Mady and Hawk’s Guidebook

Madeline
Mady and Hawk’s Guidebook

Sightseeing

Info: An absolute must do if you love nature and/or pretty places. Max Patch is a bald in the middle of the mountains (former grazing land, so it’s clear), and there are 360 views. Especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset if your timing works out. The road up there is gravel, but it’s well graded so even our Prius can make it. If the whether is bad, we might not advice going up there unless you have a car made for rough roads. The Hike: When you get to the parking lot, there are 3 options for how to reach the summit. The quickest and easiest route is to the left from the big informational sign in the parking lot. It’s about a half-mile, and my three-year-old niece, and 65-year-old father completed it. If you go to the right at the sign, there is a route to the top that’s about 1.5 miles, or 2.5 miles—look at the map on the sign to decide what you want to do!
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Max Patch
Max Patch Road
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Info: An absolute must do if you love nature and/or pretty places. Max Patch is a bald in the middle of the mountains (former grazing land, so it’s clear), and there are 360 views. Especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset if your timing works out. The road up there is gravel, but it’s well graded so even our Prius can make it. If the whether is bad, we might not advice going up there unless you have a car made for rough roads. The Hike: When you get to the parking lot, there are 3 options for how to reach the summit. The quickest and easiest route is to the left from the big informational sign in the parking lot. It’s about a half-mile, and my three-year-old niece, and 65-year-old father completed it. If you go to the right at the sign, there is a route to the top that’s about 1.5 miles, or 2.5 miles—look at the map on the sign to decide what you want to do!
The Appalachian Trail runs 2,190 mile from Georgia to Maine, and comes right through downtown Hot Springs. There are many different places you can get on and off the trail in the area. Please reach out to us if you’re interested in doing a longer section and we can help you figure out the logistics of that. The most popular short sections of the AT are Lovers Leap and Rich Mountain Fire Tower.
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Appalachian Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
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The Appalachian Trail runs 2,190 mile from Georgia to Maine, and comes right through downtown Hot Springs. There are many different places you can get on and off the trail in the area. Please reach out to us if you’re interested in doing a longer section and we can help you figure out the logistics of that. The most popular short sections of the AT are Lovers Leap and Rich Mountain Fire Tower.
You can either walk straight there from Hot Springs, or drive across the bridge, turn left twice, and park under the bridge at the trailhead. There are many options for hiking in the Lover’s Leap area, so we’d recommend looking up a map, or stopping at the Hot Springs Info Center and looking at their big map of it. The most popular route is 1.5 miles, but you go straight up to the top of a mountain to a beautiful view, then back down
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Lover's Leap Hiking Trail
138 Silvermine Rd
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You can either walk straight there from Hot Springs, or drive across the bridge, turn left twice, and park under the bridge at the trailhead. There are many options for hiking in the Lover’s Leap area, so we’d recommend looking up a map, or stopping at the Hot Springs Info Center and looking at their big map of it. The most popular route is 1.5 miles, but you go straight up to the top of a mountain to a beautiful view, then back down
This hike is an out and back on the AT, beginning and Tanyard Gap and walking about 2.5 north to a turn off for the Rich Mountain Fire Tower. The tower itself has gorgeous 360 views from the top, and it’s a really beautiful hike up there too. 5 miles round trip, usually takes us at least 3 hours or so.
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Rich Mountain Fire Tower
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This hike is an out and back on the AT, beginning and Tanyard Gap and walking about 2.5 north to a turn off for the Rich Mountain Fire Tower. The tower itself has gorgeous 360 views from the top, and it’s a really beautiful hike up there too. 5 miles round trip, usually takes us at least 3 hours or so.
One of our favorite places to walk and swim in the region. It’s a 6 mile out and back trail, but you really don’t have to do the whole thing to enjoy the views. It’s a flat trail that parallels the Laurel River through a beautiful mountain valley. There are infinite swim spots along the trail, and it’s hard not to jump in on a summer day!
Laurel Creek Trailhead
One of our favorite places to walk and swim in the region. It’s a 6 mile out and back trail, but you really don’t have to do the whole thing to enjoy the views. It’s a flat trail that parallels the Laurel River through a beautiful mountain valley. There are infinite swim spots along the trail, and it’s hard not to jump in on a summer day!
Their nature loop is one of our regular dog-walking spots in the neighborhood. It’s just down 209 toward Hot Springs. You park up on the pull-off of the Rocky Bluff Campground, and walk down into the mostly abandoned campground. There is 1.5 mile nature loop that begins on the far side of the campground that’s a nice hike. About half of the trail parallels the river, so there are plenty of swim spots down there as well. Wouldn’t advise going on this trail if there have been heavy rains or snow recently.
Pisgah National Forest, Rocky Bluff recreation area
2145 NC-209
Their nature loop is one of our regular dog-walking spots in the neighborhood. It’s just down 209 toward Hot Springs. You park up on the pull-off of the Rocky Bluff Campground, and walk down into the mostly abandoned campground. There is 1.5 mile nature loop that begins on the far side of the campground that’s a nice hike. About half of the trail parallels the river, so there are plenty of swim spots down there as well. Wouldn’t advise going on this trail if there have been heavy rains or snow recently.

