Just over the Hickory Nut Gap from Asheville is the Hickory Hickory Nut Gorge, home to the beautiful Lake Lure. This area is an adventurer’s playground, with mountain biking, hiking, zip lines, and plenty of other things to do. We’ve pulled together a list of our favorite things to do in the area, and everything is a short drive from Lake Lure and about 45 minutes from Asheville.
WATERSKIING
The Town of Lake Lure has a rule in place making it illegal for rental boats to tow anything, including inner tubes. Never fear, however, because the Lake Lure Adventure Company has got you covered! They offer water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, wake surfing – you name it. If it involves getting pulled behind a powerboat, they’ve got something fun to do. And there is no need to go anywhere – they will come to you at your boathouse.
HIKING
Hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains is always a favorite, and there are a ton of trails within a short drive of Lake Lure. Definitely a great place to start is the Chimney Rock State Park. This is the crowning jewel of the Hickory Nut Gorge, with stunning views that are hard to believe. For the less intrepid you can ride an elevator (yes an elevator) right through the heart of the mountain and still see most of the sights. For the more hardy explorers, let me recommend the Grand Tour. This is a strenuous 4.5-mile round trip hike, but it will take you to see all the key sights in the park, from the famous Chimney Rock to the stunning Exclamation Point. One thing to note is that the Chimney Rock State Park does charge an entrance fee: $17 for adults, $8 for children (5-15), or $45 for a family of 5 (this is only available online).
The Rumbling Bald Trail is a fun trail that accesses a large area of rocks and boulders and is a favorite for climbers in the area. This trail is a 1.5-mile loop with some climbing to do, but it is a fun trail that brings you right up to the bottom of the cliffs of Rumbling Bald. Please take note that they police the parking area aggressively! Don’t park anywhere along the road or you will be ticketed.
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Party Rock Trail is definitely a more strenuous hike, taking you up the spin of the Rumbling Bald Ridge. The trail is an out-and-back hike, with some serious elevation gains. As an added bonus you can see the remains of what looks like a 1970 Ford F100 on the side of the trail – you KNOW there is a story behind that wreck! Just past the truck the trail drops you out into PArty Rock with one of the best views of the lake around.
Buffalo Creek Park Trail is a fun loop trail that goes about 3.5 miles, but as with most hiking in the area, it has plenty of elevation gain. This trail is used by hikers and mountain bikers, but each get’s their own direction. This means that, while you are hiking, any mountain bikers will be coming from the front. As an added bonus, if you enjoy mountain biking, this is the place to go.
ZIPLINES
One absolutely incredible way to see these beautiful mountains is to fly through them! Ziplines are a blast, and are fun for everyone, from adults down to kids as young as 4. There is a zip-line company close to Lake Lure: Canopy Ridge Farm.
TRAIL RIDES
For those interested in horseback riding, there are two companies close by that offer trail rides: Riverside Riding Stables and Cedar Creek Stables. Both are less than 30 minutes Lake Lure by car, and both have programs that will be fun for everyone.
GOLF
There are two golf courses close by Lake Lure associated with the Rumbling Bald Resort: the Bald MountainGolf Course and the Apple Valley Course.
The Apple Valley course is an 18-hole, 6,767 yard par 72 course, designed by Dan Maples, and it opened in 1986. This course has been referred to as the most beautiful mountain golf course by Golf Digest
– Bald Mountain
The Bald Mountain course is an 18-hole, 6,283 yard par 72 course. The course has narrow fairway, so make sure to drive accurately!
