Lodging:
Free Primitive Camping (toilets, no showers) offered at the Cove Creek Group Campground Saturday and Sunday nights. If you should require showers and amenities, please visit one of the websites listed below.
- Davidson
River Campground: Facilities provided include fire rings,
picnic tables, lantern posts, gravel tent pads, hot showers, and
flush toilets. Reservations required. Starting at $18 with $2 extra
for river sites. RV and group sites available. This is the most convenient/affordable
spot to base out of for the race. Online reservations are full as
only 45 sites are available online. 100 sites are saved for first
come first serve. Plan on arriving early enough to ensure yourself
a camp spot.
- Holiday Inn Express: Heated outdoor pool, fitness center, free local phone calls, wireless internet access, and a complimentary breakfast. Pet friendly with a fee.
- Hampton Inn: Free breakfast, high speed internet access, cable TV, AAA hotel diamond rated, fitness room, pool. No pets.
- Cabins at Adventure Village: Located just outside of Brevard with bike trails on the property.
- Deer Ridge Property Management: Has several vacation homes available for rent that are reasonable.
- Black Forest Campground: Free WiFi, electricty at all sites, Mountain Bike Wash Station!
- Ultimate Ride Campground: Has several cabins available for rent as well as RV hookups and tent sites.
- Ash Grove Resort Cabins & Camping: Campsites available, some with water & elec. and some without. Free coffee Sat & Sun mornings. Bike washing station. Exceptionally clean bathhouse with hot showers, flush toilets, etc. Ten minutes from downtown, 10 minutes from Dupont Forest.
- Cabins at Seven Foxes: Fully
equipped cabins nestled on seven wooded acres in Lake Toxaway, 15 minutes
from Brevard.
Attractions:
- Mountains to Sea Trail: Trailhead starts directly across from stage start in the back of the Davidson River parking area. This trail stretches 1,000 miles from Clingman’s Dome in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks of NC. This section of the trail is a spur to the main and is very popular with trail runners.
- Looking
Glass Falls: One of the most popular falls visited in
the forest. There is a short trail to the base of the 60ft falls
for a closer view. Stay away from the falls. Try Moore Cove Falls
1.1 miles further up the road for a more personal waterfall experience
by getting underneath them. Looking Glass Falls is 5 miles North
on Highway 276 from the entrance of the Forest.
- Moore
Cove Falls: Walk under this 45 ft waterfall. Trail is
rated easy and follows a gentle up and down path. Round trip walking
time is about 45 minutes. Allow extra time to have a picnic on the
rocks and enjoy the interesting formations around the falls.
- Looking
Glass Trailhead: You have to work a bit for this rewarding
view, but it’s well worth the effort. Looking Glass Rock trail climbs
about 1,700 ft in just over three miles (6.5 miles roundtrip). The
trail switchbacks through Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel tunnels
before popping out to open cliffs with spectacular views. Do not
get too close to the edge.
- Sliding
Rock: This is a must see. This recreation area has
a changing room and a large parking lot that requires a small fee.
Sliding Rock is a naturally occurring 60ft waterslide with a 7ft
deep pool at the bottom.
- Cradle
of Forestry: Contains the first official school of forestry
in America – The Biltmore Forest School. There is an 18 minute movie,
hands on exhibits, a snack bar and a gift shop. Be sure the kids
ride the fighting helicopter simulator and participate in the scavenger
hunt. Fun for everyone!
- Blue
Ridge Parkway: Marvel at the forest clad mountain peaks,
the mist filled coves, and the slopes of fragrant balsams, rhododendrons
and mountain laurel. Breathless views this time of the year with
the leaves changing. Take a left to visit Graveyard Fields or a right
to head to Asheville.
- Dupont
State Forest (Tour de Falls): About 30 minutes by car
from the stage start/finish area sits a magnificent piece of land.
With 10,268 acres and 80 miles of roads and trails, this forest is
open to the public for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Fishing
is allowed with a valid NC fishing license.
For more information on the area please visit these websites: