More than 190 curves in twelve miles: The Diamondback makes the road itself an experience in Mitchell County. Along its route toward the Blue Ridge Parkway, the road climbs nearly 2,000 feet. At Milepost 334, it offers direct access to the Parkway. That gives you a concrete point of reference if winding drives are part of your trip. But minerals, crafts, river landscapes, and festivals offer other perspectives on the region.
Minerals and Mining History
The Museum of North Carolina Minerals highlights the region’s mineral resources and mining history. A dedicated exhibit also focuses on the Overmountain Victory Trail. The museum is on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 331, at the junction with NC-226 and about six miles east of Spruce Pine. From there, you can hike two certified sections of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail: one 1.8 miles long and the other 1.2 miles long. Check current trail conditions before your walk.
Emerald Village offers another perspective on mining. There, an underground tour takes you through the historic Bon Ami Mine; check seasonal opening hours before your visit. At the Gemstone Mine, visitors choose from a variety of gemstone buckets and can keep the stones they find. Availability may vary seasonally. The Discovery Mill building has exhibits spread across twelve levels, covering model trains, local wildlife, fluorescent minerals, antique tools, and music history. Exhibit details may change.
Crafts on Campus and Along the Way
The Penland School of Craft campus offers a self-guided tour featuring historic buildings, art installations, studio visits, a café, and an art-supply store. Access to teaching studios is restricted separately. The Penland Gallery & Visitors Center presents contemporary crafts by current and former faculty, resident artists, and former students.
Toe River Arts’ Spring & Fall Studio Tours are self-guided driving tours. Depending on the edition, they showcase between 85 and 100 Toe River Arts artists; dates vary from one edition to another. The Mitchell County Quilt Trail is also a self-guided driving tour, this time through the county’s scenic countryside. Along the way, quilt blocks can be seen on barns, shops, and homes. The tours differ mainly in their focus: the Studio Tours highlight artists, while the Quilt Trail features quilt blocks displayed on various buildings.
Bakersville: Local History and Festivals
The McBee Museum is housed in a historic building from the 1890s in downtown Bakersville. The building originally served as Dr. Prestwood’s medical office. The annual North Carolina Rhododendron Festival Craft Fair is part of the Rhododendron Festival and features local artists and craftspeople. The festival in Bakersville also includes food vendors, a 10-kilometer run, and a one-mile run or walk.
The festival takes place on the third weekend in June. During this time, more than 600 acres of blooming Catawba rhododendrons turn Roan Mountain pink. Another date on the events calendar is Fire on the Mountain: the blacksmith festival takes place annually on the last Saturday in April in downtown Spruce Pine and includes blacksmithing demonstrations. Mine tours at the NC Mineral and Gem Festival require a reservation and are paid for separately. These requirements may change from one festival edition to another.
River Trails and Parks
The Toe River Canoe Trail runs 37 miles down the North Toe River, from Riverside Park in Spruce Pine to Poplar. The route passes mostly through undeveloped forests and farmland and includes Class I, II, and III rapids. Water conditions vary seasonally; check local access conditions before your trip.
There are also ways to enjoy the water without taking a long river route. Riverside Park in downtown Spruce Pine has a paved walking path and offers access to the Toe River for fishing, paddling, and tubing. Bakersville’s community park has a 0.6-mile paved Creek Walk and accessible fishing piers. Park facilities and amenities may change.
Discover more destinations: Spruce Pine, Bakersville, Madison County, Duplin County, Burke County, Robeson County, Harnett County, Wake.
For the main travel overview: North Carolina.