Food scene

Phone: (828) 539-1939 Hours: 12-9 (closed on Mondays) Info: Beer is honestly fantastic if you’re in to craft beer. My favorite is the Appalachian Fog Hazy IPA, Hawk’s is the O’Donovans Red Ale. Pints are $5 and they have a great dog-friendly patio area. There is Bingo night there every Tuesday, and Open-Mic night every Wednesday night at 6. They often have bands play on their patio on the weekends, but no set times for that (you can call and ask, or check their facebook page).
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Big Pillow Brewing
25 Andrews Avenue North
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Phone: (828) 539-1939 Hours: 12-9 (closed on Mondays) Info: Beer is honestly fantastic if you’re in to craft beer. My favorite is the Appalachian Fog Hazy IPA, Hawk’s is the O’Donovans Red Ale. Pints are $5 and they have a great dog-friendly patio area. There is Bingo night there every Tuesday, and Open-Mic night every Wednesday night at 6. They often have bands play on their patio on the weekends, but no set times for that (you can call and ask, or check their facebook page).
Phone: (828) 622-9506 Hours: Friday- Monday 11:30-9 (closed Tuesday-Thursday) Info: Best food around, also the most formal place in town. Hawk loves the Catfish, I love the Burger and we both love the appetizers! Honestly can’t go wrong on their menu.
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Iron Horse Station
24 Andrews Ave S
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Phone: (828) 622-9506 Hours: Friday- Monday 11:30-9 (closed Tuesday-Thursday) Info: Best food around, also the most formal place in town. Hawk loves the Catfish, I love the Burger and we both love the appetizers! Honestly can’t go wrong on their menu.
Phone: (828) 622-0001 Hours: 11:30 – 7:30 (but they close at 5pm on Sunday, and are closed Wednesdays) Info: Simple, easy place to eat with burgers and pizzas. Just a 15 min walk away from Mystic Valley Farm, or a 10 minute drive from Happy Gnomads Hiker House
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Dave’s 209
13075 NC-209
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Phone: (828) 622-0001 Hours: 11:30 – 7:30 (but they close at 5pm on Sunday, and are closed Wednesdays) Info: Simple, easy place to eat with burgers and pizzas. Just a 15 min walk away from Mystic Valley Farm, or a 10 minute drive from Happy Gnomads Hiker House
Phone: (828) 622-7400 Hours: 8am-7pm daily (but they close at 5pm on Wedesdays) Restaurant hours: 11am-7pm Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-3pm Sunday. Info: We LOVE the cafe at Trust. We love all the salads and the sandwiches. The general store has some very basic groceries, and local crafts for sale. Very nice people that own the place! It’s just 3 minutes down the road from Mystic Valley Farm on the left (turn left out of the driveway)---it's a 10 min drive from Happy Gnomads Hiker House
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Trust General Store & Café
14535 NC-209
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Phone: (828) 622-7400 Hours: 8am-7pm daily (but they close at 5pm on Wedesdays) Restaurant hours: 11am-7pm Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-3pm Sunday. Info: We LOVE the cafe at Trust. We love all the salads and the sandwiches. The general store has some very basic groceries, and local crafts for sale. Very nice people that own the place! It’s just 3 minutes down the road from Mystic Valley Farm on the left (turn left out of the driveway)---it's a 10 min drive from Happy Gnomads Hiker House
