Western North Carolina Map (400+ Wonderful Places Listed)

This Western North Carolina Map is a branch of the North Carolina Travel Map that we’ve created for the entire state.

This map, like those dedicated to Eastern and Central North Carolina, alphabetically features specific counties and attractions within each one.

After sharing the embedded map, we will then break down what makes up Western North Carolina before sharing the attractions listed. Many of these locations will be linked to individual North Carolina travel guides that we’ve created.

Read More: 100+ Unique Things to Do in North Carolina (Your NC Bucket List)

Western North Carolina Map Defined

Western North Carolina stretches from the Tennessee border to South Carolina and Georgia in the south.

To the east of the North Carolina mountains is the Foothills. The Foothills begin as the Piedmont of Central North Carolina gradually rise. This Foothills region includes popular attractions and places to visit like Chimney Rock, Hickory, Lake Lure, Shelby, and Wilkesboro.

While there are multiple answers to “What makes up Western North Carolina,” we’ve defined its eastern edges from north to south as follows:

• Alleghany County
• Wilkes County
• Alexander County
• Catawba County
• Lincoln County
• Gaston County

Including the Qualla Boundary (Cherokee), here are all 23 counties included in our Western North Carolina map:

The NC Tripping Western North Carolina Map

Now that we’ve defined the region, here is the embedded Western North Carolina Map.

Open Western North Carolina Map in Google Maps

Western North Carolina Map Locations Mentioned

These Western North Carolina Map locations include attractions in and around Asheville, near Boone and the High Country, and more.

Read More: Day Trips from Asheville

Alexander County (Taylorsville, Hiddenite, and More)

• Emerald Hollow Mine
• Hiddenite Center
• The Old Jail Museum
• Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area

Alleghany County (Sparta, Stone Mountain State Park, and More)

• Stone Mountain State Park

Ashe County (Jefferson, West Jefferson, and More)

• Ashe County Cheese
• Frosty’s Choose and Cut
• Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
• New River Brewing
• New River State Park

Read More: Day Trips from Boone

Avery County (Banner Elk, Linville, and More)

• Apple Hill Farm
• Banner Elk Winery & Villa
• Beacon Heights Overlook Trail
• Grandfather Mountain
• Grandather Mountain State Park
• Grandfather Vineyard
• Hawksnest Snow Tubing
• Linn Cove Viaduct
• Linville Falls Winery
• Otter Falls Trail
• Rough Ridge Trail
• Sugar Mountain Resort

Read More: Things to Do in Banner Elk

Buncombe County (Asheville, Black Mountain, and More)

Our map includes the location of our favorite things to do in Asheville, hotels in the area, breweries, and more!

Asheville

Read More: The Best Things to Do in Asheville

Black Mountain (Buncombe County)

• Black Mountain
• Black Mountain Brewing
• Graybeard Trail
• Lake Tomahawk
• Lookout Brewing Company

Read More: The Best Breweries in Asheville

Candler (Buncombe County)

• Engadine Inn and Cabins

Fairview (Buncombe County)

• Wedge Brewing Company (Foundation and Wedge Studios)
• Whistle Hop Brewing

Weaverville (Buncombe County)

• Lake Louise

More Buncombe County North Carolina Map Locations

• Craggy Gardens
• Montreat
• Southern Highland Craft Guild, Folk Art Center

Read More: How to Enjoy Christmas at Biltmore

Burke County (Morganton, the Linville Gorge, and More)

Morganton

• Apple Hill Orchard
• Catawba Brewing
• Fonta Flora Brewing (Downtown)
• Sidetracked Brewing
• Silver Fork Winery

Read More: Things to Do in Morganton and Burke County

More Burke County North Carolina Map Locations

• Fonta Flora at Whippoorwill Farm
• Hawksbill Mountain
• Henry River Mill Village
• Linville Falls (the Waterfall)
• Table Rock Mountain
• Wiseman’s View

Caldwell County (Lenoir and More)

• Hibriten Mountain
• Western North Carolina Sculpture Park

Catawba County (Hickory and More)

Hickory

• Bakers Mountain Park
• Blowing Rock Brewing
• Lake Hickory
• Olde Hickory Brewingon

Read More: Things to Do in Hickory

Newton (Catawba County)

