From Asheville’s dog-loving downtown to orchard strolls and mountain trails, the Blue Ridge foothills offer plenty of unique spots where pups are welcome alongside their people.
With room to roam, rewarding trails and plenty of fresh-air adventure, this corner of North Carolina makes it easy for dogs and their owners to get outside and explore.
With nationally significant history, scenic trails, world-class birding, unforgettable concerts and the legendary striped bass run, spring truly shines in Halifax County.
In their pursuit of birdies and eagles, golfers can play North Carolina courses that are committed to protecting the habitats of resident and migratory birds. Here’s a look at courses certified by Audubon International’s Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf and its Signature and Classic Sanctuary Programs. All of these courses are open to the public.
Carvers Creek State Park was the first NC state park to open in the Sandhills, protecting more than 4,000 acres of longleaf pine landscapes that feel both rare and timeless. Start at Long Valley Farm, once the winter retreat of James Stillman Rockefeller, for serene trails through open fields and longleaf forest.
South Mountains State Park is one of North Carolina’s most rugged outdoor playgrounds, where the Piedmont starts to rise into the Blue Ridge. Expect elevations up to 3,000 feet, more than 40 miles of trails and the showstopper High Shoals Falls, an 80-foot waterfall that rewards the hike with a roar and a pool below.
The 535-million-year-old Chimney Rock is one of North Carolina’s most iconic views, perched above Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge. Take the elevator or tackle the stairs to the top of the 315-foot granite spire, then branch out to trails that lead to overlooks and the 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls. Reservations are recommended.
Fort Fisher helped shape the outcome of the Civil War by keeping the port of Wilmington open to blockade runners supplying goods, and today it’s one of the coast’s most compelling places to step into that story. Explore exhibits in the visitors center, then head outside to walk the brickwater, trails and overlooks where sweeping views of the Cape Fear River meet the Atlantic.
Tucked into Rockingham County about 30 miles northwest of Greensboro, Mayo River State Park is built for choose-your-own-adventure days on the water. Start at Mayo Mountain Access for hiking trails, fishing ponds and a picnic shelter, then explore the river corridor at access points such as Deshazo Mill, Anglin Mill, Hickory Creek and Mayodan. The Mayo is rich with wildlife and Class II rapids, plus Deshazo Mill adds a quick waterfall payoff at Fall Creek.
Grandfather Mountain State Park is High Country hiking at some of its most thrilling, with rugged terrain, big elevation and iconic ridgeline views. Take on the famous Grandfather Trail for ladders and cables across exposed rock, or choose routes like Profile, Boone Fork or Daniel Boone Scout for a full-day challenge that still feels wildly worth it at the top. This is a pack-smart, plan-ahead kind of park where weather can change fast and the payoff is pure Blue Ridge wow.