Phone: (828) 539-1939 Hours: 12-9 (closed on Mondays) Info: Located in the courtyard of the Brewery, this permanent Taco Truck has some great food. Their soft pretzel with queso is fantastic—I always get a kale salad and add Carnitas or Chicken to it, Hawk gets a variety of tacos. You can eat in the brewery courtyard, or inside the brewery too! They have vegan and vegetarian options.
Grey Eagle Taqueria
Andrews Avenue South
Phone: (828) 539-1939 Hours: 12-9 (closed on Mondays) Info: Located in the courtyard of the Brewery, this permanent Taco Truck has some great food. Their soft pretzel with queso is fantastic—I always get a kale salad and add Carnitas or Chicken to it, Hawk gets a variety of tacos. You can eat in the brewery courtyard, or inside the brewery too! They have vegan and vegetarian options.
Phone: (828) 622- 0187 Hours: 11-9 (they close at 8pm Sundays, and are closed Monday and Tuesday) Info: Yummy bar food in downtown Hot Springs. They have all kinds of fried appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas. We often get takeout from there for watching football on the couch.
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Spring Creek Tavern
145 Bridge St
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Phone: (828) 622- 0187 Hours: 11-9 (they close at 8pm Sundays, and are closed Monday and Tuesday) Info: Yummy bar food in downtown Hot Springs. They have all kinds of fried appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas. We often get takeout from there for watching football on the couch.
Phone: 11-7 daily Hours: (828) 777-9379 Info: It’s a fancy grocery store/deli in downtown Hot Springs. It’s the only grocery store that has vegan and gluten free products, but they are pricey. They’ve got drinks on drafts and a small menu of deli favorites.
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Vaste Riviere Provisions, LLC
158 Bridge St
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Phone: 11-7 daily Hours: (828) 777-9379 Info: It’s a fancy grocery store/deli in downtown Hot Springs. It’s the only grocery store that has vegan and gluten free products, but they are pricey. They’ve got drinks on drafts and a small menu of deli favorites.
Phone: (828) 622-7571 Hours: Mon-Wed 6am-2pm, Thurs- Sat 7am-7pm, Closed Sunday Info: They’re a VERY southern diner run by some very nice people. Large quantities, low prices—they’re very famous for AT thru-hikers. We love their fried pickles, and pizzas. They also have a wide variety of southern food and burgers
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Smoky Mountain Diner
70 Lance Ave
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Phone: (828) 622-7571 Hours: Mon-Wed 6am-2pm, Thurs- Sat 7am-7pm, Closed Sunday Info: They’re a VERY southern diner run by some very nice people. Large quantities, low prices—they’re very famous for AT thru-hikers. We love their fried pickles, and pizzas. They also have a wide variety of southern food and burgers
Hours: 8am-10pm daily Info: It is what it is. They have lots of groceries but no fresh produce or meat. Located in Downtown Hot Springs.
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Dollar General
50 Lance Ave
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Hours: 8am-10pm daily Info: It is what it is. They have lots of groceries but no fresh produce or meat. Located in Downtown Hot Springs.
Hours: 6am-7pm daily Info: Smaller grocery store with produce and meat, as well as some local baked goods and bread. Located in downtown Hot Springs.
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Hillbilly Market
43 US-25
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Hours: 6am-7pm daily Info: Smaller grocery store with produce and meat, as well as some local baked goods and bread. Located in downtown Hot Springs.