You’ve never experienced a place like this—because Brevard isn’t like any other place. Head down from milepost 412 on Hwy 276 or milepost 422.4 on Hwy 215 along the Blue Ridge Parkway to get a taste of Brevard and Transylvania County. With over 100,000 acres of public lands, 250 waterfalls, and thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails, our corner of the mountains is an outdoor paradise.
Looking Glass Rock Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway Stops in Brevard
There’s much to see and do along America’s Favorite Drive, but there are a few stops along the way that are absolute must-dos. A few of our favorite stops that we think you ought to explore include:
- Cradle of Forestry – 5.6 miles from the Parkway
- Sliding Rock Falls, Mother Nature’s waterslide – 8.8 miles from the Parkway
- John Rock Trail – 12.9 miles from the Parkway
- Looking Glass Falls – 10.9 miles from the Parkway
- Downtown Brevard – 19.9 miles from the Parkway
- Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) – 13.8 miles from the Parkway
- Headwaters of the French Broad River, the 3rd oldest river in the world – 17.6 miles from the Parkway
Looking Glass Falls
North Carolina’s Land of Waterfalls
With hundreds of jaw-dropping cascades to explore, it’s no wonder Transylvania County is the Land of Waterfalls. Some are tucked deep into the forest while others are easy-to-reach roadside attractions. A few of our favorites are Looking Glass Falls (just over 10 miles from the Parkway) and Upper Whitewater Falls, the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. Also known for its popularity as Mother Nature’s slip-n-slide, Sliding Rock (8 miles from the Parkway) is guaranteed to take your breath away and cool you off in the summertime.
White Squirrel Weekend in Downtown Brevard, NC
Stroll Through Downtown Brevard
A gateway to Pisgah’s wild beauty, Downtown Brevard hangs its hat on “local” with wonderful specialty shops, galleries, outfitters, restaurants, and breweries. We would say “charming”, but that just doesn’t quite capture how it feels. Downtown is a warm, welcoming place that blends classic Americana, rugged mountain beauty, and vibrant creativity into one tucked-away trail town. It’ll be the highlight of your trip. See it for yourself, just 19.9 miles from the Parkway.
White Squirrel, Brevard’s Unofficial Mascot
See the Famous White Squirrels
White squirrels make up about one-third of the squirrel population in Brevard, and they’ve been the unofficial mascot of our town for decades. We even have a festival dedicated to them, White Squirrel Weekend, which takes place on Memorial Day weekend. White Squirrel Day is Brevard’s version of Groundhog Day, and Brevard’s White Squirrel Ambassador—Pisgah Piper—predicted an early spring and for the Eagles to win the Super Bowl.
Friends enjoying drinks at Ecusta Brewing
Have a Pint at a Local Brewery
There’s nothing quite like a cold pint after exploring scenic overlooks to celebrate a great adventure. Brevard is home to five local breweries that act as a perfect pit stop for your crew. Brevard Brewing specializes in handcrafted pilsners and lagers. Noblebräu Brewing and Griffon & Sphynx Brewing serve an array of tasty beers in Brevard’s artsy, eclectic Lumberyard District. Ecusta Brewing is known for its sours, ales, and porters. Oskar Blues, along with their authentic bluegrass jams, offers fresh, NC-batch beer and an incredible food truck, the Chub Wagon.
Find Yourself in Our Backyard
Be sure to give us a wave from the Pounding Mill Overlook! It’s one of our favorite spots to watch the sunset after shopping and dining in Downtown Brevard. Do you see Looking Glass Rock out there in the distance? It’s the largest granite monolith east of the Mississippi River. That’s our backyard, and it’s incredible. Come on down and see us!
