Between Asheville And Atlanta Is A Lakefront Hideaway With Blue Ridge Waterfalls And Mountain Town Vibes

When you visit North Carolina, you could stick to the cities. Sure, there are plenty of enticing options, such as Wilmington, the state's cleanest city and popular beachy portside gem. However, you'd be missing out on one of NC's most enduring charms: its mountain towns tucked away in pristine nature. Glenville in Jackson County is the perfect example of why it pays to venture outside the cities and lose yourself amongst the lesser-known towns. About 70 miles from Asheville, it's a proper mountain retreat sitting on the county's largest lake about 3,500 feet above sea level.

Sharing the town's name, Lake Glenville is the main reason people head here during the warmer months. Boating, swimming, fishing, and water sports are all on the menu for sunseekers and lake lovers alike. During the season, you can rent pontoon and tritoon boats of varying sizes from Signal Ridge Marina. These are great for a leisurely day out on the water with a cooler full of cold drinks, a boat full of good company, and some fishing rods on the back.

Speaking of fishing, Lake Glenville is well-stocked with a variety of game fish, thanks to its location on the Tuckaseegee River. Depending on the time of year, you can reel in largemouth and smallmouth bass, trout, sunfish, blueback herring, bream, and crawfish. Favored local fishing spots like Cedar Point, Hurricane Falls, Eagle Island, and Pine Creek are renowned for providing consistently good hauls. It's the ideal starting point for a getaway that blends serene lake days with waterfall adventures and the easygoing spirit of a true mountain town.

Glenville is located in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, so it's a great base for exploring various hiking trails. One of the most popular trails is the Panthertown Backcountry Loop, which takes you down into the Panthertown Valley, or as it's better known, the "Yosemite of the East." The valley is only a 20-minute drive from Glenville and is a treasure trove of natural splendors, including waterfalls, creeks, forested gorges, granite cliffs, and breathless mountains. The main 7.8-mile loop trail takes just over 3.5 hours to complete. Just remember to bring proper hiking footwear and a map for any unmarked sections.

You don't have to walk so far to chase waterfalls in Glenville. The 1.3-mile High Falls Trail is far more accessible, taking just over one hour to get out and back. It heads off from Ralph J Andrews Park, which is about 3 miles from the center of town. That's not to say these beautiful cascades don't make you work to see them. The trail is steep and rocky with a few up-and-down sections before you reach High Falls.

If hiking isn't your thing, you can admire waterfalls from the water instead. In fact, a few of the area's waterfalls are only accessible from Lake Glenville. You can book a scenic waterfall cruise with a tour company for about $85 per person (at time of writing). These cruises coast along the lake's 26-mile-long shoreline, stopping off at multiple waterfalls, including the Norton, Hurricane, and Mill Creek cascades.

The town's center is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it affair, with a handful of businesses and homes spread out along a main road. The Glenville Thrift Shop is a diamond in the rough with its collection of clothing, homeware, and trinkets. Locals love popping in to hunt for treasures at very agreeable prices. Some people complain about the unclear pricing, but there's also something endearing about how laid-back this no-frills approach feels.

If you're looking for somewhere to eat, drive slightly north of the town center to Happ's Place. This welcoming restaurant is rated highly on Google, with people raving about the buffalo wings and beer, friendly atmosphere, and various activities for families. Happ's has its own putting green and cornhole set up for game time. They also host live music some evenings, which tends to draw a decent crowd.

Glenville is a relatively straightforward 1.5-hour drive from Asheville, where you can fly into Asheville Regional Airport from Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and some other cities. Asheville also has Woodfin, a cozy suburb with Smoky Mountain views and outdoor thrills that's worth checking out. If you live in Florida, you could fly from Orlando to Wilmington with Avelo, a lesser-known airline that will save you tons of money, and drive to Glenville in about six hours. Glenville has a boutique inn near the lake, but there are various hotels and camping cabins scattered along the shoreline, so you have options.