From the Editors

Tucked into western North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, McDowell County offers a welcoming base camp for hikers, cyclists, and paddlers. Outside highlights how local community partnerships in towns like Marion and Old Fort have expanded access to public lands, waterfalls, and regional trail networks. We selected this piece as an appealing example of attainable outdoor travel, pointing readers toward scenic Appalachian routes and unpretentious mountain hospitality without requiring elite skills or major expense.