OLD HILLS, NEW THRILLS
PADDLE WITH THE PROS
Western North Carolina’s legendary dam-controlled Nantahala runs 350 days a year and features an eight-mile stretch rich with Class II and III whitewater. Access, instruction, and gear are readily available at the nearby Nantahala Outdoor Center, where hundreds of thousands of paddlers—and more than a score of Olympians—have taken courses. Word of warning: Brace for chilly water temps, as the river gets little sunlight.
CLIMB THE GORGE
If climbing’s your thing, Linville Gorge has it all, from bouldering to top-rope to multipitch traditional routes. This isn’t pulling plastic at the gym; it’s a rugged, remote tract. Book Fox Mountain Guides for both safety and shortcuts to the good stuff. foxmountainguides.com
PEDAL THE TSALI
The four hard-packed trail loops at Tsali Recreation Area offer some of the most entertaining singletrack in the Southeast, with views of Fontana Lake and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Combine both the Right and Left courses for an 18mile loop with relatively gentle elevation changes. Rigs can be rented at Tsali Cycles in nearby Bryson City, NC, where you can also stop for a local draft beer after your ride.
SEE FOREVER
In this part of the Appalachian Mountains, dense forests can make ridgeline views hard to come by. But the Art Loeb Trail covers a 30-mile stretch of tree-free peaks that provide sweeping views from over 6,000 feet. If you don’t have three days and two nights to spare, you can capture the trail’s essence in a day hike to Shining Rock (10 miles round-trip).
HIT THE HIGH-END HAY
If your idea of adventure ends with five-star meals and legit spas, check out Blackberry Mountain in Walland, TN. With 5,200 acres of hiking and mountain biking on site, plus easy access to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this new resort can help you recover with massages, meditation, and mountaintop yoga. You may never go back to peanut butter sandwiches again.