"Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."

Albert Einstein

Outdoor adventure is one of the best-loved pastimes in the county, whether it's experienced from the seat of a car touring the scenic back roads, or from a crosstube of a whitewater raft.

More than 4,500 hikers each year take in the beauty of the mountains first hand from the trails along the ridgetops. Hikers on the Appalachian Trail walk the length of the county on their way from Georgia to Maine and go right by the post office in Hot Springs on the trail.



Skiing, golf, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, swimming, canoeing and kayaking are activities residents and visitors enjoy year 'round in the mild climate. More than 25,000 people go whitewater rafting each year on the French Broad River. (Read about the French Broad River Festival).  Also, recreation enthusiasts can take a hot mineral bath at the springs in Hot Springs, go camping in the solitude of the Pisgah National Forest and visit bygone eras at the Rural Life Museum in Mars Hill.

See also the Visitor's Guide provided by the Madison County Chamber of Commerce.