Cedar Mountain,
North Carolina
Nestled in the heart of some of the best hiking, mountain biking and waterfalls in the country, Cedar Mountain boasts an array of things for locals and visitors alike. We are famous for stunning landscapes, amazing trails, dense forests, historical monuments, waterfalls and our proximity to some the best small towns in America, Brevard and Hendersonville.
While you are here, make sure you check out some of the things that make the locals proud to call this area home.
Forests & Parks
DuPont State Park
DuPont State Recreational Forest is a 10,000-acre (40 km²) mixed hardwood forest, boasting four major waterfalls, two rivers, several lakes, impressive granite domes, and unique Appalachian swamp bogs. Spanning both Henderson and Transylvania counties, North Carolina, a major portion of the land once belonged to the DuPont Company which then sold it to the state. The Forest was used to shoot scenes from the 1992 film The Last of the Mohicans as well as the 2012 box office hit The Hunger Games. Containing nearly 100 miles (160 km) of multi-use trails and roads, the forest is widely used for many recreational activities, including mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, wading, and kayaking.
Jones Gap State Park
Visitors can find the unforgettable peace and repose of a deep mountain cove at Jones Gap State Park. Trails and 11,000 acres of pristine mountain woodlands join the park with Caesars Head in what is known as the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. The Jones Gap State Park trails allow hikers to traverse between the two parks, as well as connect to a portion of the Foothills Trail South Carolina hikers know and love. When it comes to angling-especially trout fishing-South Carolina really shines. The state’s first designated scenic river, the Middle Saluda River, runs through Jones Gap and offers some of the best trout fishing South Carolina has to offer– and the trout fishing in South Carolina is quite good. The park also features a living lab for the park’s hand-on ecology learning center.
Caesars Head State Park
Located just over the South Carolina State Line, Caesars Head State Park is famous for the granitic gneiss outcropping atop the dramatic Blue Ridge Escarpment, which gives Caesars Head State Park its name. Every fall, from the easily-accessible overlook atop the rocky peak of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, sight-seers are treated to the Hawk Watch program and a spectacular view that extends into North Carolina and Georgia. Caesars Head connects to Jones Gap State Park in what is known as the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, an 11,000-acre area of pristine southern mountain forest. Hikers can take a number of loop and traverse hiking trails that connect the parks, and trailside camping is available for those who choose the longer routes. One of the most popular trails at Caesars Head is the two-mile Raven Cliff Falls trail. This hiking trail leads to 420-foot Raven Cliff Falls, where a suspension bridge offers one of the two publicly accessible overlooks to the falls as they plunge deep into the mountain cove below.Jones Gap: Visitors can find the peace and serenity of a deep mountain cove at Jones Gap State Park. Trails and 11,000 acres of pristine mountain woodlands join the park with Caesars Head in what is known as the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. The Jones Gap State Park trails allow hikers to traverse between the two parks, as well as connect to a portion of the Foothills Trail South Carolina hikers know and love. The park includes great trout fishing on the state’s first designated scenic river, the Middle Saluda River. The park also features a living lab for the park’s hand-on ecology learning center.
The Pisgah National Forest lies just on the other side of Brevard. Comprised of over 500,000 acres, Pisgah is famous for its mile high peaks, cascading waterfalls, and heavily forested slopes. The national forest of full of waterfalls, amazing hiking trails, hundreds of miles of bike trails, camping and numerous other outdoor activities. This national forest is home of the first tract of land purchased under the Weeks Act of 1911 which led to the creation of the national forests in the eastern United States. It is also home of the first school of forestry in the United States, now preserved at the Cradle of Forestry in America historic site, and boasts two of the first designated wilderness areas in the east.
Pisgah National Forest
Historic Places
Pretty Place, aka Fred Symmes Chapel
Fred W. Symmes Chapel is part of the YMCA Camp Greenville. The building was given by Mr. Fred W. Symmes for the enjoyment of the boys and girls who camp here each summer and is the spiritual center of the camp. Camp Greenville has been in existence since 1912 and covers 1400 acres. It is a year-round operation serving as a summer camp, environmental education center, group and conference center, and wedding venue. Camp Greenville welcomes visitors to enjoy the beauty of the Chapel during daylight except when it is in use for campers’ Sunday and Monday morning worship services, or for another reserved event (weddings, dedications, memorial services, etc.)
McGaha Chapel
The historic McGaha Chapel was finished in 1872 during the difficult Reconstruction period following the Civil War, when many families that had been split in loyalty attempted to create a community church. Historical documents indicate that an unsuccessful attempt had been made in 1854; however McGaha Chapel was more successful. The pristine chapel remains essentially as it was in 1872, with some of the original hand-pressed glass
Nearby Towns
Asheville
Asheville is the largest city in western North Carolina and only 45 miles from Cedar Mountain. In under an hour, you can be in the Appalachian Shangri-La. This town, tucked between the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains, draws a funky mix of New Agers, fleece-clad mountain bikers, antiques lovers and old-time farmers. And what's there not to like? Charming yet surprisingly cosmopolitan for a town of about 85,000, Asheville has a Southern appeal all its own. Asheville has rapidly become the microbrew capital of the south and is becoming known as a foodie haven. There really is something for everyone in Asheville. For more information visit www.exploreasheville.com.
Brevard
Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Brevard has plenty to do and see year-round. Fans of live music will always find something to appreciate in the county seat of Transylvania County, while classical music-lovers will enjoy performances at the award-winning Brevard Music Center. Brevard also boasts multiple music festivals held throughout the year. The area surrounding Brevard has been nicknamed “The Land of Waterfalls” due to the scores of breathtaking falls, including Looking Glass, Sliding Rock and Connestee Falls. Mountain bikers are happy here, too, as Pisgah National Park and DuPont State Forests contain nearly 200 miles of bike trails through beautiful outdoor country. For more informtion visit www.brevardnc.org.
Hendersonville
Hendersonville features many elements of an idealized small town, with an inviting downtown, unique shops, lots of parking, and the gleaming dome of the old county courthouse. Visitors can stroll enjoyably four hours, wandering the length of downtown on Main and Church streets and generating an appetite for the many eateries you’ll find. For more information visit www.historichendersonville.org.
Nestled into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville, South Carolina has combined traditional southern charm, stunning natural beauty and an unexpected contemporary cool to create one of America's hottest emerging destinations and fastest growing cities. From a revitalized downtown ranked among "America's Ten Best" by Forbes Magazine to downtown Greenville's one-of-a-kind Liberty Bridge, quaint shops, boutiques, and fabulous restaurants to a world-class collection of museums, galleries, and theaters to some of the most beautiful lakes, rivers and mountains in the world, Greenville, South Carolina is everything they say it is and more. Check us out and see for yourself why we're not just any Greenville - we're THAT Greenville. For more information visit www.visitgreenvillesc.com.