Embark on a Walking Tour of the Asheville Urban Trail
Staying at The Horse Shoe Farm is an enchanting boutique hotel offering a perfect blend of luxury, nature, and Southern hospitality. Accommodations at our Asheville spa and resort range from charming cottages to estate homes and suites, each meticulously crafted to provide comfort and tranquility. One of the highlights of staying at The Horse Shoe Farm is the array of activities available to guests both on and off-site.
One of the best ways to experience the city's rich history and culture is by embarking on the Asheville Urban Trail. This self-guided walking tour takes you through 30 stations, each marked by a piece of public art or a historic landmark, providing a fascinating glimpse into Asheville's past and present.
Keep reading to learn more!
Your Guide to the NC Asheville Urban Trail
The NC Asheville Urban Trail is among the best free and self-guided walking tours in the area. You’ll explore the charming downtown in Asheville, booming with rich history, stunning architecture, local artwork, and a vibrant community. Spanning 1.7 miles marked by 30 stations, this walking tour is a great way to get a little exercise while exploring the city at your own pace. The stations are broken into five time periods to tell the stories of the past. You can also enjoy audio for each station and the 14-minute "Walk into History" film to learn more about the Asheville Urban Trail.
Our 5 Favorite Asheville Urban Trail Stations
Walk Into History Station #1: Start at the plaque that commemorates where Pack Square Park and the first log courthouse in Asheville began. There are also 80 engraved bricks to honor the donors who helped make the Asheville Urban Trail with their support.
O. Henry Station #4: This station features visual cues to The Gift of the Magi, created by William Sydney Porter, a former Asheville native buried in the Riverside Cemetery.
Elizabeth Blackwell Station #6: At this Asheville Urban Trail station, there is a bench with medicinal herbs to honor the place where the first woman in the nation received a medical degree. She went on to create the first four-year medical college for women in the world.
Guastavino’s Monument Station #12: Visit the Basilica of St. Lawrence, which boasts the largest self-supporting elliptical dome in the nation. It was based on the work by Raphael Guastavino and can also be found in Carnegie Hall and Grand Central Station.
The Block Station #29: Visit the Young Men's Institute was partially funded by George Vanderbilt and served as a focal point of the Asheville African American community, also called The Block.
