Recreation

The readers of Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine recently voted Hot Springs the Best Small Mountain Town due, in large part, to natural resources which provide exceptional outdoor adventure opportunities.

Pisgah National Forest

Hot Springs is a small mountain town located in the French Broad River Valley surrounded by 3500-foot tall mountains which are part of the Pisgah National Forest. The mountains literally surround the town and are virtually undeveloped. The mountains provide excellent hiking (read about popular hikes) as well as a number of challenging mountain biking trails (check out some good biking trails).

Our mountain setting also provides the basis for some eclectic adventures such as a two zip-lines courses and a sporting clay course.  In winter, there is skiing and snowboarding in nearby Wolf Laurel.

The French Broad River

Flowing right through the middle of town is the French Broad River.  Aside from its scenic beauty, it offers whitewater rafting, tubing, kayaking, swimming and fishing. In addition, Spring Creek also runs through town and is actually a stocked trout fishing stream great for fly-fishing.

Appalachian Trail

As if that’s not enough, the Appalachian Trail also runs right through town for about a mile down Bridge Street, Hot Springs’s main street. There’s a famous t-shirt here which says “I hiked the full width of the Appalachian Trail” which can honestly be worn by people who cross Bridge Street.

Natural Mineral Springs

To top it all off, Hot Springs is one of only two locations on the east coast with natural hot spring waters.  After a day of outdoor adventure, the purportedly therapeutic waters, are incredibly relaxing and are sure to provide a great night’s sleep.

So if you have never been to Hot Springs before, come and find out for yourself why the readers of Blue Ridge Outdoors Voted us the Best Small Mountain Town. Visit for a day, a weekend or a week, we have a range of accommodations from to deluxe to remote camping.