See the natural phenomenon in North Carolina you didn't know existed this fall

Sept. 21, 2019

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5 min read

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Every fall, travelers flock to see a bear emerge from the mountains of the Tar Heel State.

Visible for about three weeks every autumn — when the weather cooperates, of course — the somewhat elusive Shadow of the Bear appears in western North Carolina. As the sun sets, a small shadow grows from behind Whiteside Mountain, halfway between Cashiers and Highlands, North Carolina. Eventually, a giant bear shadow appears to stride across the entire valley.

“The black bear … seen often around western North Carolina is a symbol that resonates with people. For the black bear to make an appearance on the mountain itself just adds to the mystery and the intrigue,” Nick Breedlove, the executive director for the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority, told Travel + Leisure magazine.

Even if you aren't able to spot the Shadow of the Bear, you might still want to consider a trip to North Carolina this fall. The ever-popular city of Asheville -- often referred to as "The Paris of the South" -- is just 1.5 hours away. And regardless of where you stay, you'll have easy access to many of the state's best attractions and activities, including hiking trails, waterfalls, scenic roads and more.

When and where to see the Shadow of the Bear

The Shadow of the Bear is best viewed from the Rhodes Big View Scenic Overlook, off Route 64. From mid-October through early November, The Bear emerges around 5:30 p.m. The entire event lasts about 30 minutes. It's wise to arrive early because the overlook can get crowded. And be sure to check the weather when making plans, because rain and fog can obstruct your view.

Getting there

If you're traveling from out of town, you'll want to fly into either Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) or Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), the latter of which is in South Carolina. The city of Asheville is just over a 1.5-hour drive from the Rhodes Big View Overlook (where the Bear lives). From the Greenville-Spartanburg airport in Greer, you'll be looking at a 2-hour drive.

A number of airlines serve Asheville Regional, including American, Delta and United, along with low-cost-carriers Allegiant and Spirit. Round-trip saver economy awards within the US on United start at 20,000 miles this October, plus taxes and fees, but could be more or less depending on your departure city and travel dates. Similarly, American MilesSAAver awards for economy flights start at 25,000 round-trip, but we found round-trip flights with Delta from 12,000 miles in late October.

Because Asheville is a smaller regional airport, you may find cheaper flights (and more flight options) in and out of Greenville-Spartanburg. Airlines serving Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) include Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest and United.

Where to stay

Cashiers or Highlands

There aren't many options when it comes to chain hotels in Cashiers, North Carolina, but you could use Hilton points to stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Cashiers-Sapphire Valley (from 40,000 Hilton points per night).

Otherwise, take a look online and you'll find various independent hotels, lodges and small inns, such as the highly-rated Park Inn and Old Edwards Inn & Spa. These hotels aren't part of any loyalty program, but you could use flexible rewards to help offset the cost of your stay. For example, you could earn Ultimate Rewards points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and book your stay through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. Or, you could use Venture miles earned from the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card to "erase" the cost of your hotel.

Asheville

If you're in search of quirky small city vibes, consider basing yourself in Asheville. You’ll have plenty of hotels to choose from where you can use points here, including the Aloft Asheville Downtown (from 35,000 Marriott points per night), the Four Points by Sheraton Asheville Downtown (from 25,000 Marriott points per night), the Hampton Inn & Suites Asheville Biltmore Village (starting at 50,000 Hilton points per night) and the Hyatt Place Asheville/Downtown (rooms here start at 12,000 Hyatt points per night). You'l also want to consider the cash rate at some hotels, which may be a better value than points. Rooms at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Asheville, for example, can be booked for $153 per night in the fall, while the Four Points by Sheraton has stays starting at $94.

Of course, prices can vary wildly depending on your travel dates and the length of your stay. That same Four Points can cost more than $400 per night during weekends in October.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.