Hiking Old Fort, NC

Overview

Old Fort is a historic town at the foot of the Blue Ridge between Asheville and Morganton, NC. Serving as the historic gateway to the mountain region, it borders the Pisgah National Forest, and several great trails thread the wooded slopes of the Blue Ridge above town.

Riding the Point Lookout Trail
Riding the Point Lookout Trail

Located just off I-40 at the bottom of the Blue Ridge, Old Fort makes a great base camp for exploring the trails in the area. There are lodging and dining options, and the Mountain Gateway Museum covers the history of settlement in the area.

Nearby Andrews Geyser is located in an Old Fort public park. The "geyser" is actually an 80 foot man-made fountain formed by high-pressure water supplied by a small pond uphill on a nearby stream. The fountain sprays into a small pool around its base, and was originally meant to impress visitors traveling by the nearby train line.

Kick back and enjoy a post-hike beverage on the riverside at Hillman Beer.

Hiking Trails

Old Fort Gateway Trailhead Map
Old Fort Gateway Trailhead Map

The area around Old Fort is large (and growing!), so we've broken the area down into smaller sections to keep related trails together. New connections enable hiking between the areas listed below.

Trails in the Mill Creek Valley

Other Trails near Old Fort