Things To Do In Old Fort, NC For Outdoor Adventurers, History Lovers, & Foodies

Explore the best things to do in Old Fort, NC for beer, history, and mountain bike lovers from Asheville locals. We love hiking Catawba Falls, grabbing a bite to eat at Hillman Beer, and sprucing up our garden with help from Painters Greenhouse. Stop in Black Mountain on the way back to Asheville.

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We adore Western North Carolina’s (WNC) quirky small towns filled with character, delicious local bites, and lesser-frequented trails. Plus, if you covet places like Hot Springs and Marshall, Old Fort is similar with its population of just over 800 residents. The walkable downtown is small but fun. The town hosts festivals and has a free heritage museum.

Not to mention there are plenty of great places to visit and things to do near Old Fort, including chasing waterfalls, Blue Ridge Parkway access, Black Mountain, Lake James, and our Asheville home. Asheville to Old Fort is a 30-minute drive.

What You'll Find In This Guide

Old Fort’s Outdoor Attractions

Western North Carolina is famous for its fabulous trails. Hiking and biking is one of the best things to do here. These are just a few trails across difficulty level and length that we recommend. All trails require proper gear and clothing, whether that be solid hiking shoes or professional-grade mountain bikes.

Great Mountain Biking Trails

Christine with bike at Fonta Flora Trail

Popular mountain biking trails in Old Fort include:

Old Fort Gateway Trails – Find 6 miles of multi-use trails for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. These are also some of the easier biking paths for all ages and skill levels. Some of those switchbacks terrify us, though. My last ride, I was covered in bruises from chickening out.
Fonta Flora State Trail – The Fonta Flora State Trail runs from Morganton to Asheville, including a loop around Lake James. Find signs and parking for the trail in the large Hillman Beer lot. Like the Gateway Trails, both are in the works and not fully completed. The Point Lookout Trail also falls on the Fonta Flora State Trail.
Heartbreak Ridge – This trail would take us out as low-key mountain bikers, known for its “crushing climb” and high-speed descents. However, for advanced mountain bikers, Heartbreak Ridge trail is waiting for you.
Point Lookout Trail – The Point Lookout Greenway Trail is a 7-mile, paved out-and-back; the highlight is its namesake, a sprawling vista with benches and flags. However, you have to survive the 3.6-mile climb first (if you start at the bottom, which we suggest). Access the Point Lookout Trail/via the Fonta Flora Trail from the Old Fort Picnic Area in the spring through fall or via Andrews Geyser in the winter. I wanted to barf on the way up, but the quick descent back is worth it.
Kitsuma Trail – The Kitsuma Trail off of Old US-70/Ridgecrest is a tough switchback climb with a famous and terrifying descent, perfect for skilled and advanced mountain bikers. Kitsuma forms a loop when combined with Point Lookout. This trail is too advanced for us, but we always run into skilled mountain bikers who love (and respect) it.

Find even more of our favorite biking and hiking trails around the Asheville area. You can also picnic in the Old Fort Picnic Area near Kitsuma and Point Lookout. This area has rustic vault toilets (ehh, but at least it is something) and picnic tables.

Gorgeous Waterfall Hike

Hiking Catawba Falls is one of the most memorable things to do in Old Fort and WNC. These falls are also one of my favorite waterfall hikes near Asheville. Less than ten minutes from Downtown Old Fort in the Pisgah National Forest, Catawba Falls promises a scenic and moderately easy trail suitable for families, pets, and waterfall chasers to stunning 100-foot falls.

We prefer taking the 1.6 miles (each way) River Trail to the top of the falls as an out-and-back. However, hikers may dip over to the .25 Wildflower Trail and/or also loop to the 2.1 miles (each way) Ridge Trail to form a loop with the River Trail.

Please exert caution as parts of the trail grow slippery and muddy with loose gravel. Your feet might dip into some shallow water crossings. Get there early too – before 10:30 AM – as this is a popular spot.

Check Out Catawba Falls newly re-opened may 31, 2024

Take A Quick Tour Check out where we Eat afterward

If you prefer guided tours, don’t miss this likely-to-sell-out Blue Ridge Parkway waterfall tour.

Things To Do In Old Fort For History Lovers

Mountain Gateway Museum

Celebrate Appalachia heritage across 38 counties and travel back in time at Old Fort’s Mountain Gateway Museum. Free and self-guided – budget 30 minutes to one hour – enjoy a charming fountain, creekside location, historic cabins, outdoor amphitheater seating, and secret bridges. Get a feel for what the area looked like in the past.

We suggest starting with the museum’s indoor permanent and traveling exhibits. I enjoyed the old high school band uniform, yearbook, and paraphernalia from the police and fire department. The old photographs of the area are fascinating.

Upstairs, take a peek at a 19th-century cabin, which makes our homes look excessive. Find a bed, fireplace for cooking, and kitchen table. Learn more about local plants and their medicinal purposes along with how to make moonshine, sure to put you in good spirits.

Outdoors, walk through two cabins from the 1800s, both of which still have fireplaces. On some Sundays, the Mountain Gateway Museum hosts fun music jams. We could hear the music throughout the grounds, truly setting the mood.

Mountain Gateway Museum | 24 Water St, Old Fort, NC

Monuments & Trains

Old Fort Railroad Museum, Train Depot, and Arrowhead Monument

Red Caboose next to former yellow Train Depot

Although the Old Fort Railroad Museum says “open” on Google, it hasn’t been open for years, except as a private event venue. However, you can’t miss seeing it, as the red caboose greets visitors entering Downtown Old Fort with its iconic Arrowhead Monument and yellow depot exterior.

