Fairview is located southeast of Asheville along the US-74A corridor toward Chimney Rock and Lake Lure.
Fairview sometimes gets overshadowed by Asheville, Black Mountain and Hendersonville when people talk about places to explore around Western North Carolina.
I think that’s part of its charm.
Fairview still has that wonderful mix of farmland, mountain roads, local businesses, old families, new neighbors and extraordinary natural beauty.
You can be surprisingly close to Asheville and still find yourself driving past pastures with the mountains rising behind them.
It’s also a great example of why I tell people that living in Asheville isn’t just about Asheville.
When you live here, communities like Fairview become part of your backyard.
One of the things I love about living in Western North Carolina is that some of the best days don’t require elaborate plans.
A pair of hiking shoes, a couple of hours, and a willingness to explore can turn an ordinary morning into a reminder of exactly why so many of us love calling the Asheville area home.
If you’re looking for a fun morning in Fairview, NC, here’s an easy local combination: start with a hike in the mountains and reward yourself afterward with a seriously good sandwich at the Fairview institution many longtime locals still simply call Troyer’s.
We recently spent the morning checking out one of Western North Carolina’s newest outdoor spaces and this one is worth knowing about.
Fairview Community Forest officially opened to the public in March 2026, with the first three miles of what will eventually become an approximately 11-mile hiking and mountain biking trail system. (Conserving Carolina)
If you live in Asheville or Fairview and haven’t heard much about it yet, that’s understandable.
It is new!
The Fairview Community Forest sits off Woodson Road in Fairview, southeast of Asheville.
There isn’t a traditional street number for the trailhead, so Conserving Carolina recommends searching “Fairview Community Forest” in Google Maps. As you travel down the gravel road, look for the small gravel parking area.
The land has already lived several lives.
It was once a Presbyterian summer camp and later became Camp Woodson, a state program intended to give young people involved with the juvenile corrections system a new start. That program ended in 2011.
Today, the property has been reinvented again this time as protected public forest, trails and an outdoor learning environment.
More Than 250 Acres Protected in Fairview
In 2025, Conserving Carolina purchased 226 acres for the Fairview Community Forest and another 27.5 acres associated with the WORX Project campus.
That means more than 250 acres of woods, streams, water resources and wildlife habitat are now protected. (Conserving Carolina)
And there’s another part of this story that I love.
The WORX Project uses the property as an outdoor education environment for public-school students and other young people, offering hands-on experiences connected to outdoor careers and practical skills.
So this isn’t simply another hiking trail.
It’s conservation, recreation and education happening together.
What Are the Trails Like?
Right now there are two loops open, totaling about three miles.
Sutton’s Way — 1.8 Miles
The trail marked in red is Sutton’s Way.
It is approximately 1.8 miles, including the access trail, and is open to hikers, runners and mountain bikers.
The trail is named after respected Western North Carolina trail builder Ed Sutton. Sutton and his team completed these first trails shortly before he passed away in 2026, making the name a meaningful tribute to his contribution to trails throughout WNC. (Conserving Carolina)
Cove Forest Loop — 1.2 Miles
The blue-blazed Cove Forest Loop adds another approximately 1.2 miles.
Together, the two loops make up the first three miles of Fairview Community Forest.
Eventually, this is expected to grow into an approximately 11-mile trail network, so what you see today is really just the beginning. (Conserving Carolina)
The trails were designed for:
- Hiking
- Trail running
- Walking
- Dogs on leash
- Beginner-to-intermediate mountain biking
For mountain bikers, another interesting feature is the style of the trail construction.
The singletrack has been described as wide and flowy, with rollers and berms that make it approachable for beginner and intermediate riders.
As a hiker, that also makes the trail feel very different from some of our older, rockier Western North Carolina trails.
What I Liked About It
One of my favorite things about exploring Fairview Community Forest was knowing we were seeing it right at the beginning.
There is something fun about walking a trail that only opened a few months ago and realizing that, five or ten years from now, it could be one of the better-known community trail systems around Asheville.
You’re close to Asheville, but you’re surrounded by woods, mountain terrain and that quieter rural character that makes this part of Buncombe County so appealing.
And because there are currently only three miles open, it works especially well when you don’t want an all-day expedition.
You can hike in the morning, get some exercise, explore somewhere new and still have plenty of time for lunch.
After hiking, we headed back into Fairview for lunch at the place longtime locals know as Troyer’s Country Amish Blatz, now called Terramonga Store & Deli.
For me, this is exactly what a great Western North Carolina morning looks like: discover a new trail, get outside for a couple of hours, and finish with lunch somewhere local.
Sit down, slow down and enjoy one of those little Fairview places you could easily drive past without realizing what is tucked down the road.
Longtime Fairview residents will know this place as Troyer’s Country Amish Blatz.
Today, it is officially Terramonga Deli & Provisions, but much of the character that made Troyer’s such a beloved Fairview destination remains. Terramonga’s owners purchased Troyer’s in 2024 and later reopened the store under the Terramonga name while keeping the deli tradition alive. (Terramonga Farm)
And that includes the sandwiches.
Why Locals Loved Troyer’s
Troyer’s was never about being fancy.
That was the point.
It became known around Fairview and Asheville for big, freshly made deli sandwiches, baked breads, cheeses, meats, baked goods and the kind of country-store atmosphere that increasingly feels hard to find.
Under Terramonga, that tradition has evolved to include locally raised meats, produce, eggs and other products connected to its Fairview farm and neighboring Western North Carolina farms. (Terramonga Farm)
The deli still makes sandwiches on fresh-baked breads, and longtime Troyer’s favorites remain part of the experience. (AIR Asheville)
Hike a trail.
Eat somewhere locally owned.
Stop at the farm stands.
Pay attention to how you feel driving home.
That’s how you start understanding the individual communities around Asheville and figuring out where you actually feel at home.
Fairview offers something particularly special: country living, mountain access and a strong local identity while remaining convenient to Asheville.
And sometimes the best introduction to a neighborhood isn’t a real estate listing.
It’s a mountain trail and a really good sandwich.