Things to Do
Mount Mitchell: how to get there from Riverbreeze right now
The highest point east of the Mississippi is still open — but Helene changed the way you drive to it. Here’s the route that works.
Read more →The Appalachian Gravel Growler starts 25 minutes from your site
A 230-mile bikepacking route from Morganton to Brevard, linking seven breweries across western North Carolina. The start line is practically next door.
If you ride gravel, you have probably heard of this one. If you don’t, here is the short version: the Appalachian Gravel Growler is a 230-mile bikepacking route across western North Carolina that connects seven breweries, and it is one of the better-known routes in the southeast.
It starts in Morganton. That is about 25 minutes east of your site.
The numbers
230Miles
23,000'Total ascent
4–6Days
5,680'High point
Roughly 5,000 feet of climbing a day if you ride it in five. The route is rated 6 out of 10 for difficulty by Bikepacking.com, who publish it — which is about right. It is not a beginner’s route, but it isn’t a sufferfest either.
Surface breaks down at roughly 50% gravel (some of it primitive), 38% paved backroads and parkway, 7% singletrack and 5% dedicated bike path.
Morganton to Brevard, by way of seven breweries
The route runs point to point from Fonta Flora in Morganton to Oskar Blues in Brevard, taking in Zillicoah, Burial, Hi-Wire, Wicked Weed and New Belgium along the way — most of them in and around Asheville.
It is a proper tour of the region rather than a loop around one valley, and the brewery-to-brewery framing is the reason it has the reputation it does.
Why start from here
The awkward part of any point-to-point route is the night before. You want to arrive, sort your kit, sleep properly and roll out early — without paying resort prices for the privilege.
Riverbreeze is 25 minutes from the Morganton start, just off I-40. A level site with full hookups, a hot shower, somewhere to spread your gear out on a picnic table, and a fire ring for the evening before. Leave the vehicle, ride out in the morning.
It also works at the other end of the trip, or as a rest day in the middle if your route plan brings you back east.
Before you plan
Helene changed some of this ground. Bikepacking.com published an alternate route through Old Fort to get around closures, and the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Mount Mitchell is still shut for repairs into late 2026 — which matters, because the route uses parkway miles.
Pull the current GPX and the latest route notes before you commit. Checked 16 September 2026.
If 230 miles is more than you want
You don’t have to ride the whole thing. The gravel around McDowell County is good on its own — quiet forest roads, long steady climbs, and almost no traffic once you’re off the main valley roads. Plenty of guests ride out from the campground for a day and come back for a swim.
Bring the bike. Decide when you get here.
More from the blog
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Camping Tips
Five things to do at camp when the kids are done swimming
The afternoon lull between lunch and the campfire is the hardest part of the day to fill. Here’s what works at Riverbreeze.
Read more →Make a weekend of it.
Reserve a site and work the rest out when you get here.