The Best Things To Do This Fall in Asheville & The Blue Ridge Mountains
Looking for the best things to do this fall in Asheville, North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains? This 2026 guide was created for locals, visitors, couples, families, and anyone planning an unforgettable autumn in Western North Carolina. Inside, you’ll find standout fall activities, seasonal attractions, outdoor adventures, scenic destinations, festivals, farms, family-friendly experiences, spooky season favorites, and local businesses worth adding to your fall itinerary.
Curated by Travel Guides Asheville, this guide makes it easy to discover what to do in Asheville this fall, whether you’re planning a leaf-peeping weekend, romantic mountain getaway, family day trip, fall break, or full Asheville vacation. Explore featured experiences, discover seasonal events and attractions, find exclusive offers, and build your perfect fall itinerary across Asheville and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.
Whether you’re searching for fall foliage, scenic drives, pumpkin patches, apple orchards, outdoor adventures, festivals, Halloween activities, family-friendly things to do, or unique Asheville experiences, this guide brings together some of the best ways to experience fall in Asheville and Western North Carolina.
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(This guide is updated for 2026 and features a curated selection of the best fall activities, attractions, seasonal experiences, outdoor adventures, festivals, scenic destinations, and things to do in Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains.)
1. Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard
Instagram: @steppshillcrestorchard
TGA Exclusive Discount: Use code ‘TRAVELGUIDES’ for 5% off your online purchase of a Fall Fun Bundle in advance of your visit. Offer valid through the 2026 fall season.
Experience fall in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard, a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated farm in Hendersonville, North Carolina. A favorite fall destination for generations, Stepp’s offers an authentic farm experience filled with pick-your-own crops, family activities, seasonal treats, and beautiful mountain scenery.
Apple picking is at the heart of fall at Stepp’s, with more than 26 varieties ripening throughout the season across the farm’s expansive orchards. Depending on when you visit, guests can also enjoy u-pick sunflowers and zinnias, u-pick grapes, and u-pick pumpkins.
There’s plenty more to explore during a fall day on the farm. Find your way through the 5-acre corn maze, enjoy the Hayground, or visit on the weekend for even more activities, including the apple cannon, wagon rides, jump pad, and more.
Before heading home, stop by the Apple House to shop fresh, pre-picked apples, local products, farm merchandise, and seasonal favorites. Don’t forget to treat yourself to fresh-made apple cider donuts, apple cider slushies, caramel apples, fudge, and other sweet treats.
Whether you come to pick, play, shop, or simply enjoy the mountain views, Stepp’s is a fall tradition worth experiencing.
2. Navitat Canopy Adventures
Instagram: @navitat
TGA Exclusive Discount: Use code ‘TGA15’ at checkout for 15% off the Mountaintop or Treetop Express tours. Offer valid for the rest of the 2026 season.
Take to the skies this autumn at Navitat Canopy Adventures, an award-winning aerial adventure experience located just outside Asheville in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Surrounded by lush forest, fresh mountain air, and stunning scenic views, Navitat offers guests a one-of-a-kind way to experience the beauty of Western North Carolina from high above the trees.
Perfect for families, couples, friend groups, corporate outings, and adventure seekers, Navitat features guided zipline canopy tours designed to combine excitement, nature, and unforgettable memories. Guests can soar through the forest canopy, cross sky bridges, and enjoy panoramic mountain views while learning about the local environment from experienced guides.
Fall is one of the best times to visit, offering cooler breezes, breathtaking colors, and a refreshing escape into the mountains. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, family vacation, or team-building adventure, Navitat provides a unique outdoor experience that blends adrenaline with connection to nature.
Conveniently located near Asheville, Navitat makes it easy to add adventure to your fall visit. Advance reservations are recommended, and tours are suitable for ages 5+ with a variety of experience levels.
Come see the changing colors in a whole new way this fall at Navitat.
3. Hickory Nut Gap Farms
Instagram: @hickorynutgap
TGA Exclusive Discount: Use code ‘TGAsheville10’ for 10% off online, or mention Travel Guides Asheville at checkout in our Farm Store.
Just 20 minutes from Asheville, Hickory Nut Gap Farm is located in beautiful Fairview, North Carolina. This working farm raises beef cattle, pigs, and chickens while using regenerative agricultural practices and creating opportunities for visitors to learn more about where their food comes from.
Stop by to explore the farm, shop the Farm Store, attend a seasonal event, or book one of the farm’s spaces. Check the events calendar for the latest happenings throughout the fall season.
4. Scenic Tours and Adventures
Instagram: @scenictoursandadventuresmv
TGA Exclusive Discount: Use code ‘TGA$5’ for $5 off your booking. Offer expires 12/31/26.
Make Scenic Tours & Adventures one of your top things to do this October in the Smoky Mountains. Located in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, they offer unforgettable ways to experience brilliant fall foliage, mountain scenery, waterfalls, wildlife, and the rich history of Western North Carolina.
Join an experienced local guide for a Jeep adventure through Cherokee and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. October falls during elk rut season, when visitors may hear bull elk bugling and witness seasonal behavior from a safe distance. Guests may also enjoy scenic overlooks, historic landmarks, and a visit to Mingo Falls. Wildlife sightings and activity cannot be guaranteed.
