Welcome to Mountain Hearth Lodge - Rustic Elegance in the Heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains ::  (336) 372-8743
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Activities

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.

Planning a Special Event?

Mountain Hearth Lodge is the perfect location to plan your next corporate retreat, planning meeting, family reunion, wedding/reception, bridal breakfast, holiday party, or church gathering.

Area Links

Alleghany Chamber of Commerce - Recreation & Tourism

Alleghany County Map

Alleghany News

Ashe County Chamber of Commerce

Boone Area Chamber of Commerce

Jefferson Post

Local Weather

Regional Map of NW NC

The Mountain Times

Watauga Democrat

Birding Links

Audubon North Carolina

Canoeing Links

National Committee for the New River

New River Campground and Canoe
Sparta, NC (336) 372-8793

RiverCamp USA
Piney Creek, NC (800) 748-3722

Fishing Links

National Committee for the New River

Stone Mountain State Park

Golf Links
High Meadows Country Club (Private)
Roaring Gap, NC (336) 363-2445

Old Beau Golf Course
Roaring Gap, NC (336) 363-3333

New River Country Club, Inc.
Sparta, NC (336) 372-4869

Crestview Golf Course
Ennice, NC (336) 657-3471

Deer Creek Golf Park
Galax, VA (276) 236-3221

Hiking Links

Blue Ridge Parkway - Doughton Park

Blue Ridge Parkway - Cumberland Knob

National Park Service - Blue Ridge Parkway

Stone Mountain State Park

Horseback Riding

Triple E Riding Stables

Glade Valley, NC (336) 372-5366

Labyrinth Links

World-Wide Labyrinth Locator

Music

Blue Ridge Music Center

MerleFest

Old Fiddlers Convention

Silver Dollar Music Center

Upcoming Events
Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce Monthly Newsletter
Local Sparta Weather