13 Of The Most Quaint Small Towns In The Appalachians
Spanning nearly 2,000 miles from Alabama in the south to the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador in the north, the Appalachian Mountains form a mix of lush green forests, mountain peaks, and historical sites. Due to its vast size, the Appalachian Mountains include several subranges, such as the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Poconos, and the Great Smoky Mountains. The Appalachian region is also home to several states, including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Throughout these states are several quaint small towns that blend history, outdoor activities, and Appalachian charm. The region's small towns are adorned with cobblestone streets, historical sites that predate the founding of America in 1776, and rugged mountain beauty. Here are 13 of the most quaint small towns in the Appalachians that offer incredible outdoor adventures, immersive historical experiences, and a retreat into the simplicity of mountain living.
Black Mountain, North Carolina
The charming town of Black Mountain, North Carolina, is named for the Black Mountains, a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains that surround the town. A 25-minute drive from Asheville in the Swannanoa Valley, the town provides a rich look at the area's history. Visitors can explore local exhibits and artifacts at the Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center in the 1921 Fire House.
The town also offers incredible outdoor adventures and scenic views. Nature lovers enjoy strolling along the loop at Lake Tomahawk for breathtaking views of Graybeard Mountain. Visitors can also take a serene walk along Swannanoa River at the River Loop Trail in Black Mountain Veterans Park. The river trail connects with the Oak Trail, leading to the historic downtown with local shops and art galleries. Visitors can explore the Old Depot Arts and Crafts Gallery, located in the town's depot, which was built in 1909.
Charles Town, West Virginia
Not to be confused with West Virginia's state capital, Charleston, Charles Town is located in the Eastern Panhandle. The town was founded in 1786 by George Washington's youngest brother, Charles Washington. Visitors can view and attend annual events at the founder's home, known as Happy Retreat, built in 1780. History buffs can also explore the town's past, including buildings from the 1800s, in the historic downtown. The downtown is also home to the Jefferson County Museum, which showcases exhibits and artifacts from Charles Town's history.
The quaint town is also a great spot for nature lovers. Located along the Shenandoah River, Moulton Park offers water adventures, such as boating, fishing, swimming, and kayaking. Nearby is the Cool Spring Nature Preserve, with 63 acres of various landscapes, including forests, marshes, and meadows. The preserve is considered a birding hotspot and features several walking trails for bird watching.
Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania
The quaint town of Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania, has been a vacation hub since the 1800s when lavish hotels were built in the town. Located in the Poconos Mountains, the small town offers history, music, and outdoor activities for all visitors. Music lovers enjoy listening to live jazz at Deer Head Inn, the oldest continuously running jazz club in the country. Visitors can learn more about other historic inns aboard the Pocono Historic Trolley. The 2-hour tour narrates the history of the town, including the 1906 Castle Inn. The trolley also provides views of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Outdoor enthusiasts can hike the 28 miles of the Appalachian Trail in the recreation area and take the trail to nearby Mount Minsi. For more outdoor adventures, water enthusiasts enjoy canoeing, boating, and rafting down the Delaware River.
Jonesborough, Tennessee
Situated in Northeastern Tennessee, Jonesborough is the state's oldest town, established in 1779. Visitors can immerse themselves in the town's history through guided walking tours by tour guides dressed in period costumes. Tours begin at the Chester Inn State Historic Site, a Federal-style inn built in 1797 that welcomed three U.S. Presidents - Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson - through its doors. The town is also home to the International Storytelling Center and the annual National Storytelling Festival in October. The festival began in 1973 when several townsfolk gathered around a wagon to share tales of Appalachia.
Jonesborough also provides outdoor activities for nature lovers. Persimmon Ridge Park features several biking and hiking trails, including the Lost State Scenic Walkway. The trail leads to scenic views of the Appalachian Mountains and passes by the Chucky Depot, one of the town's sites on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bryson City, North Carolina
The quaint town of Bryson City, North Carolina, boasts five entrances to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can hike along more than 800 miles of hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail. From April through November, nature enthusiasts can drive to the highest point in the Smokies at Clingmans Dome. At 6,634 feet, the observation tower provides panoramic mountain views of more than 100 miles on a clear day. Bordering the national park is Fontana Lake, with tranquil waters for boating and 240 miles of shoreline for relaxing. The lake is also a favorite spot in Bryson City for swimming, kayaking, and fishing. For those who want a unique Smoky Mountains adventure, hop aboard the Smoky Mountains Railroad at the historic depot in Bryson City. Travelers can take a 32-mile round-trip scenic train ride along the Tuckasegee River to learn more about old railroad towns in the area.
Rogersville, Tennessee
The historic town of Rogersville, Tennessee, was settled in 1775 by David and Elizabeth Crockett, grandparents of Davy Crockett, an American folk hero and frontiersman. Visitors can explore the town's distinguished past by strolling along brick sidewalks in the historic district, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Buildings in the district are from the 1700s and 1800s, including the Hale Springs Inn, which was built in 1824.
Along with its rich history, Rogersville offers natural beauty and outdoor adventures in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Travelers can view 36 species of trees in Crockett Spring Park, near the site where David and Elizabeth Crockett built their log cabin. For outdoor adventures, water enthusiasts enjoy fishing, kayaking, and tubing in the Holston River.
Davis, West Virginia
The enchanting town of Davis is known for its eclectic arts community and four-season activities. Throughout the year, visitors can explore works by local artists and artisans at the West Virginia Highlands Artisans Gallery. The town also hosts the annual Art Spring Festival in May, showcasing art from local artists and live music.