Want to take the wheel? Drive your own UTV while following a guide on a scenic mountain adventure featuring fall views, local history, waterfalls, and wildlife-viewing opportunities. These guided UTV experiences combine the thrill of driving with the knowledge of a local guide.
Guests who prefer to explore independently can rent a Polaris Slingshot for four, six, or eight hours and cruise the mountain roads at their own pace.
Scenic Tours & Adventures is locally operated and perfect for couples, families, and groups seeking a unique Smoky Mountain fall experience. Advance reservations are recommended during October.
5. Fox Mountain Guides
Instagram: @foxmountainguides
At Fox Mountain Guides, fall is one of the best seasons for climbing, offering cooler temperatures and breathtaking autumn scenery. Their expert guides provide private rock climbing trips tailored to climbers of all levels, from beginners taking their first steps on the rock to seasoned adventurers seeking new challenges.
This autumn, immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the vibrant colors that define the season. Private guided trips allow you to experience the beauty of the outdoors in a safe and supportive environment. In addition to personalized trips, Fox Mountain Guides offers open-enrollment courses designed to enhance your climbing skills.
Join the Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing course to learn the fundamentals, or take your skills to the next level with the Rock Climbing Anchors course, focused on essential safety techniques. For those looking to build self-reliance, the Rock Climbing Self-Rescue course offers another opportunity to expand your skills.
Whether you’re climbing for fun, fitness, or the thrill of adventure, Fox Mountain Guides is your gateway to an unforgettable autumn experience in the mountains.
5. WNC Nature Center
Instagram: @wncnaturecenter
The Western North Carolina Nature Center connects people with the animals and plants of the Southern Appalachian Mountain region by inspiring appreciation, nurturing understanding, and advancing conservation of the region’s rich biodiversity.
Located in Asheville, the Nature Center is home to 60 species of wild and domestic animals and hundreds of species of plants, all representative of the unique Southern Appalachian bioregion. From black bears and cougars to red pandas, wolves, otters, reptiles, and more, visitors can get a close-up look at the wildlife that makes this region so special.
The Nature Center is also a place to explore, learn, and connect. Educational programs, guided tours, seasonal events, hands-on activities, and special experiences offer opportunities for children and adults to discover more about Southern Appalachian wildlife and the habitats they call home.
Through these experiences, the Nature Center helps inspire a deeper understanding of our shared responsibility to protect the region’s native wildlife and wild places.
Whether you’re visiting Asheville or call Western North Carolina home, there’s always something new to discover at the Nature Center.
6. The Haunted Farm
Instagram: @thehauntedfarm
TGA Exclusive Discount: Use code ‘TGA10’ for 10% off tickets throughout the 2026 season when booking online.
Visit The Haunted Farm near Asheville, North Carolina, for one of Western North Carolina’s most immersive Halloween experiences. Just outside Asheville in Hendersonville, this haunted attraction brings an old blood feud between the Lively and Tate families to life across dark woods, detailed sets, and terrifying indoor and outdoor scenes.
Venture through the Lively Farmhouse, face the horrors of the Insane Asylum, enter the Big Top Psycho Circus, and discover what else is lurking across the Farm. Each area pulls guests deeper into a story of curses, restless spirits, and a feud that refuses to die.
The experience starts before you even enter the haunt. The courtyard features live music, horror clips, and roaming characters that make the wait part of the night’s entertainment. Come with friends, make a fall night of it, and find out who’s brave enough to lead the way.
The Haunted Farm returns for its 16th season in 2026. Named one of America’s Top Haunts by the Haunted Attraction Association every year since 2020, it’s a must-visit Halloween destination for visitors from Asheville, Hendersonville, and beyond.
Check the 2026 schedule and choose your tickets on our website!
8. Light + Love Arts
Instagram: @lightandlovearts
TGA Exclusive Discount: Use code ‘TGAFALL’ at checkout for 10% off any Open Studio session or Adult Craft Night. Offer expires 12/31/26.
Looking for a hands-on way to spend a fall day in Asheville? Light + Love Arts is a creative studio in the River Arts District where visitors of all ages come to make art. Kids, families, and grown-ups are all welcome, and no experience is needed.
The studio sets out open-ended materials like paint, clay, loose parts, and natural treasures, giving guests the freedom to follow their curiosity. The joy is in the making, not the finished product.
Families visiting this fall can book an Open Studio session, where little ones explore autumn-inspired invitations to paint, build, and play with the colors and textures of the season. It’s a warm, welcoming, fully indoor stop between leaf-peeping drives or the perfect plan for a chilly or rainy afternoon.
Grown-ups can get in on the fun, too. Adult Craft Nights are relaxed, social evenings—a craft party, not an art lesson—perfect for a girls’ trip, date night, or group of friends looking for something memorable to do together in Asheville.
Light + Love Arts also hosts birthday parties, weekly classes, camps, and afterschool programs. Find the studio at 408 Depot Street #140 in Asheville’s River Arts District and view the full calendar or book on our website.
9. The Asheville Kitchen
Instagram: @theashevillekitchen
Fall is the perfect time to gather in the kitchen! The Asheville Kitchen offers hands-on cooking classes that bring people together to learn new skills, cook delicious food, and enjoy the experience around the table.
This season’s classes range from cozy soups and holiday bakes to Chinese comfort foods and French Alpine favorites. Come curious, bring your appetite, and The Asheville Kitchen will take care of the rest.
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