Outdoor adventure abounds in the Blue Ridge Mountain town of Hendersonville, North Carolina. The town’s location — surrounded by hills and valleys covered in old-growth forests with rivers and streams flowing throughout — makes it an ideal destination to escape the indoor confines and reconnect with nature.
The French Broad River weaves along Hendersonville’s western edge. The ancient river is known for its calm, northward-moving waters. Lazy Otter Outfitters puts people on the water for as long as they like, with options ranging from four miles to 13 miles. Vessel choices include canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and tubes. The Sierra Nevada Express involves seven miles of paddling with an end point next door to the impressive East Coast headquarters of this nationally known craft brewery. Stretch the voyage into two days with the paddle-and-camp package, which includes an overnight stay at the outfitter’s private campsite. Visitors may pack their own camping gear or rent the camping essentials.
For the truly adventurous, The Gorge Zipline is the steepest and fastest zipline experience in the country. The course descends more than 1,100 feet into the Green River Gorge via 11 ziplines, three rappels and a 95-foot sky bridge. The surrounding forest is home to huge poplars, oaks, cucumber magnolias and maples, many of them more than 175 years old. The views from The Gorge course overlook
18,000 protected acres of the Green River Gamelands.
Mountain bikers delight in a visit to the Reeb Ranch. The bicycle haven was created by Oskar Blues Brewery, located in nearby Brevard. The onsite bike park contains an extra-large flow track, pump tracks
ranch house.
For a list of outdoor adventure attractions, as well as lodging and dining options, go to
www.VisitHendersonvilleNC.org or call (800) 828-4244.
Hendersonville has become our go-to basecamp for NC fun! Very affordable lodging, great food and drink, and every adventure we want within arm’s reach!