Biking:
Bicyclists traveling solo or in a group can rest assured
that Mountain Hearth Lodge can accommodate your needs.
Located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, we are your perfect
stop if you are riding through, or a quick and easy access if
day riding fits your schedule. North Carolina State DOT
cycling trail (#4) passes just yards from our driveway.
The Blue Ridge Parkway offers bicyclists the unparalleled
beauty of 470 miles of picturesque scenic highway across the
states of North Carolina and Virginia. Elevations vary from
600 to 6,000 feet, and the road encompasses a variety of ever changing weather conditions, regardless of the season.
The Parkway was designed as a scenic leisure highway for
motorists, and therefore bicyclists should be prepared
significant distances between developed areas and services
that vary seasonally. We encourage you to become familiar
with Parkway resources, services and regulations before
beginning your cycling trip.
Parkway maps and additional information are available
from:
Superintendent
Blue Ridge Parkway
199 Hemphill Knob Road
200 BB&T Building
Ashville, NC 28803
(828) 298-0398
Birding:
Mountain Hearth Lodge is located at the base of Bull Head
Mountain and is centrally located to many North Carolina
birding hotspots. The meadows and mountain forest
surrounding the lodge offer plenty of birding opportunities
for the avid enthusiast as well. We commonly see goldfinches
and flycatchers along the stream banks, herons, kingfishers
and sandpipers at the ponds, bluebirds and swallows in the
fields, indigo buntings, cardinals and towhees in the
forest, and a variety of hawks overhead.
The lodge is located a short 5-minute drive from the Blue
Ridge Parkway Mahogany Rock overlook, a major hawk migration
and count site. The fall Raptor migration occurs from August
to December with the peak period being mid to late
September.
Bull Head Mountain was recently purchased for conservation
through a cooperative effort by the Conservation Trust for
North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust and the
North Carolina Division of State Parks, with support and a
management commitment from the National Audubon Society. The
goal is to establish North Carolina’s premier site for
viewing the annual spectacle of migrating hawks, falcons,
eagles and vultures through the North Carolina Mountains.
Canoeing:
The headwaters of the New River begin in Ashe County and
form the world’s second oldest river to the Nile in
Alleghany County. The New River flows north to West Virginia
and offers the canoeist scenic beauty at a leisurely pace.
We are minutes away from several outfitters and access
points if your on your own for the day.
Fishing:
Mountain Hearth Lodge is a veritable
nirvana for the aspiring fly angler. It is located in one of the
most serene and tranquil regions in Western N.C., and it has a
private trout pond! It also has a soothing brook winding through
its 20 acres, which is a small scale example of the trout waters
that exist nearby.
Allegheny County is a largely untapped
haven for the fly anger. Within 25 minutes of Mountain Hearth
are a myriad of trout streams and rivers. Stone Mountain State
Park is a hop, skip, and jump away and abounds with fertile
trout streams! The New River and Little River are within easy
striking distance and give the angler the opportunity to fish
for trout and acrobatic, hard fighting smallmouth bass! A trip
to Mountain Hearth Lodge is sure to meet the needs of anyone who
wants to ply a variety of waters with the fly rod. The mix of
deafening silence and scenic, inviting rivers is sure to delight
every fly fishing minded guest!
Golf:
Playing the links can be an enjoyable experience in the
mountains and Alleghany County has many opportunities to
please the amateur, professional and everyone in between. We
are within a few minutes' drive to some of the finest courses
in the area.
Check out the Golf links for listings of a few of the
courses available in the area and just minutes away from the
lodge.
Hiking:
If hiking is your pleasure, Mountain Hearth Lodge is the
perfect retreat for starting and returning from your days
adventure. We’re open yearly and can help you plan your
trips for all seasons, from spring wildflower outings,
summer family gatherings, fall color walks and winter snow
filled days.
From the lodge, one can immediately start out strolling
along the Blue Ridge Parkway or wander off down numerous
country lanes. A quickly ascending gravel road will take the
enthusiast to the top off Bullhead Mountain for spectacular
vistas of Alleghany county.
A short 15minute drive will land the avid hiker in some off
the most spectacular natural areas of northwest North
Carolina. From the 35 miles of ridge and valley trails of
the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Doughton Park to the spectacular
spectacle of Stone Mountain State Park, North Carolina’s
largest state park.
