**As of 11/1/24, only part of Bill Moore Park is open due to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
NEW HOURS:
8am-6pm daily
OPEN AREAS:
Playground
Restrooms
Large dog park
Steelcase Shelter (no rentals available)
Disc Golf Course
All trails within the main portion of the park
Bill Moore Community Park is recognized as one of the best family parks in Western North Carolina. Park patrons have access to miles of scenic walking trails, Cane Creek, and countless other amenities. Our park impacts the quality of life by contributing to the social, economic, health and environmental well-being of our community. Check out the trails, athletic fields, playground, and picnic area!
The Cradle of Forestry in America is a 6,500-acre Historic Site within the Pisgah National Forest, set aside by Congress to commemorate the beginning of forestry conservation in the United States. Outdoor activities include two guided trails, which lead back in time to seven historical buildings, including a 1915 Climax locomotive and an old sawmill.
The Forest Discovery Center features a fire fighting helicopter simulator, hands-on exhibits, a 26-minute movie ” First in Forest: Carl Schenck and the Biltmore Forest School,” children’s games and more.
Dana Park offers a large playground for kids including swings, slides, and more. Enjoy the basketball courts, athletic fields, and finish up the day at the picnic area!
Facilities include 2 tennis courts, a basketball court, playground, a covered picnic shelter (for up to 55 people), a little picnic table, benches, a rugged walking trail, soccer fields with nets, a level playing field and restrooms. The shelter has 6 tables and a charcoal grill. The rental fee is $40.00 for 4 hours.
Etowah Park’s facilities include a shelter, picnic tables, a playground, a newly repaved walking trail, tennis courts, 4 lighted ball fields, concession stand, batting cages, playground, basketball court, a soccer field, a shuffleboard court, a little library, and a Frisbee golf course. The picnic shelter has two 7 foot tables, six 5 foot tables, electrical outlets and a water spout.
Accessible a little more than an hour’s drive from Hendersonville, Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) covers seven counties in North Carolina and parts of south eastern Tennessee, and serves as the Gateway to the southern-most section of the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP), all of which is contained within GSMNP, beginning at BRP Milepost 469.1. The closest sections of the park to Hendersonville are the Cataloochee and Cherokee areas. The 520,000-acre park itself is one of the largest wilderness areas in the Eastern United States, covering more than 800 square miles. The park contains some of the highest peaks in the East, with elevations in excess of 6,000 feet. A popular destination to view elk, all visitors are encouraged to keep their distance from the elk and all wild animals. The best way to see the elk is using binoculars in the early morning or late evening. Visit in early summer to see calves and September to October for mating season.
The Great Smoky Mountains cover a wide section of the Southern Appalachian Mountains across the two states, much wider than the public lands within this extremely popular National Park. Like much of the Southern Appalachians, the Smokies are known for having extremely diverse and unique ecosystems, which include grassy mountain balds, wetlands and everything in between.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park is known for:
Elk sightings
Motorcycle rides
Breathtaking sunsets and sunrises
Open year-round (but often has seasonal closings due to weather or poor road conditions)
Holmes Educational State Forest operates as a living classroom. The forest began as a nursery developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s to supply landowners with white pine and yellow poplar seedlings.
Today, Holmes State Forest contains five miles of hiking trails. The popular Talking Trees Trail, an easy walking trail, features pedestals in front of a series of tree species. Visitors can push a button on the pedestal and listen to the trees “talk” about specific characteristics of that type of tree, the habitats where they are found and uses for their products.
The forest also includes an interactive museum, picnic tables, restrooms, equipment for fighting forest fires and displays depicting the ecology of a managed forest. A spacious picnic shelter (with grills) is also available. The forest is located about 8-1/2 miles from downtown Hendersonville.
Jackson Park is the largest municipal-owned park in Western North Carolina, covering 220 acres. Managed by Henderson County Parks & Recreation. Popular for birding, basketball courts, an accessible playground, athletic fields, disc golf, mountain biking skills park, walking paths and many picnic areas.
