Asheville NC Vacation

Western North Carolina is famous for its outdoor activities including fishing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, rafting, mountain hiking, mountain bike riding, golfing and much more!  FISHING in our numerous stocked mountain streams is a year-round activity.  The PISGAH FOREST FISH HATCHERY, open to the public, is both informative and experiential.  It’s fascinating to walk beside the numerous open waterways and view the fish at various stages of development.   The N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission this year will stock more than 818,000 rainbow, brook and brown trout from March through August.  All will be above 10” in length, with about 4% exceeding 14 inches.  For more information, go to http://www.ncwildlife.org/.

Just off the Pisgah Forest Fish Hatchery parking lot are numerous hiking trails…one of our favorites is Cat’s Gap Loop.  At the top of the trail is a huge rock face where you can rest and enjoy the awesome views including Looking Glass Rock.  At the far end of the parking lot, look for the bulletin board with trail information.  As you might guess, just down the road is the trail head for Looking Glass Rock and Looking Glass Waterfalls.  To see the Pisgah National Forest attractions, including the falls and the hatchery, go to http://ncnatural.com/NCUSFS/Pisgah/lkglass.html.

The Pisgah Chapter of Trout Unlimited offers fly-fishing schools from time to time, and has more information regarding trout fishing in the area.  Email Mark.Coffin@bellsouth.net  for more information.  Google “Fly Fishing Asheville” for a list of the numerous fly fishing guide outfitters in Asheville.

We hope you have a chance to enjoy fishing in our area and would love for you to stay at one of our nearby vacation rental cabins, cottages and chalets.  We promise you’ll be outrageously spoiled by all our wonderful amenities!   We are an authorized Biltmore Estate ticket distributor and can sell you discounted tickets good for 2 consecutive days instead of just 1 day at the higher gate price.  See our website for more details: www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com or call us at 828-274-9777 or email us at joyah@aol.com 

NORTH CAROLINA DUPONT STATE FOREST FOR HIKING, BIKING, FISHING, HORSEBACK RIDING AND HUNTING

The 10,400 acre North Carolina DuPont State Forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains between Hendersonville and Brevard NC is famous for its astounding waterfalls on the Little River and Grassy Creek including the High Falls (150′), Triple Falls (120′), Bridal Veil Falls (you can walk behind the falls) and Hooker Falls (a popular swimming hole).  This was the location for some of the waterfall scenes in the movie, The Last of the Mohicans.  In addition, the park is a leading mountain bike destination with nearly 100 miles of beautiful trails (some with challenges and many with gentle grades) used for bicycling, hiking and for horseback riding.  Enjoy fishing in the five lakes, warm water streams and cold water streams.  Hunting is allowed in specified areas during season.  No camping is allowed.  Please see their website for specific times, licenses, rules and driving directions for your desired activities:  www.dupontforest.com   

Whatever your reason for visiting the DuPont State Forest, you will be awe-struck by the astonishing scenery of the area.  We highly recommend visiting this state forest to our vacation rental guests staying at our nearby Hendersonville and Asheville cabins, cottages, chalets and homes:  www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com  Call 828-274-9777 or email Joyah@aol.com if you wish to make reservations to stay with us. 

Photos by Stephanie Joy Johnson, www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com for luxury Asheville and Hendersonville vacation rental cabins, cottages, chalets and homes.  We are authorized Biltmore Estate ticket distributors. Buy your discounted BILTMORE HOUSE TICKETS from us…save money, no waiting in line and tickets are good for TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS instead of just one at their higher price one day price!

Email:  Joyah@aol.com

Phone:  828-274-9777

The astonishing Triple Falls in NC DuPont State Forest Photo by Stephanie Joy Johnson for www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com

The beautiful Hooker Falls in NC DuPont State Forest - Photo by Stephanie Joy Johnson for www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com

Hooker Falls in NC DuPont State Forest - Photo by Stephanie Joy Johnson for www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com

The awesome High Falls in the NC DuPont State Forest

The lovely 60 acre Fletcher Community Park bordered by Cane Creek River is conveniently located between the Blue Ridge Mountain towns of Asheville and Hendersonville NC and open year round.  The small town of Fletcher, encompassing 5 square miles incorporated in 1989 with a population of about 5000, is a growing family-oriented community dedicated to enhanced quality of life for its residents and visitors. 

Our Dream Chalet and Joy Chalet vacation rental homes located in Fletcher NC (www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com) are only a few miles from the recreational Fletcher Community Park.  Our guests often take advantage of the pretty nature walking trail by the Cane Creek, eat at the tree-shaded picnic tables or play horse-shoes.  In addition, there are a total of 5 walking trails from the longest Outer Loop of 1.4 miles to the shortest .2 mile Cane Creek trail.  Enjoy the disc (frisbee) golf, fishing, youth and adult softball fields, soccer fields, playgrounds, bicycle trails, large grill, concession stand and restrooms.  Dogs are welcome as long as you keep them on a leash and clean up after them. 

Directions:  On Hendersonville Road in the town of Fletcher turn at the light signal on Howard Gap (just opposite the Blue Sky Café – yummmm! – and the Go Grocery & Dollar Stores).  After you turn on Howard Gap, the park is less than a mile on your left.  

Address:  85 Howard Gap Road, Fletcher NC 28732

Phone:  828-687-0751  Fax:  828-687-7133

Website Info:  www.FletcherParks.org

Hours:  6:30 AM to Dusk

Admission:  FREE

Reviewed by Stephanie Joy Johnson of Asheville’s luxury vacation cabins, chalets, cottages and homes:  www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com  YOU DESERVE TO BE SPOILED and you will be outrageously spoiled at our vacation rental homes by our awesome amenities!!! Buy your discounted BILTMORE HOUSE TICKETS from us…save money, no waiting in line and tickets are good for TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS instead of just one!  828-274-9777  Email: Joyah@aol.com

Whether you want to fish, sail, canoe, paddle boat, camp or picnic, LAKE JULIAN, open daily year around, is a great family recreational park located at the south edge of Asheville NC.  Lake Julian is a deep lake about a mile long and .3 to .5 miles wide.  Due to its use as a cooling agent for our local Carolina Power & Light electric company located on its shore, the Lake Julian is a “thermal” lake staying warm even during the winter months.  Some of the best fishing and bird watching is from October through March where you can expect to find catfish, bass, bluegill, crappie and Tilapia.  A local $3 lake fishing permit is required.  For a reasonable fee, you may rent a fishing boat or launch your own (only electric motors allowed - gasoline motors are prohibited).  Rent one of their big pavilions with plenty of picnic tables for family reunions or large group gatherings. 

Website for daily hours and rental rates:      http://www.buncombecounty.org/common/parks/LakeJulianBrochure.pdf

Phone:  828-684-0376

Address:  75 Long Shoals Road, Asheville NC

Directions to Lake Julian Park:  From Asheville take Exit #37 off Interstate 26 E.  Turn left onto Long Shoals Road.  Go 1.1 mile to a light signal & turn right on Overlook Ext. The park entrance is .1 mile. 

Reviewed by Stephanie Joy Johnson, www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com for luxury Asheville and Hendersonville vacation rental cabins, cottages, chalets and homes.  We are authorized Biltmore Estate ticket distributors. Buy your discounted BILTMORE HOUSE TICKETS from us…save money, no waiting in line and tickets are good for TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS instead of just one at their higher price one day price!

Email:  Joyah@aol.com

Phone:  828-274-9777