If you're in Old Fort, NC, there are several amazing places you can visit within an hour’s drive. Here's a list of some great destinations:

Closed Till 2025!!!!!


 1. Catawba Falls (10 minutes)
   - Located just minutes from Old Fort, this waterfall is a popular hiking spot, offering a short but scenic trail that leads to the stunning Catawba Falls. Great for families and hikers of all skill levels.

2.  Asheville (30 minutes)
   - A vibrant city known for its arts scene, historic architecture, and breweries. Don’t miss:
     - **Biltmore Estate**: America’s largest private home, with beautiful gardens and winery.
     - **Downtown Asheville**: Explore eclectic shops, galleries, and cafes.
     - **River Arts District**: Stroll through working artist studios along the French Broad River.
   
3. Lake Lure & Chimney Rock (35-40 minutes)
   - **Lake Lure**: Known for its serene waters, perfect for swimming, kayaking, and boat tours.
   - **Chimney Rock State Park**: Climb the iconic Chimney Rock for panoramic views of the Hickory Nut Gorge, and enjoy hiking trails and waterfalls within the park.


4. Blue Ridge Parkway (30-45 minutes)
   - Take a scenic drive along this iconic route with plenty of overlooks offering breathtaking views of the mountains. Popular stops include:
     - **Craggy Gardens**: Famous for its rhododendron blooms and hiking trails.
     - **Mount Mitchell State Park**: The highest peak east of the Mississippi, with stunning vistas and hiking.

5. Linville Falls and Gorge (45-50 minutes)
   - One of the most beautiful waterfalls in North Carolina, offering various hiking trails that provide views of both the upper and lower falls. The nearby **Linville Gorge Wilderness Area** is perfect for more adventurous hikers.

 6. Marion (15-20 minutes)
   - A quaint town with a growing food and brewery scene. Visit:
     - **Mica Town Brewing** for craft beer.
     - **Downtown Marion** for small-town charm and historic buildings.

7. Pisgah National Forest (40-45 minutes)
   - A vast wilderness with opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and camping. **Bent Creek Experimental Forest** is a popular spot for biking and hiking close to Asheville.

8. Little Switzerland (50 minutes)
   - A scenic mountain village located off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Explore gem mining, local shops, and enjoy sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

9. Black Mountain (20 minutes)
   - A charming small town with an artsy vibe, home to unique shops, galleries, and delicious cafes. Don't miss **Lake Tomahawk** for a peaceful walk or **Pisgah Brewing Company** for live music and local beer.

10. Mount Mitchell State Park (1 hour)
   - The highest peak in the Eastern United States, with hiking trails and an observation deck offering amazing views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.

These spots offer a mix of natural beauty, outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, and small-town charm, all within an hour’s drive from Old Fort, NC.

Things to Do Just Minutes from Old Fort

Chimney Rock State Park & Lake Lure 


approximately  20 minutes from Skyisland campground



Grandfather Mountain

1 hour form the campground


Mile high Swing Bridge

The mile high bridge was built to give visitors easy access to breath taking views from  Grandfather Mountain's Linville peak.


Linville Falls and Linville Gorge  about 30 minutes away from the campground


A very popular hike with easy access.

Linville Gorge is the grand canyon of the east. Wiseman's View, which is in Linville Gorge, is the deepest gorge in the east and during the fall months has  strange lights called the "Brown Mountain Lights"

Biltmore House (NOT FREE)

about 25 miles from the Skyisland campground


It's the largest private estate and tourist attraction in Asheville, NC. Many guests enjoy the wine tasting and horseback riding at the Estate.

Lookout Point

Greenway Bike Trail

5 minutes away from the Skyisland in Black Mountain


It's the best paved Greenway bike trail in the Asheville area.

Lookout Point is a 3.6 mile paved trail winding through the mountains  with serene views of the railroad, Black Mountain Village, and forest.

Andrews Geyser

is about 5 minutes


Andrews Geyser is a man-made fountain in Old Fort, North Carolina  in McDowell County. The fountain is named for Colonel Alexander Boyd Andrews, a North Carolina native who was the Vice President of the Southern Railway Company and one of the men responsible for the construction of the railroad between Old Fort and Asheville, North Carolina. in the late 19th century. The fountain was constructed in 1885 with a dual purpose: it was a feature of the Round Knob Hotel, and a tribute to the approximately 120 men who died building the railroad through this particularly treacherous stretch of land, that culminates with the crossing of the Eastern Continental Divide through the Swannanoa Tunnel. The fountain was said to be eye-catching for railroad passengers ascending the 13 miles of track and seven tunnels that peaks at the top of Swannanoa Gapbecause it could be seen several times along the route.

Catawba Falls

is just minutes away from Asheville.

only 3 miles from Skyisland Campground 


Since the 1870s when Rufus Morgan photographed the Catawba Falls, people have hiked along the Catawba River to view these spectacular waterfalls. After years of being off limits the falls are now open to the public. The first falls is a moderate hike, the upper falls is very difficult and dangerous and should not be undertaken lightly. You will pass by stone buildings and a dam used for power generation in the early 1900s these sites are historic and dangerous DO NOT cross the dam, it is weak and a fall from it can cause serious injury. Cell phone service is good but there are no quick response emergency teams to help you so be safe.



​​Skyisland Retreat And Campground

Down Town Black Moutain

about 15 minutes from Skyisland Cabins


Downtown Black Mountain is a quaint village with 40 or so shops,  a dozen restaurants , and the Swannanoa Valley Museum.  The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is a community arts facility in the beautifully renovated Old City Hall and houses monthly exhibits in the gallery along with programs in music, visual and performing arts. 

Mount Mitchell

Highest peak in the appalachian


1 hour away from Skyisland Campground


The tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River. For those that ascend this mighty peak, what looms on the horizon is a feast for the eyes.

skyisland

Tom's Creek Falls

woodlawn falls

About 30 minutes away from the campground.


This trail is great if you are a first time hiker. It has a gentle rolling grade, crushed mica glitters on the walk path to the foot of the falls. The whole trail feels like something out of a Disney movie. Large pillars that at one point held a massive water wheel, the falls rushing over the rocks, and a water filled mine that's entombed whatever gold that is left from the once bountiful mine.