The town is also a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Blackwater Falls State Park, named for the 57-foot cascading Blackwater Falls, provides 20 miles of hiking trails during warm-weather seasons. In the winter, the park boasts the longest sledding magic carpet on the East Coast, the Blackwater Sled Run. Davis is also a great base camp for mountain biking on trails in the Blackwater Canyon, the Monongahela National Forest, and Canaan Valley. For a slower pace, nature enthusiasts can fish in Blackwater River or view the serene water at Davis Riverfront Park.
Burnsville, North Carolina
Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Burnsville is a haven for outdoor adventures and history exploration. The town is home to the 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. A hike to the summit in Mount Mitchell State Park provides incredible 360-degree views of the surrounding vistas. Outdoor enthusiasts also enjoy stargazing at Bare Dark Sky Observatory. Surrounded by the Pisgah National Forest, observatory visitors can view the moon, planets, and stars through a custom-built telescope.
For history buffs, the History and Humor Walking Tour of Burnsville shares stories of families who have lived in the area since the 1700s. Another unique way to explore the town is on a self-guided driving tour of the Burnsville Quilt Block Trails. The nine-block trails showcase colorful quilt blocks on buildings and barns along 150 blocks, one of the largest concentrated areas of quilt blocks in the country.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
The small town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, provides Appalachian hospitality to all visitors to this mountain town. Located just outside the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Gatlinburg offers scenic outdoor activities throughout the year. In the summer, visitors enjoy taking on Class III and IV whitewater rapids on the Upper Pigeon River. When the air starts to cool, the autumn leaves provide scenic views while walking or bicycling along the Gatlinburg Trail beside the Little Pigeon River. The area becomes a haven for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing during the winter atop Ober Mountain. During the spring, nature enthusiasts enjoy viewing rushing mountain streams and the blooming forest along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The area is also home to Rainbow Falls, an 80-foot waterfall, which can be viewed by hiking the 5.4-mile moderate to difficult walking trail.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Although the entire state of West Virginia is located in the Appalachian Mountains, Harpers Ferry offers visitors a unique glimpse of American history, architecture, and nature. The 3,745-acre Harpers Ferry National Historical Park provides hiking and biking trails, as well as museums and historical workshops, such as blacksmithing, sewing, and making butter and cheese. For more outdoor and historic adventures, Harpers Ferry serves as the symbolic halfway point between Georgia and Maine on the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail. Trail hikers can cross the confluence of the Shenandoah River and Potomac River and view the remains of St. John's Episcopal Church, an 1852 church that served as a Civil War hospital. History buffs also enjoy exploring John's Brown Fort, where the abolitionist John Brown fought against slavery in 1859. The fort, built in 1848 as a fire engine and guard house, served as a prison during the Civil War.
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, is located in the Poconos and named after the Olympic gold medalist buried there. The town's outdoor activities, historical attractions, and picturesque natural surroundings welcome visitors to explore the Appalachian region. The town features several Victorian-style mansions built in the 1800s, such as the Asa Packer Mansion from 1861. Travelers can also take a guided walking tour of the historic town from May to October and stop at the Old Jail Museum for a look into Jim Thorpe's past.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Jim Thorpe is the gateway to Lehigh Gorge State Park, where visitors can hike and bike along the 26-mile Lehigh Gorge Trail and take on Class II and III rapids while whitewater boating in the Lehigh River. During the winter, the park is home to cross-country skiing and 15 miles of snowmobile trails.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
The little mountain town of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, offers big adventures in the Great Smoky Mountains. Dollywood provides thrillseekers with award-winning roller coasters and a replica of the childhood home of Dolly Parton, the singer-songwriter who helped create the theme park. For even more adventures, Pigeon Forge is a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With over 150 hiking trails, 2,900 miles of streams for fishing, and guided horseback rides, the park offers outdoor activities for all to enjoy. Pigeon Forge also provides water activities along the Little Pigeon River, such as floating, swimming, and fishing. For those looking for scenic views of nature, stroll along the paved Riverwalk Greenway that runs parallel to the river. The riverfront is also home to The Old Mill, a historic gristmill that powered the entire town in the early 1900s and is still used to grind grain today.
Shepherdstown, West Virginia
One of the oldest towns in West Virginia, Shepherdstown was founded in the 1730s. Visitors can learn more about the town's past on a self-guided tour along the historic district. The area is home to cobblestone streets, 18th-century architecture, and buildings that served as makeshift hospitals for over 8,000 Confederate soldiers during the nearby Civil War Battle of Antietam. The Historic Shepherdstown Museum, located in the Entler Hotel, showcases local artifacts, history books, and room displays with furniture from the 1800s.
Shepherdstown is also a hub for outdoor recreation. Water enthusiasts enjoy boating, fishing, and tubing in the serene Potomac River. Outdoor lovers can also hike and bike along the riverfront on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, better known as the C&O Canal. The 184.5-mile canal is also a great spot for viewing bald eagles and wild turkeys.
Charm in Appalachia's Small Towns
These quaint small towns in the Appalachian Mountains offer rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and charming communities to discover. From Tennessee's oldest town, Jonesborough, to the cobblestone streets of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and the outdoor adventures in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, each town offers a unique glimpse into mountain living. Whether exploring the eclectic art community in Davis, West Virginia, or taking on Class IV rapids in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the Appalachian Region offers adventures, charm, and history for all to enjoy.