In less than an hour, the adventurous can access to the
Appalachian Trail and Mount Rogers (highest point in
Virginia) at Grayson Highlands State Park, VA in the
beautiful setting of the Jefferson National Forest. If the
river is your passion, there are three access points to the
New River Trail.
Horseback Riding:
New to our area and minutes from the lodge is the new
location of Triple E Riding Stables. They provide several
different services such as trail rides, riding lessons,
breaking and boarding. Also located at Triple E Stables is
Alleghany Trail Blazers, Inc., a therapeutic riding program
for children with disabilities.
Labyrinth:
Using our soles to awaken our souls.
On the grounds of our lodge is a seven-circuit, “Classical”
labyrinth approximately fifty feet in diameter. The
labyrinth is open twenty-four hours a day for the use of our
guest and retreatants for walking, meditation and prayer.
Labyrinths have been in use for centuries as marked walking
paths to help center the mind and spirit. They differ from
mazes in that they are not designed with dead ends for the
purpose of confusion, yet are paths symbolizing the sure
journey of the spirit, which is always toward the center.
Music:
Mountain Hearth Lodge is centrally located to many of the
finest music venues and festivals the Blue Ridge has to
offer. The following is a list of many of the areas
offerings with travel times included.
30 minutes or less driving time:
Alleghany Jubilee – Main Street - Sparta, NC
Local bands on Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00pm.
Tuesday night: Hoedown
336-372-4591
Alleghany County Fiddlers Convention - Alleghany County
Fairgrounds
Competitions, concerts, jams, vendors.
3rd weekend in July-Friday 5:pm & Saturday 10:00am
336-372-8809 (Trevor)
Blue Ridge Music Center - Mile Post 213 Blue Ridge Parkway
Saturday evenings, June through September, summer concert
series beginning at 7:00PM, rain or shine. Free to public
except as noted outdoor arena.
276-236-5309
www.blueridgemusiccenter.net
Old Fiddlers Convention – Galax, VA
70th annual, oldest and largest
August 8-13
www.oldfiddlersconvention.com
60 minutes or less driving time:
Blue Ridge Music Series – Ashe Civic Center, West
Jefferson, NC
Showcasing the finest in acoustic music the 2nd Friday of
each month with host band Alternate Roots.
Shows begin at 8:00pm-Doors open at 7:30pm. Admission $5.00
unless otherwise noted.
MerleFest – Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, NC
The largest family oriented festival in the southeast.
Definitely a must see for music lovers who appreciate great
musicianship and authenticity.
April 28, 2005 3:00pm – April 29,30 May 1, 2005 8:00am
www.merlefest.org
Wayne Henderson Finger Picking Guitar Competition – Grayson
Highlands State Park, VA
The finest guitar picking to be heard in these mountains.
Annually, 3rd weekend in June
Retreats:
Retreat, an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult,
dangerous or disagreeable; a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation
and instruction under a director; a place of safety and privacy;
Mountain Hearth Lodge can be that special place of solitude
for the self, happiness and laughter for family gatherings, spiritual direction
for church groups and growth opportunities for corporate colleagues. Call us to
assist you in designing the retreat for the benefit of everyone involved.
Shopping:
If shopping is you game, then Sparta and the surrounding
mountain region offer many venues to satisfy your quest.
From the studios of regional crafts and art galleries, old
time general stores, country hardware merchandisers, estate
sales, auctions, used books and unique consignments, your
only minutes away during your stay at Mountain Hearth Lodge.
Weddings:
Imagine your wedding at The Mountain Hearth Lodge.
Your wedding is a celebration to be remembered for a
lifetime. Mountain Hearth Lodge has the resources, the
facilities and the setting to help make this the most
memorable day in your life. From grand affairs to intimate
romantic settings for just the two of you, rehearsal dinners
to bridesmaid luncheons, indoors or out, we tailor to fit
any special request or any budget.
Many times wedding activities are planned in our immediate
vicinity of Roaring Gap, Sparta and Laurel Springs. The
lodge’s five guest rooms and three cabins are available for
lodging for bridal families and our wedding guest. The lodge
facilities can house up to twenty guests overnight.
Breakfast is included with lodging and there are several
common sitting areas, in addition to the dining room,
providing the setting to allow visiting with friends and
family throughout the day and into the evening.
Please give us a call to arrange all of your reception and
wedding plans as we can assist you in coordinating your
special wedding day, reception or honeymoon.
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