Updated Sept 2026
A Short Drive to Old Fort: Waterfalls, Trails and Small-Town History
If you’re staying in Black Mountain and want something new for a morning or a whole day, head east on I-40. In about 10 minutes you’ll be in Old Fort, a small mountain town where the Blue Ridge starts to roll down into the foothills. It has a waterfall hike, some of the newest bike trails in the region, a lot of railroad history and a handful of local spots to eat and drink. Here’s an easy way to spend a day there.
Start downtown with coffee and a cinnamon roll
Old Fort’s downtown is small and easy to walk, so park once and explore on foot. Grab a coffee at Seeker Coffee (39 Catawba Ave) or a homemade cinnamon roll at Gogo’s Handcrafted Cinnamon Rolls (212 E Main St).
If you’d rather sit down for breakfast or lunch, try Black Beary’s Cafe (14 W Main St), Deb’s Diner or Davis Country Store and Cafe (75 E Main St).
Walk through the town’s history
Right in the center of town is the Historic Old Fort Train Depot. The railroad reached Old Fort in 1869, and getting the line up the mountain to Asheville meant digging seven tunnels by hand. The depot museum tells that story, including the hard history of the convict labor used to build it. Passenger trains stopped here until 1975.
Out front stands the Arrowhead Monument, a 14-foot granite arrowhead that honors the peace made between early settlers and the Cherokee and Catawba nations.
From there, follow the Seven Wonders Mural Trail. Seven hand-painted panels hang on the outside walls of downtown businesses. Students at Old Fort Elementary designed them, and artists from the Arrowhead Artists and Artisans League painted them. Each one shows a local landmark, from Catawba Falls to the train depot. It’s a fun scavenger hunt if you have kids along.
Want more history? The Mountain Gateway Museum is part of North Carolina’s state history museum system and covers everyday life in the Southern Appalachians. Davidson’s Fort Historic Park is a re-creation of a 1770s frontier fort, on the site of an outpost that dates back to before the American Revolution.
See local art
Arrowhead Gallery & Studios is one of the largest galleries in Western North Carolina. It shows juried work from more than 50 regional artists, including pottery, paintings and glass, and it offers art classes too. For something more modern, stop by NANU Gallery, a bright contemporary space that often hosts community events.
Shop downtown
Save some time to browse Old Fort’s small, locally owned shops:
- The Roxy, right downtown
- The Common Pine for quirky gifts and vintage finds
- bSide, a small independent bookshop that’s also the retail side of pj’s breadworks bakery
They’re all close together, so it’s easy to pop in and out between coffee and lunch.
Get outside
Catawba Falls. This is one of the most popular hikes in the area. The trail follows the Catawba River up to the falls. Check the Forest Service page before you go for parking and trail updates.
Old Fort Gateway Trails. Built by the U.S. Forest Service, Camp Grier and local partners (together called the G5 Trail Collective), this trail system has 14 miles finished, with plans to grow to 42. The loops are smooth and flowing, which is rare in our steep mountains, so they’re a good fit for newer riders, hikers and trail runners. The main trailhead is at 1500 Curtis Creek Road, about 1.5 miles off US-70, with room for about 100 cars, restrooms and picnic tables. More experienced riders can connect into the tougher trails of the Curtis Creek area. Learn more about the trails.
Foothills Watershed. This 117-acre park sits right on the Catawba River at 655 Catawba River Road. Riders of all levels can work on their skills on the mountain bike trails, jump lines and pump track, and there’s even a tot track for little ones. You don’t have to ride to enjoy it. There’s a big riverside yard with shaded seating, a river-fed pond, a small craft brewery and an outdoor kitchen serving smoked meats. Learn more about Foothills Watershed.
Eat and drink
After a day outside, here are a few places to relax:
- Appalachian Mountain Brewery Outpost & Kitchen (78A Catawba Ave) for beer, cocktails and a full kitchen
- Euda Wine (164 Commerce St) for wine and cocktails
- Foothills Watershed for a beer and barbecue by the river
- Hillman Beer (78 Catawba Ave) for house-brewed beer and pub food beside Mill Creek
- Black Beary’s Cafe (14 W Main St) or Deb’s Diner for a scoop of ice cream before the drive home
See the full list on the Explore Old Fort Food & Brew page.
Where to stay
Want to turn your day trip into a weekend? Old Fort has lodges, cabins and campgrounds close to the trails and the river.
Lodges, inns and rentals
Campgrounds and glamping
- Catawba Falls Campground, right around the corner from Catawba Falls
- Curtis Creek Campground in the Pisgah National Forest
- Sky Island Retreat and Campground
- Wunderland Resort and Campground
See them all on the Explore Old Fort Stay page. If you’d rather stay in Black Mountain and drive over, here’s our list of places to stay in Black Mountain.
Plan your visit
Fall and early winter are a nice time to visit. Cooler days are good for hiking and riding, and the trails are less crowded. Looking ahead, mark your calendar for Taste of the Towns, January 10–17, 2027, a week celebrating the food in our mountain towns. Get the details at tasteofthetowns.com.
For what’s happening in Old Fort right now, check the Explore Old Fort events calendar or sign up for the local events newsletter.
Make a day of it
Old Fort pairs well with a day in Black Mountain. Spend the morning on the trails or downtown in Old Fort, then head back west in time for dinner and a stroll on Cherry Street.
Old Fort was hit hard by Hurricane Helene in 2024, and the town has worked hard to come back. Every coffee, meal and gift you buy there helps a local family business keep going. So take the short drive, say hello to our neighbors to the east and come home with a few new favorite spots.
Looking for more day trip ideas? Visit our Day Trips page.
