{"id":3822,"date":"2026-03-27T20:34:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T20:34:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/outdoornc.com\/?page_id=3822"},"modified":"2026-03-30T19:30:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T19:30:30","slug":"mcdowell-county","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/outdoornc.com\/itineraries\/mcdowell-county\/","title":{"rendered":"McDowell County"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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48 hours in McDowell County<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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McDowell County<\/a><\/strong><\/span> has all of the hallmarks of a world class adventure destination. Picture perfect lake ideal for paddling, camping and swimming? That would be Lake James. Scenic views from summits? The county has mountains that reach 3,000 feet in elevation, as well as a slice of the gorgeous Blue Ridge Parkway. Hundreds of miles of trails traverse the landscape, offering something for hard-charging athletes and those simply looking for a scenic stroll. Meanwhile, the trail towns of Marion, Old Fort, Little Switzerland and Linville Falls serve as cultural hubs for residents and visitors alike. And maybe most important? McDowell County has a culture of stewardship that guides the area\u2019s development as more visitors discover the beauty that exists in this up-and-coming adventure destination.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Steve Pierce<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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meet the local: steve pierce<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A former school teacher who taught at a local elementary school for decades, Steve Pierce is used to thinking about the well-being of the community. But instead of shaping young minds, Pierce now spends much of his time shaping the outdoor objectives for McDowell County, contributing to multiple outdoor organizations in the region. Most notably, Pierce serves as the president of the McDowell Trails Association<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, a non-profit that is responsible for a variety of community-based trail projects. When he\u2019s not helping to plan the next great trail of McDowell County, he\u2019s out hiking them.<\/p>

\u201cThere are so many trails in this area, a visitor could come for a week and fill all of their time with outdoor recreation,\u201d Pierce says. \u201cAnd the systems are only growing. There are new trails being developed in several locations throughout the county.\u201d<\/p>

With the help of the McDowell Trails Association, those visitors can practice good stewardship while enjoying the trails; the association provides volunteers and participants of guided hikes with free backpack tags that list the seven key Outdoor NC Leave No Trace principles.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Steve Pierce: My weekend exploring and preserving in Mcdowell county\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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day one<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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morning adventure<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Start in Old Fort, which is a rapidly growing trail town at the base of Pisgah National Forest. A one-stop place to learn about all the area has to offer is the Destination McDowell Visitor Center<\/a><\/strong><\/span> on Catawba Avenue.<\/p>

A visit here is a good way to Plan Ahead and Prepare, because you can learn about the current trail conditions and status of various trails. Planning ahead like this will help minimize your impact by allowing you to steer clear of trails that are closed for maintenance.<\/p>

A great introduction to the area\u2019s grandeur is to hike the Catawba Falls Trail<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, which has undergone serious renovation projects during recent years. Catawba Falls is a two-tiered waterfall with a 205-foot cascading Lower Falls and an 80-foot Upper Falls. You can complete a 3.5-mile loop that takes in both sections of the falls.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Upper Catawba Falls<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Lunch<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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There are some great locally owned businesses right in downtown Old Fort. If you\u2019re looking for pizza, go to 27 Main<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, which serves delicious, hand-made pies in one of downtown\u2019s historic buildings on Main Street.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Afternoon adventure<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Everyone should check out Old Fort\u2019s Gateway Trail System<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, which is an ever-expanding collection of hiking trails and singletrack designed for mountain biking. If you just want to take a stroll, the Meadows Loop Trail is a mostly level crushed rock trail along a creek and through a meadow. The one-mile loop is accessible to almost everyone and an accessible fishing pier is located nearby, if you want to drop a line.<\/p>

Mountain bikers have plenty to choose from in the Gateway Trails. There are more than 14 miles of trail on the ground now, and that total will more than triple as new projects come online. Bikers and runners can do laps by climbing Jarrett Creek, a gravel road, and descending the flowy trails of Jarrett\u2019s Run or Betty\u2019s Run back to the trailhead.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Gateway Trail System<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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dinner<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Finish the night at Hillman Beer<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, in downtown Old Fort. You can sit outside on their patio right next to Mill Creek, listening to the water trickle by, and have their Signature Burger, which uses locally-grown beef, and one of their locally made beers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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spend the night<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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There are plenty of camping and cabin options surrounding Old Fort, as well as some unique inns and retreats. Indigo Retreat<\/a><\/strong><\/span> is nestled against Pisgah National Forest and offers overnight stays as well as guided nature retreats.<\/p>

