This Is North Carolina’s Most Underrated Small Town In 2025

North Carolina has various landscapes that appeal to almost 40 million visitors each year, making it the fifth-most visited state within the U.S. Apart from having a few of the most beautiful beach towns in the Carolinas, a big portion of Western North Carolina can be coated by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The state’s Blue Ridge area is well-known for its charming Appalachian towns that are perfect for weekend retreats. A lot of them stay beneath the radar, together with North Carolina’s most underrated small city in 2025—a historic little metropolis on the prime of a railway.

One of many cities alongside Tryon and Columbus, North Carolina’s most underrated small city is known as the “First Peak of the Blue Ridge.” This cluster of cities was named as such as a result of their location on the southernmost fringe of the Blue Ridge Mountains, as seen by these coming from the south and east. Of the cluster, this city is the smallest, however it’s brimming with thrilling nature adventures, cozy stays, and artsy points of interest in its well-preserved historic downtown.

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North Carolina’s Most Underrated Small City

Saluda in Polk County, North Carolina is located on the prime of Saluda Grade, a steep railway that operated between 1878 and 2001. Saluda Grade was the steepest standard-gauge mainline railway grade within the U.S. The engineering marvel was a big participant in Saluda’s transformation right into a bustling heart and a resort city for the rich again within the late 1800s. These days, this peaceable little metropolis is understood for its one-street historic downtown the place the railway instantly runs via.

Also called the Saluda Historic District, the downtown space nonetheless hosts some Nineteenth-century institutions to this present day. Quaint shops, historic inns, retro dining spots, and modern art galleries in outdated buildings create a unusual and rustic mix, surrounded by picturesque surroundings. Saluda is situated at a degree the place the japanese fringe of the Blue Ridge Mountains meets the Piedmont, providing wealthy views of the mountains and rolling hills. The journey-packed Inexperienced River additionally flows north of the city, near Massive and Little Bradley Falls inside the Inexperienced River Recreation Lands, whereas the Pearson’s Falls and Glen is barely three miles south of Saluda.

Saluda is a handy 35-minute drive from Asheville, North Carolina by way of I-26. However regardless of easy accessibility from main cities, Saluda stays an underrated vacation spot as a result of its smaller dimension. It is not targeted on large-scale tourism and maintains a laid-back, tight-knit community of 676 residents. It is primarily a fast escape for rest, though a few of the thrilling actions in its surrounding nature aren’t for the faint of coronary heart.

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Issues To Do In North Carolina’s Underrated Small City

Waterfalls at Pearsons Waterfall close to Saluda, North Carolina

Apart from exploring its historic downtown, Saluda provides thrilling actions just like the tree-based zipline cover tour of the Inexperienced River Gorge facilitated by The Gorge Zipline. The 1.25-mile experience is described as “steep, quick, and exquisite,” plunging into pristine old-growth forest overlooking the Green River Gamelands. Open 7 days every week, The Gorge additionally gives different water adventures in Saluda, similar to kayaking and tubing in Inexperienced River, mountain climbing and rappelling the Massive and Little Bradley Falls, and an easy-to-moderate swimming gap hike.

When open, the privately-owned Pearson’s Falls and Glen can be a must-visit. It is a botanical protect with 268 acres of cove forest, spring-fed streams, granite, and an easy 20-minute hiking trail (with picnic areas alongside the best way) resulting in a 90-foot-tall waterfall. Saluda can be a part of a number of routes for highway cyclists that take you to serene locations just like the Saluda Grade, Greenville Watershed, and Wilderness Cove. The annual Gran Frodo Hincapie cycling event in October—which fits from Traveler’s Relaxation, South Carolina and thru the Blue Ridge Mountains—additionally has stops in Saluda.

For a extra immersive out of doors tour, the city has two main camp areas. You will have the Wilderness Cove Campgrounds alongside the Inexperienced River, which has primitive tenting spots, in addition to websites with water and electrical hookups for tents, pop-ups, and RVs. Then there’s Orchard Lake Campgrounds, which provides comparable lodging plus A-frame cabins. Orchard Lake has two lakes for fishing and swimming, boating, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. It even has a pleasant nine-hole, nine-iron golf course.

Even higher? No fishing license is required to fish in Orchard Lake Campgrounds.

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The Greatest Time To Go to The “First Peak Of The Blue Ridge”

Summer time is mostly one of the best time to go to Saluda, North Carolina. In spite of everything, the city was initially a summer time retreat for the opulent within the Eighteen Eighties. Its delicate sunny days permit for prolonged strolls and nice nature-related actions. Nevertheless, it is also the busiest season on the town. If you wish to keep away from the crowds, fall is the perfect time to go to Saluda as you are still handled to vibrant foliage colours, apple season, wine tastings within the close by Tryon Foothills Wine Region, and crisp cool climate.

Spring in Saluda sees a a lot smaller crowd than in fall, however it provides snug temperatures, idyllic blooms, and seasonal farmers’ markets. Winters are brief in Western North Carolina, however Saluda’s winter wonderland is also romantic. You simply want to select the proper place to remain. The city provides varied lodging options for each traveler, together with luxurious boutique inns, homey B&Bs, quaint inns, and personal mountain cabins.

Capital

Raleigh

Inhabitants

10.55 million (2021)

Based Date

November 21, 1789

Saluda is North Carolina’s final hidden gem in 2025. This city could also be small, however it holds a spread of cultural, gastronomical, and historic finds good inside its one-street downtown alongside the Saluda Grade railway. It is also a gateway to totally different nature adventures inside the underrated southern Blue Ridge area. With inexpensive points of interest, lodging for all budgets, and easy accessibility from Asheville, a visit to Saluda is the graceful and memorable North Carolina trip you did not know you wanted.