Where
is Cold Mountain, North Carolina? It became well-known with Charles
Frazier’s best-selling Civil War-era novel. Now the mountain will receive
more fame with one of the most anticipated motion pictures of the year
opening on Christmas Day.
Directed by Academy Award-winner Anthony Minghella (The English Patient, The
Talented Mr. Ripley) and based on Frazier's novel, Cold Mountain tells the
story of Inman (Jude Law), a wounded confederate soldier who is on a
perilous journey home to his mountain community, hoping to reunite with his
pre-war sweetheart, Ada (Nicole Kidman). In his absense, Ada struggles to
survive, and revive her father's farm with the help of intrepid young
drifter Ruby (Renee Zellweger).
Cold
Mountain is located 40 miles from Asheville North Carolina, and it is part
of the Shining Rock Wilderness Area in Pisgah National Forest. Since Cold
Mountain is government owned, it is still in its natural state (much as it
was during the Civil War) and requires a strenuous 10-mile hike to reach the
6,030-foot summit. However, you can enjoy beautiful views of the mountain
from your car via the Blue Ridge Parkway or a shorter hike to the top of
Mount Pisgah. By the way, the movie was not filmed near Cold Mountain North
Carolina. It was filmed mostly in Romania.
The
easiest way to see Cold Mountain is from the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost
412, about 30 miles from downtown Asheville. You can view the south side of
Cold Mountain from an overlook near the U.S. Highway 276 exchange at
Milepost 411.9. The views from the overlook are spotty with overgrown trees
blocking most of the view. For the best view, go to the Wagon Gap Road
Parking area at Milepost 412.2. Then walk north on the Parkway a short
distance.
A
more extensive view of Cold Mountain is enjoyed from the top of Mount Pisgah
(5,700 feet), located at Milepost 407 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, 26 miles
southwest of Asheville. A three-mile roundtrip trail takes you to the top
for a grand view of Cold Mountain. The hike is a bit strenuous, but the view
will be a nice reward.
You should probably wait until spring to enjoy either view, since this
section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed for most of the winter. For
photographs of Cold Mountain and detailed information about hiking to its
summit, go to
www.RomanticAsheville.com.
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Where
is Cold Mountain, North Carolina? It became well-known with Charles
Frazier’s best-selling Civil War-era novel. Now the mountain will receive
more fame with one of the most anticipated motion pictures of the year
opening on Christmas Day.
Cold
Mountain is located 40 miles from Asheville North Carolina, and it is part
of the Shining Rock Wilderness Area in Pisgah National Forest. Since Cold
Mountain is government owned, it is still in its natural state (much as it
was during the Civil War) and requires a strenuous 10-mile hike to reach the
6,030-foot summit. However, you can enjoy beautiful views of the mountain
from your car via the Blue Ridge Parkway or a shorter hike to the top of
Mount Pisgah. By the way, the movie was not filmed near Cold Mountain North
Carolina. It was filmed mostly in Romania.
The
easiest way to see Cold Mountain is from the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost
412, about 30 miles from downtown Asheville. You can view the south side of
Cold Mountain from an overlook near the U.S. Highway 276 exchange at
Milepost 411.9. The views from the overlook are spotty with overgrown trees
blocking most of the view. For the best view, go to the Wagon Gap Road
Parking area at Milepost 412.2. Then walk north on the Parkway a short
distance.
A
more extensive view of Cold Mountain is enjoyed from the top of Mount Pisgah
(5,700 feet), located at Milepost 407 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, 26 miles
southwest of Asheville. A three-mile roundtrip trail takes you to the top
for a grand view of Cold Mountain. The hike is a bit strenuous, but the view
will be a nice reward.