• Catawba Farms

More Catawba County North Carolina Map Locations

• Red Wolf Farm

Cherokee

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
• Mingo Falls
• Museum of the Cherokee Indian
• Soco Falls

Cherokee County (Murphy, Lake Chatuge, and More)

• Cherokee County Historical Museum
• Fields of the Wood
• Fort Butler
• Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River
• Murphy

Clay County (Lake Chatuge and More)

• Brasstown
• Chatuge Dam Trail
• John C. Campbell Folk School
• Lake Chatuge (Hiwassee Street Boat Ramp)

Cleveland County (Shelby, Kings Mountain, and More)

• Don Gibson Theatre
• Earl Scruggs Center
• Gardner-Webb University
• Kings Mountain Historical Museum
• Newgrass Brewing

Gaston County (Gastonia, McAdenville, and More)

• African-American History Museum
• Crowders Mountain State Park
• Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
• McAdenville Christmas Town USA
• Schiele Museum of Natural History

Graham County (Robbinsville, Fontana Lake, and More)

• Fontana Dam
• Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

Haywood County (Maggie Valley, Waynesville, and More)

• BearWaters Brewing (Canton and Maggie Valley)
• Boojum Brewing Company
• Brickhouse Burgers & Pizza
• Cataloochee Ski Area
• Elevated Mountain Distilling Company
• Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower
• Graveyard Fields
• Joey’s Pancake House
• Lake Junaluska
• Pop’s Butts on the Creek
• Pop’s Place
• The Stompin’ Ground Dance Hall
• Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum
• The Yellow House

Read More: 20+ Amazing Things to Do in Maggie Valley

Henderson County (Hendersonville, Flat Rock, and More)

Hendersonville

• Burntshirt Vineyards
• Coston Farm and Apple House
• Creasman Farms
• D9 Brewing
• Grandad’s Apples n’ Such
• Justus Orchard
• Oklawaha Brewing
• Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards
• Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard
• Team ECCO Aquarium and Shark Lab

Read More: Things to Do in Hendersonville

Flat Rock (Henderson County)

• Carl Sandburg Home
• Sky Top Orchard

Read More: Apple Orchards in Hendersonville

Mills River (Henderson County)

• Bold Rock Cider
• Burning Blush Brewery
• Mills River Brewing

More Henderson County Western North Carolina Map Locations

• Bearwallow Mountain Trail
• DuPont State Recreational Forest
• Jump Off Rock
• Sierra Nevada Brewing

Read More: 30+ Hendersonville Hikes

Lincoln County (Lincolnton and More)

• Beatty’s Ford Park
• South Fork Rail Trail

Jackson County (Cashiers, Sylva, and More)

• Bear Lake Reserve
• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva)
• Panthertown Valley Trail (Schoolhouse Falls)
• Pinnacle Park
• Silver Run Falls
• Ski Sapphire Valley
• Sylva
• Toxaway Falls
• Upper Whitewater Falls
• The Village Green of Cashiers
• Western Carolina University
• Whiteside Brewing

Read More: Waterfalls near Asheville

Macon County (Franklin, Highlands, and More)

Franklin

• Scottish Tartans Museum
• Wayah Bald Tower
• The Vollmer Farm

Highlands (Macon County)

• Old Edwards Inn
• Lake Sequoyah

Read More: The Most Romantic Getaways in North Carolina

More Macon County Western North Carolina Map Locations

• Bridal Veil Falls (Roadside)
• Bust Your Butt Falls
• Cullasaja Falls
• Dry Falls

Read More: The Wonderful NC Waterfall Byway (+ 15 Awesome Stops!)

Madison County (Marshall, Mars Hill, and More)

• Hot Springs Resort
• Lover’s Leap Trail
• Max Patch Trail

McDowell County (Marion, Old Fort and More)

McDowell County is one of our favorite areas to visit in Western North Carolina. Whether you’re exploring Marion, Little Switzerland, Old Fort, or elsewhere, we think you’re in for a treat.

Marion

Read More: 20+ Amazing Things to Do in Marion (and Nearby!)