As you see through much of the South, the railroad has a murky past, being built by mostly Black convicted men, many of whom lost their lives during the blasting and digging in the late 1800s. For some, the museum will be a slightly underwhelming and quick experience since you can see everything just driving by.

Old Fort Railroad Museum & Depot | 25 W Main St, Old Fort, NC 28762

P.S. Andrew’s Geyser, which you see on many lists, is a small fountain. While it is interesting from a historical perspective to us, it is not worth the drive/visit. Truth bomb.

Where To Eat & Drink

Hillman Beer

Hillman Beer is one of our favorite breweries with food, and we usually frequent their Biltmore Village/Sweeten Creek location when in Asheville. With its creekside seating and airy space, the Old Fort taproom is a must. Inside, enjoy expansive seating with charming Tuscan lighting, and take a peek at those steel tanks.

For craft beer, select from ESBs, Kolschs, American Brown Ales, Stouts, IPAs, and more. If you are hungry, we enjoy their burgers, Cubans, and kale salad. They also have GF bread for our half-Celiac household.

Hillman Beer Old Fort | 78 Catawba Ave, Old Fort, NC 28762

Whaley Farm Brewery

Less than one minute from Hillman, head to Whaley Farm Brewery, which even has a few gluten-reduced beers on tap. Typically open Fridays to Sundays, find pop-up food stands or food trucks and shop for produce and snacks in their fridge – local eggs and Dare vegan cheese included.

For beer, we’ve enjoyed their Czech Pale Lager, Smoky Helles (emphasis on the smoke!), Farmer’s Wit, and an Oat Stout. Whaley Farm Brewery has indoor and outdoor seating. Both Downtown Old Fort breweries are dog and family-friendly with parking lots.

Whaley Farm Brewery | 178 Catawba Ave, Old Fort, NC 28762

Where To Shop

Arrowhead Gallery & Studios

We love Asheville’s River Arts District, which is full of artists’ studios, galleries, and shops. So for us, one of the best things to do in Old Fort includes a visit to Arrowhead Gallery & Studios, which is a non-profit filled with local art, jewelry, paintings, pottery, woodworking, and photography.

Find artist studios and a few common areas filled with unique creations from local artists. I love the hand-knit scarves, wire trees filled with gems, wooden cutting boards seared with electricity, handmade journals, and silver Blue Ridge Mountain necklaces. Debate between buying charcuterie boards, dangly earrings, and clay mugs decorated with flowers.

Arrowhead Gallery & Studios | 78C Catawba Ave, Old Fort, NC 28762

Painters Greenhouse

Outside of the downtown area and great for Western North Carolina locals, shop for native perennials at Painters Greenhouse. Gardening is a newer North Carolina hobby for me. I love growing fresh herbs, tomatoes, roses, and cucumbers.

Painters is the mecca of local gardening, boasting 50+ years in business. They sell everything from pots and planters to hanging plants, vegetables, herbs, and more. Think trees, shrubs, houseplants, edibles, tropicals, natives, annuals, and perennials. Of course, those coveted natives are their superpower, and you’ll see Painters’ flowers at many of the downtown businesses.

Painters Greenhouse | 734 Roy Moore Rd, Old Fort, NC 28762

Festivals & Events In Old Fort

Some of the top events and annual things to do in Old Fort include:

Pioneer Day – Typically held on the 4th Saturday of April and hosted by the Mountain Gateway Museum, watch demonstrations such as blacksmiths, woodworkers, and weavers at work. Find games for the kids, and see vintage farm tools. Listen to music, and shop for crafts from local vendors.
North Carolina Gold Festival – Also hosted by the Mountain Gateway Museum and typically the first weekend in June, join in a gold and gem panning contest. There are demonstrations, inflatables, music, food, and more!
Old Fort Trails & Trains Festival – In and around the old train depot, expect live demonstrations and food trucks as well as a celebration of NC’s trails.
Old Fort 4th of July Fireworks Celebration – Enjoy Old Fort, NC’s annual firework display.
Old Fort Christmas Parade – Hosted by the Mountain Gateway Museum at the beginning of December, enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas party with food, drinks, shopping, and a parade.

Peruse our full calendar for events and festivals in the Asheville area.

Day Trips From Old Fort

Cocktail at Oak and Grist — Oak & Grist Distillery

There are plenty of great things to do near Old Fort. Just a few Asheville-area day trips include:

Asheville (30 minutes): Asheville is our home, famous for its top-notch restaurants, breweries like Green Man, and historic Biltmore Estate – America’s largest home. Mural-hunt in the River Arts District, and stroll The NC Arboretum gardens.
Black Mountain (10 minutes): We adore Black Mountain for its walkable downtown, delicious local restaurants, shops, and Lake Tomahawk. There’s so much to do in Black Mountain, including a free museum, nearby hiking trails, hopping breweries, and one of the best distilleries around, Oak & Grist.
Weaverville (35 minutes): North of Asheville, this residential area is where the locals go for food, drinks, a stroll around Lake Louise, and even a dog park bar. Discover all that you can do in Weaverville.
Lake James (35 minutes): The lakes near Asheville are beautiful. Find camping, hiking, and biking trails at Lake James. Enjoy a picnic. In the summer, swim and lay out on the mountain beach sand.

Consider booking a cabin, chalet, or luxury home in Old Fort. These are our favorite hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, inns, and more in nearby Asheville.

We’d love to know what your favorite small WNC towns are and what you like to do in Old Fort, North Carolina. We are constantly exploring and updating our guides. Let us know in the comments, and sign up for our newsletter.

Christine Frascarelli