Cold Mountain, NC

Last night I was trying to watch the movie.  Yes, I read the book first.

I loved the scenery, which was in Romania rather than right here in Western North Carolina.  Something about lack of old growth forest.  Excuse me?  It's more likely that getting to it would have been difficult for film crews, not to mention finding places they could eat and sleep in comfort...that would have been a lot of people.  And the local folks in NC now get paid minimum wages for whatever they might do, usually.  There are lots of lovely places to stay, but not giving easy access to the forests.  Actually I think they would have had a negative effect on our environment, so I'm glad the filming was in Romania.

Photo by Ken Thomas, public domain

The struggles of the people in this area were felt in much the same way across the whole south during and after the Civil War.  It was very uncivil.

I did have trouble concentrating during the film.  When I saw it in a theater in 2003, I remember feeling it was much longer than it should have been.  It felt like a second Gone With the Wind attempt.

Romantic Asheville.com says:

Cold Mountain is located 35 miles from Asheville North Carolina. There is not an actual town of Cold Mountain. The mountain itself (elevation 6,030 feet) is part of the Shining Rock Wilderness area in Pisgah National Forest. Since Cold Mountain is in a national forest, it is still in its natural state (much as it was during the Civil War) and requires a strenuous 10-mile hike to reach its 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 (see below).

SEEING AND HIKING TO COLD MOUNTAIN (Source: Romantic Asheville)

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 (see top photo). 

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 (read about the Mt. Pisgah hike). A 3-mile roundtrip hike 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.  Another extensive view via an easier hike (1.5 miles roundtrip) is from Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower.

The mountain is one of the Great Balsam Mountains which are a part of the Blue Ridge Mountains within the Appalachian Mountains.  It's height is 6,030 feet above sea level.