Little Switzerland

• Grassy Creek Falls
• Switzerland Inn

Read More: The Best Things to Do in Little Switzerland

Old Fort

• Catawba Falls
• Hillman Beer
• Mountain Gateway Museum

More McDowell County Western North Carolina Map Locations

• Famous Louise’s Rockhouse Restaurant (Shared by Avery, Burke, McDowell, and Mitchell Counties)
• Linville Caverns
• Linville Falls Visitor Center
• Linville Falls Winery

Mitchell County (Bakersville, Spruce Pine and More)

• Museum of North Carolina Minerals
• The Orchard at Altapass
• Roan Mountain (via Carvers Gap)

Read More: Hikes near Asheville

Polk County (Saluda, Tryon, and More)

• Nina Simone Plaza
• Pearson’s Falls and Glen
• Polk County Historical Museum
• Russian Chapel Hills Winery
• Shunkawauken Falls
• Tryon Fine Arts Center
• Tryon International Equestrian Center

Rutherford County (Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, and More)

• Chimney Rock State Park (and THE Chimney Rock)
• Hickory Nut Brewing
• Kids Sense Interactive Museum
• Lake Lure Flowering Bridge

Swain County (Bryson City and More)

• Clingmans Dome Observation Tower
• Deep Creek Trail
• The Everett Hotel
• Lakeview at Fontana
• Nantahala Brewing (Bryson City)
• Oconaluftee Visitor Center
• Road to Nowhere

Read More: The Best Things to Do in Bryson City

Transylvania County (Brevard and More)

• DD Bullwinkel’s Outdoors
• Devil’s Courthouse
• DuPont State Recreational Forest
• Ecusta Brewing
• French Broad Falls and Bird Rock Falls (Mill Shoals)
• Key Falls
• Looking Glass Falls
• Moore Cove Falls
• Oskar Blues Brewing
• Pines Country Inn
• Silvermont Park
• Sliding Rock Falls

Read More: 25+ Beautiful Waterfalls near Brevard

Watauga County (Boone, Blowing Rock, and More)

Our map includes the location of all all the things to do in Boone (and Blowing Rock). It also includes multiple places throughout Watauga County that don’t fall within those two awesome mountain towns.

Blowing Rock

• The Blowing Rock
• Blowing Rock Alehouse
• Boone Fork Trail
• Chetola Resort
• Elk Knob State Park
• Glen Burney Trail
• Moses H Cone Memorial Park
• Mystery Hill
• Tweetsie Railroad

Read More: 30+ Great Things to Do in Blowing Rock (Downtown, Hotels, Nearby Hikes, and More!)

Boone (Watauga County)

Read More: 30+ Great Things to Do in Boone (Hikes, Eats, and More in App Town)

More Watauga County Western North Carolina Map Locations

• Beech Mountain Brewing
• Beech Mountain Resort
• Green Mountain Creek Falls
• Mast General Store (Valle Crucis)
• Mast General Store Annex
• Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

Read More: Winter in Boone (20 Great Activities, Snow Tubing, and More!)

Wilkes County (North Wilkesboro, Wilkesboro, and More)

North Wilkesboro

Wilkesboro

Read More: 25+ Fun Things to Do in Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro, & Wilkes County

More Wilkes County Western North Carolina Map Locations

• Leatherwood Mountains
• Moravian Falls
• Moravian Falls Campground
• Piccione Vineyards
• Raffaldini Vineyards
• Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest
• Stone Mountain State Park
• Whippoorwill Village
• Widow’s Creek Falls

Read More: 20+ Kid-Friendly Waterfalls In NC (Easy Hikes And Swimming Holes!)

Yancey County (Burnsville, Mount Mitchell, and More)

• Crabtree Falls
• Homeplace Brewing
• Mount Mitchell State Park
• Roaring Fork Falls
• Setrock Creek Falls
• Toe River Arts (formerly Toe River Arts Council)

Read More: The Best Things to Do in Burnsville

Anything to Add to Our Western North Carolina Map?

We’ve tried to add as many locations to this Western North Carolina map and understand we may have missed a spot or two. If you know of a great place that should be included, please kindly let us know here in the comments section or by email.

You’re always welcome to share your favorite places in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group.

Before you do that, though, here are some travel guides we’ve created that go even deeper into the region.

Beyond the Western North Carolina Map (Travel Guides)

How to Reach Devil’s Courthouse (a Short but Steep Blue Ridge Parkway Hike)

30+ Awesome Things to Do in Morganton and Around Burke County (Hikes, Food, and More!)

25+ Incredible Asheville Restaurants for Your Next Meal Out!

Blueberry Picking in North Carolina (and 20+ Great Farms to Find Them!)