well.read more

We stayed here for a week and loved listening to the rushing creek and watching the stars at night…read morefrom the hot tub. It was a perfect place for our family to vacation and we really enjoyed exploring all of the sights along the Blue Ridge Parkway. We even got Elk Slobbered by a very loving, yet large mammal. We fell in love with the area and specifically with this exceptionally cute and private cabin. So much so that we found out it was for sale and bought it two weeks ago. It has been a great experience adding our personal touch to make it the cabin of our dreams. My wife and daughter and I hope you will love it as much as we have. It is truly a remarkable location and convenient to so many of the wonderful things that this section of the country offers for relaxation and recreation.

Such a fun time! This is my second time rafting down the French Broad River with Blue Heron and…read moreboth times have been a blast. The guides are knowledgeable, engaging, and they make you feel very safe. The total time in the water was around 5 hours with a lunch break on a pretty rocky side of the river. Prices were very reasonable for the photos at the end. Highly recommended experience.

Very focused on safety and good overview. Felt comfortable with Wags' safety overview. Our guide…read morewas a little less experienced, which got us stuck a few times, but that added to the excitement of an overall pretty easy ride. Nice scenery and felt comfortable the entire time. Kids loved jumping off a rock and into the river. Would recommend for those looking for a not-too-crazy adventure.

If you start in the parking lot at Deep Creek, you can see three waterfalls easily in one day…read more First is Juney Whank which is the most challenging to get to due to steepness. it's probably five out of 10 in difficulty, but it's the hardest part of the three waterfall hike. The rest is pretty easy. After Juney, you go to Tom Branch Falls, then Indian Creek Falls, and then can circle back towards the parking lot.

We saved this hike for our last day of vacation and it was amazing! The park is very nice and has…read moreample parking space. The trail is clearly marked with wooden signs throughout. The hike to the falls is all up hill so be prepared for a pretty steep incline. There is a small waterfall very close to the entrance of the trail. I enjoyed the blooming flowers and trees on the way to the falls. Juney Whank waterfall was a site to see and well worth the hike. If you get the chance take this hike, you won't regret it!

Amazing, clean bathrooms, beautiful view of the river, quiet and spacious sites with river view. We…read morestayed here for four days and what a wonderful place to stay. Joan, the owner was wonderful and very accommodating. We will be back again in the fall.

This RV park was very conveniently located, tucked away on a gorgeous rolling hills property that…read moremet all our needs. The pavilion location was an added bonus.

A very nice stop along the parkway with a fair and unique view…read moreThe Blue Ridge Parkway is a 470-mile-long roadway that meanders through the mountains and connects the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. The parkway boasts about 170 official stops along the path. This site is one of these many stops. It is in between the Wesner Bald and the Yellow Face overlooks. The pull-out is on the southern side of the road and gives you a southwestern view. The view is different from many of the other views for the fact that you are looking across a field and into a valley. The paved area does not have restrooms but the area directly in front of the stop is a field with the trees set back and down the hill allowing a nice view with the exception of 2 large trees. The elevation at this stop is 5280 feet and is close to a trailhead for the Mountains to Sea trail. This is a trail that stretched from the North Carolina outer banks to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That is a distance of 1150 miles that is, obviously, outside the national park boundaries. This is a nice pull-off for the park with a fair and unique view.