Outdoor Things to do in the Blue Ridge

Written by Larry Deane, local expert for 20+ years

The Blue Ridge Mountains are full of things to do and places to visit.

We’ve been visiting for years and have written up articles about all the places we’ve visited and things we’ve done, and have additionally included lots of photos. These guides will help you find the various locations, will share tips about each place, and allow you to be prepared before you arrive.

Hiking Blue Ridge MountainsHiking is one of the most popular things to do in the Blue Ridge Mountains, as they contain over 5,000 miles of hiking trails, including a good portion of the famous Appalachian trail that goes from Georgia to New Hampshire. You’re certain to find the perfect trails for you, whether it be a long multi-day hike, or a short day hike.  >>> Click here to see all of our Hiking Trail Adventures

 

 

Skinny Dip FallsSwimming Holes – Nothing is more refreshing than plunging into a Blue Ridge Mountain Swimming hole during the hot summer months. Swimming holes can be found all over the Blue Ridge from Georgia to Virginia, and are often right next to beautiful waterfalls.   

 

 

Soco Falls FallWaterfalls – Hands down our most favorite thing to see in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the breath taking waterfalls, and there are tons of them!  Almost every adventure out, we seek a destination that has at least one waterfall, whether big or small.   Waterfalls of the Blue Ridge are beautiful, crisp and clean, and the sounds will melt away your troubles.  >>> Read all about Waterfalls in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains

 

Shark Lagoon TunnelAttractions – There is so much to see in the Blue Ridge Mountains that you could literally spend years visiting, and not see everything! There are National Parks, The Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive, and lots of other attractions. 

 

About the author

Larry Deane is the co-owner and voice behind Blue Ridge Mountain Life, a travel resource built from more than two decades of exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains firsthand. A Western North Carolina local, Larry has spent 20+ years hiking the trails, visiting small towns, chasing waterfalls, and documenting life in the mountains he calls home.

Alongside his wife Jenn, he created Blue Ridge Mountain Life to share their real-world experiences with others who love — or are just discovering — the Blue Ridge. Larry is a seasoned travel writer, photographer, and videographer with a background in journalism, and his work reaches more than 500,000 mountain lovers each month. Whether he's deep in Pisgah National Forest or strolling Main Street in a mountain town, you can count on Larry to give you the inside scoop from someone who’s truly been there.

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