As a Western North Carolina native, I speak the vernacular of these hills. I drop my G’s, say “y’all” unironically, and know that “cabin” is mountain talk for a rough-hewn hovel 45 minutes from nowhere. Except at Pilot Cove, a 142-acre woodland retreat in Brevard, North Carolina.
Stepping into cabin 207, an efficiency unit nestled in a thicket of laurels, I do something humans hate doing: I admit that I was wrong. There’s nothing primitive or unrefined about this cabin. Even the mudroom stands out with chic concrete floors and metal lockers for storing gear. The foyer spills into an inviting living space finished with live-edge accents, earthy granite countertops, a king-sized bed, and a generous flatscreen to match.
But as I wander onto the cabin’s expansive porch and watch nuthatches flit from branch to branch, Netflix is the last thing on my mind. I came here for a 24-hour nature-centric experience and, lucky for me, that’s exactly what co-owner Collin O’Berry is in the business of delivering.
In April 2017, O’Berry and four friends opened Pilot Cove as a base camp for plucky mountain bikers exploring nearby Pisgah National Forest. They wanted riders to have a place to count sheep before hitting the gnarly single track in the morning.
Fittingly, everything on-property revolves around cycling. Inside, for instance, the towel hooks are made from bike grips and a bike rim frames the bathroom mirror. Outside, there’s a flow track with wooden and dirt berms, tabletops, and rollers. “Bikers can grab a six-pack and have fun ripping around,” O’Berry tells me.
But you need not be a biker to appreciate Pilot Cove. This forested sanctuary provides plenty of other opportunities to experience what Brevard is all about, from driving the Blue Ridge Parkway to taking in one of Transylvania County’s 250 waterfalls. “The possibilities are pretty endless,” says O’Berry. “We’re most passionate about the activities guests can enjoy while staying with us.”
During my 24-hour stint in cabin 207, I hiked to the base of Looking Glass Rock, visited Laughing Falls, and chased it all with an artisan cheese board from The Square Root and fresh-made donuts from The Velvet Cup. Back at the cabin, I watched the sun slip behind purple-hued mountains from my porch, slept in a mess of soft sheets, and sipped locally roasted coffee. Needless to say, it’s good to be wrong sometimes.
Pilot Cove, 319 Gateway Junction Drive, Pisgah Forest, NC. (866) 758-2683, pilotcove.com. Off-season rates (January 2 to March 1) start at $150. Peak season rates start at $195.
B.Y.O.A. (Build Your Own Adventure)
Climb Looking Glass Rock
The heart of Pisgah National Forest is Looking Glass Rock, a pluton monolith formed 300 million years ago. Climbing this behemoth requires some white-knuckled gumption and guidance from Pisgah Climbing School.
3526 Asheville Hwy, Pisgah Forest, NC. (828) 222-7673, pisgahclimbingschool.com
Fish the Davidson River
The Davidson River is considered one of the best trout streams in North Carolina. Let the folks with Davidson River Outfitters show you the primo fishing holes during a half- or full-day wading trip.
49 Pisgah Hwy, #6, Pisgah Forest, NC. (888) 861-0111, davidsonflyfishing.com
Run the Art Loeb Trail
If you truly want to test your limits, hit the Art Loeb Trail. This footpath gains about 8,000 feet in elevation over 31 miles and can be tackled in nine hours during a running tour with White Dot Adventures.
(828) 333-8208, whitedotadventures.com
Refuel in Brevard
The Sunrise Café
Few restaurants do breakfast justice. The Sunrise Café is one of them. Tucked into an unassuming shopping mall, this eatery dishes up the usual morning culprits (think: pancakes, eggs, bacon) as well as surprising delicacies like Southwest bean nachos.
273 N Broad St, Brevard, NC. (828) 884-3331, the sunrise-cafe.com
The Cardinal Drive-In
After a day spent bagging peaks, sometimes all you want is a milkshake and fries. Fortunately, The Cardinal Drive-In has been hooking adventurers up with Southern classics since 1976. 344 S Broad St, Brevard, NC. (828) 884-7085
Quixote Fine Cuisine
For a taste of authentic Mexican fare, head down to Quixote Fine Cuisine. Start off with an order of queso fundido then dive headfirst into a helping of camarones a la naranja (shrimp in orange chipotle sauce). Plant-based? No problem. This downtown eatery has tons of veggie-based entrées too.
43 S Broad St, Brevard, NC. (828) 966-4554, quixotebrevard.com
