blue ridge

Test your knowledge of WNC's nationally designated and protected areas under the National Park System.

How one musician found community through harmony

After a century of state parks, Western North Carolina’s are more popular than ever

Learn what drives 4 ultra-runners to go the distance

Probe the pains and pleasures of climbing frozen waterfalls

No Evil Foods is saving the world, one plant-based “sausage” at a time

A new series of signs highlights the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area’s cultural cornerstones

Burke County is bursting with options for your next adventure

Five local bands serve up new summer albums

The region’s first pawpaw orchard delivers a Southern delicacy to local dinner tables

Set out on footpaths that offer big exploration for small people

Safeguard wild lands & trails

Distance 0.7 mile Difficulty: Easy

Celebrate a joyous season with performances galore

Available just two months a year, these grapes make a distinctive pie

Internationally known for the quality of the mica in its soil, Spruce Pine is also ground zero for one of the most highly regarded craft communities in the nation. Potters and other artisan wizards work in the hills and hollers that surround Mineral City, making Spruce Pine a prime base for hiking, touring, and studio-hopping.

Meet 11 leaders in the quest to conserve WNC’s natural areas