With so many great ways to get up, get out, and get moving, it’s easy to enjoy an active lifestyle in Rutherford County, NC. Many residents and visitors to the area find the gently rolling Blue Ridge Mountain Foothills and stunning local scenery to be the perfect magnet for getting out and getting active. These are just a few of the activities you can enjoy in the Rutherford County area.
Hiking in Rutherford County, NC is a year-round activity! Hikers can explore the many area state parks, find waterfalls, take in the stunning fall foliage, enjoy the first flowers of spring, and much more. You can also walk the Thermal Belt Rail Trail, a 13.5-mile paved greenway that passes through Forest City, Spindale, and Rutherfordton. See more Hiking and Walking.
Rutherford County has an awesome running community, with over 1,200 people participating in the ROC Race Series events annually. This series consists of 13+ races every year, with awards at each race and for overall scores across the series. Want to run solo or non-competitively? There are many great places to get some miles in, including natural surface trails and the Thermal Belt Rail Trail. See more Running.
Our area offers numerous opportunities for road cycling and mountain biking. The road cycling is some of the best anywhere with lightly traveled country roads and abundant scenery. The Tour de Pumpkin annual bike ride, starting and ending at Rutherfordton’s Hilltop Fall Festival, is a great opportunity for road cyclists to enjoy these special routes and views. Mountain Bikers can explore trails at Buffalo Creek Park, as well as South Mountains State Park, Chimney Rock State Park, and Little White Oak Mountain in neighboring counties. See more Cycling.
Paddling is more than an adventure here; it’s a way of life. Rutherford County offers opportunities for both lake and river paddling, perfect for paddlers of all experience levels. For a lake adventure, Lake Lure now allows permit-free non-motorized paddling at their public boat access. Catch views of Chimney Rock and take in the beauty of the lake from your boat for free! For the excitement of a river trip, the Broad River provides a variety of class I and class II experiences for you to enjoy and boasts 4 paved, public accesses with ample parking along the way. Get a tour of the county while floating the river and riding rapids! See more Paddling.
From riding lessons to guided tours to more advanced opportunities, Rutherford County, NC provides an abundance of activities for any equestrian to get their fill. It is home to several stables and venues for riding horses. More on Equestrian.
Experience our state parks on a whole new level with overnight and multi-day camping trips! Whether in a tent, RV, or cabin, camping is filled with fun for the entire family. See more Camping.
Hopefully you won’t ever need to use it, but what happens if the batteries in your GPS are dead?
