Chris and I are always looking for new places and adventures are always waiting for us just around the corner. Recently we had a bit of an adventure when we found a new to us place not too far from our home in Brevard.

We found ourselves at Dixie Diner in Hendersonville for breakfast and wanted to see something special before we headed home. A quick Google search found Jump Off Rock in Laurel Park and off we went. It promised to be a beautiful spot to take a quick hike and view the beauty of the mountains.

As we climbed the mountain we realized that that was probably not going to happen for us on that day.

The history behind Jump Off Rock is what you might think it is from the name. It is a scenic overlook that allows the viewer to see some beautiful landscape including the Blue Ridge and Pisgah Mountain areas. The name comes from a Cherokee legend that has been passed down over the years. The legend says that over 300 years ago a young Cherokee Indian maiden received word that her young Indian Chief had been killed in battle. She climbed to the edge of the rock and jumped off.  The legend also says that on moonlit nights you can see the ghost of the maiden on Jump Off Rock

Needless to say we will have to make a trip back to actually see anything but it was still a fun little adventure. If you are interested in visiting this area you can find it about 5 miles from downtown Hendersonville at the end of the Laurel Park Highway. There is no admission charge and the park is open from sunrise to sunset daily. The three hiking trails vary in difficulty and appear to be clearly marked. There were several families and dog walkers using them when we visited so it is a popular place even in the fog.

We don’t let a little bad weather get in the way of an adventure. We didn’t encounter any unpaved roads on this little adventure but it was an adventure just the same. Have you ever been to Jump Off Rock? Tell me about it in the comments and remember that each comment made on any blog post this month means a 50 cent donation to our Comments for a Cause — Warm Clothing for Local Kids.