Or you can stay at the Inn on Mill Creek<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, which will put you close to the trails between Old Fort and Black Mountain.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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day two<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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morning adventure<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If it\u2019s warm, spending a few hours on Lake James is a must. The man-made reservoir is the central focus of Lake James State Park<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s a 6,812-acre lake with multiple secluded coves where mountains rising directly from the edge of the water. A sandy beach makes swimming an approachable adventure for visitors, but you can also rent canoes or paddleboards from the park\u2019s Paddy\u2019s Creek Recreation Area and explore the lake\u2019s 150 miles of shoreline.<\/p>

Paddling is a great way to see wildlife, as it\u2019s often quieter than hiking. If you see one of the area\u2019s local creatures, like a bald eagle, which have been known to nest near Lake James, or a black bear, Keep Wildlife Wild by maintaining a safe distance, which will help preserve that animal\u2019s stress-free experience.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Lake James near Marion, North Carolina<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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lunch break<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Check out Mica Town Brewing<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u2019s new outpost near Lake James State Park to grab a snack and a beer after an adventure on the lake. If you want classic BBQ done right, head to Smokey Que\u2019s<\/a><\/strong><\/span> in Marion.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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afternoon adventure<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It\u2019s time for a scenic drive, so head deeper into the mountains to access the Blue Ridge Parkway, where you can drive a 25-mile stretch of the road that offers plenty of scenic views from regular pullouts, but also provides access to some fun hikes and pit stops. Check out Little Switzerland, a historic resort town with unique Swiss architecture, or the Historic Orchard at Altapass, where a general store serves goodies picked fresh from the 100-year-old orchard. If you want to stretch your legs, Crabtree Falls<\/a><\/strong><\/span> is a 60-foot waterfall at the end of a three-mile hike.<\/p>

When you\u2019re hiking, be sure you stick to the established trails and take rest breaks and lunch breaks on durable surfaces, like places where benches have been places, or large rock outcroppings. This will give the foliage surrounding the trails the chance to thrive without being disturbed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Bonus adventure<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Point Lookout Trail<\/a><\/strong><\/span> is a great option for both hikers and cyclists. It\u2019s a 3.6-mile paved trail that follows the former roadbed of Old Highway 70 but is closed to motorized traffic. The trail gains 900 feet through a scenic gorge between Old 70 and Black Mountain, so there is some climbing, but you can always turn back when you like. And the long-range views are great, especially from an overlook at the top of the trail, which looks back at the mountains surrounding Old Fort and Marion.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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You\u2019re invited to join the outdoor nc movement<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Join the movement to preserve and protect North Carolina\u2019s beloved outdoor spaces and you\u2019ll be entered to win a ENO double nest hammock and hanging straps! Together we can preserve our beloved outdoor spaces for generations to come. Click to learn more.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJoin the Movement<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

48 hours in McDowell County McDowell County has all of the hallmarks of a world class adventure destination. Picture perfect lake ideal for paddling, camping and swimming? That would be Lake James. Scenic views from summits? The county has mountains that reach 3,000 feet in elevation, as well as a slice of the gorgeous Blue […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3823,"parent":3266,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3822","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMcDowell County - OutdoorNC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"My Thoughtful Outdoor Escape in Cherokee County, North Carolina.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/outdoornc.com\/itineraries\/mcdowell-county\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"McDowell County - OutdoorNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"My Thoughtful Outdoor Escape in Cherokee County, North Carolina.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/outdoornc.com\/itineraries\/mcdowell-county\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"OutdoorNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-30T19:30:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/outdoornc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mountain-Biking-Old-Fort-NC.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2048\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1365\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/outdoornc.com\\\/itineraries\\\/mcdowell-county\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/outdoornc.com\\\/itineraries\\\/mcdowell-county\\\/\",\"name\":\"McDowell County - 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