Kate’s and Pete’s Park, located next to the Fletcher Library, is a quaint park feature a playground, paved walking trail, small picnic shelter, and green open space. Kate’s and Pete’s Park is a popular stop for citizens after a trip to the Fletcher Library.
Lake Julian Park is a family recreational facility located on the banks of 300-acre Lake Julian in Arden, off of Long Shoals Road. Lake Julian Park offers fishing, picnic areas, disc golf, outdoor games, a playground, paddleboats, special event venue rentals, and water access along a picturesque 300-acre public lake.
Lake Powhatan offers a sandy beach, swimming, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, picnic area, campground, trails, and educational programs. Lake Powhatan is located just minutes from Asheville.
Mills River Park is a 48-acre park located at 124 Town Center Dr. Its amenities include 1.25 miles of paved multi-use trail, access to Mills River for splashing and tubing, a dog park, large playground, 2 picnic shelters, many picnic tables and benches scattered throughout, tennis/pickleball courts, basketball courts, a baseball diamond, and more. Mills River Park opens at dawn and closes at dusk. Park Restrooms are open seven days per week, during daylight hours.
Pearson’s Falls and Glen is a top natural attraction in Polk County, NC, hosting over 30,000 visitors each year. We are located in the foothills of Western North Carolina off Hwy. 176, between the towns of Tryon and Saluda. This unique botanical preserve is comprised of over 300 acres of rich cove forest, spring-fed streams and a moderate 1/4-mile trail to a 90 ft. waterfall. We boast having over 310 species of wildflowers and plants, a few that are rare. Mosses, lichens, shrubs, and a variety of trees reside in this Glen, which is classified as a deciduous climax forest. Pearson’s Falls is a perfect stop when visiting the area. We have picnic facilities and can accommodate groups and cyclists.
**Please note: Parts of Pisgah National Forest’s Pisgah Ranger District (the section closest to Hendersonville) have reopened, as of October 18th, after the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. There is still much work to be done, and some trails have not yet been touched. Please hike or bike at your own risk, and use extreme caution.**
The Pisgah National Forest’s more than 500,000 acres stretch across the eastern edge of Western North Carolina’s mountains. The closest section to Hendersonville is the Pisgah Ranger District, which includes attractions such as Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock, The Cradle of Forestry and the North Mills River Recreational Area.
Enjoy the Following Activities while you visit Pisgah National Forest:
Camping (roadside camping is first-come, first-served, you can also camp at various campgrounds)
Located off Highway 25 in Zirconia, NC, there is a special place that feels like home to those lucky enough to find it. This family-owned campground sits on a piece of untouched land beside a gently flowing river, offering visitors the chance to feel deeply connected to nature.
The vision behind the campground was to create a small, tight-knit community where everyone feels like family. It was never intended to be a sprawling resort with hundreds of sites, but rather a place where each guest feels a sense of belonging, with the personal touch of a family-run business making all the difference.
More than just a business, the campground is a place to share the beauty of the town, with its mountain views, rich history, and activities for the entire family. Whether fishing by the river, hiking nearby trails, or simply sitting around a campfire, guests are encouraged to create cherished memories in this special corner of the world.
The family takes great pride in what they’ve built but is even more excited to share it with others. As guests step into this little slice of paradise, they are welcomed into a place filled with love and care. Although small, the campground is a home for anyone who values the simple joys of nature and the comfort of genuine companionship.
By the river, where the beauty of the mountains meets the warmth of a family’s hospitality, guests are invited to create their own stories in this peaceful retreat.
6 sites
Full hook up (water, sewer and electric – 30&50 amp)
Allows extended stays
Opened year around
NO cabins or cottages
No tent camping
Max size RV 45ft
Pull through? Allow to drive on grass for pull throughs!
No dump station – every site has own sewer hook up
Sullivan Park has1 8-acres that include a playground , covered basket ballcourts, community garden and access to the Oklawaha Greenway. Public restrooms, open seasonally.
