39
Jackson Park & The Oklawaha Greenway: Enjoy a bike ride,
walk or run on over 3.5 miles of newly constructed greenways just minutes from
downtown Hendersonville. This scenic greenway links Jackson Park’s disc golf course, bike
pump track and various ball fields to the “field of dreams” at Berkeley Park. In total, this makes
for a great in-town adventure with options for some scenic exploration along Mud Creek and
the wooded areas of both parks with additional trails connecting to King Park, Sullivan Park
and Patton Park along the way. Plans are currently underway to extend this greenway into
the proposed Ecusta Trail, an 18-mile railroad line that local advocates are hoping will become
a rails-to-trails pathway leading into the Pisgah National Forest and Brevard. Directions
from Hendersonville: From downtown, head east on 4th Ave. to Jackson Park.
Explore DuPont State Forest: The 10,000 acre Dupont State
Forest is the holy grail for runners and hikers that enjoy waterfalls along the trail.
In Dupont, there are enough trail variations to keep all levels of adventurers excited even
after multiple miles of exploring.Triple Falls, Hooker Falls, Bridal Veil Falls,Wintergreen Falls,
High Falls, Grassy Creek Falls, Cedar Rock Mountain, Lake Dense, Lake Alford and Lake
Julia are all accessible.The main trails are wide gravel roads. Need more adventure? Jump
off the gravel road and explore down one of the many single track trails throughout the
forest. Directions from Hendersonville: Heading out of Hendersonville take US
64 past the small town of Etowah to the stop light in Little River.Turn left onto Crab Creek Road
and follow the signs to a right turn onto DuPont Road which becomes Staton Road - Continue
to High Falls Parking Lot on left.
Paddle The Green River: If you are looking for a high-adventure,
heart-pumping whitewater experience, this is it! One of the steepest commerciallyrun sections of whitewater in the Southeast, the Upper Green consists of continuous class
II and III rapids and two class IV’s. Green River Adventures is the only company to run trips
on this beautiful wilderness section of the Green River, so get away from the crowds and
experience one of the rowdiest sections of whitewater in the area. Call ahead: (828) 749-2800.
Test Your Legs On The Pinnacle: The Pinnacle Mountain Climb
outside of Saluda is arguably the toughest climb in the area and is part of a 17-mile
section of road that can be accessed via Pinnacle Mountain Road not far from Flat Rock
and Hendersonville. The first climb takes you up to SkyTop Orchard, but that is a false
summit. After travelling down the road for a ways, the real climb begins. After a fairly
moderate start you’ll turn the corner and see a steep wall to climb. It ranges from 1525%, very steep, until easing up at the very end. A worn path leads to small boulders
near the crest for those who want to rest their legs and take in the hard-earned view.
Directions from Hendersonville: Beginning near Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock,
head east on Pinnacle Mtn Road for 16 miles to a left turn on Green River Road and follow
Green River Road 15 miles back to the orchard.
Zip The Gorge: The Gorge, which opened in June 2013, features 11 zip lines,
a sky-bridge, and 3 rappels in tree-based platforms. Participants will experience a
3-hour tour immersed in nature.This adventure begins from a deck perched high in the
trees overlooking the gorge and finishes 1,100 feet below at the base of the Green River
Gorge. Most of the tree-based platforms have stunning views of the gorge, which offers
a great chance to size up your next adventure from above. Call ahead: (828) 749-2500.
North Mills River Recreation Area (Mills River): The vast Mills
River area is a secluded valley that is home to some of the area’s most pristine
water and is a great destination for a multi-sport adventure.We like this area for the biking, the numerous camping options and seemingly endless streams and rivers to explore
(and fish). For a day hike, head up to the Trace Ridge trailhead which gives you access to
the Trace Ridge, Fletcher Creek and North Mills River trails.This area is vast so we highly
recommend a trail map. Directions from Hendersonville: Take I-240 W to
I-26 E to Exit 40/Airport Rd. Turn right on to Airport Rd./US 280 for 3 miles to North Mills
River Rd./NC 1345. Turn right and follow for 5 miles to the recreation area. To get to theTrace
Ridge trailhead make a right onto Wash Creek Road/FR 479; follow this for several miles and
turn left onto the first ungated gravel road which has a concrete low-water bridge, follow this
0.5 mile to the Trace Ridge trailhead and parking lot.
Fly Fishing Near Hendersonville: The rivers, streams, and lakes
surrounding Hendersonville are filled with rainbow trout, brown trout, and native
brook trout, as well as muskie and smallmouth bass. Enjoy an easy catch on the Hatchery
Supported and Delayed Harvest trout waters of the Lower Green River. Or, attempt
to outsmart the wily, seasoned trout on the Wild Trout Waters of the Narrows of the
Green and Pacolet Rivers. Get There: For directions to these and other fly fishing areas
near Hendersonville, download our free mobile app. Green River Adventures in Saluda offers
guided fly fishing trips.