Helpful info for getting to your tour of the Eco Retreat

Park in the designated Tour Parking spot just in front of the Main Lodge. Take the steps up to the porch and your tour guide will meet you there. If it’s cold outside, meet just inside the Main Lodge instead.

If there is an event taking place that is using the Tour Parking space, then please park in the Overflow Parking area (see map).

Mount Mitchell Eco Retreat: 430 Otter Rock Rd, Burnsville, NC 28714.

Since we’re new, our address is not always findable in mapping programs (Waze and Google work best, FYI). Once you turn off of Hwy 80 onto Clear Creek Road, our driveway (Otter Rock Rd) is the first right onto the gravel road. Don’t use Apple Maps because it will auto-correct to different address about 45 minutes away.

Coming from south of the Eco Retreat:

From the Blue Ridge Parkway or Hwy 80 coming north from Marion, NC - continue following Hwy 80 going north from the Blue Ridge Parkway 4.4 miles and take a right on Clear Creek Road. Take your first right onto the gravel driveway called Otter Rock Road. Continue up the driveway and follow the signs towards the Main Lodge and then to your specific Lodge (Mitchell, Pisgah, Winter Star or Clear Creek).

Coming from north of the Eco Retreat:

Coming from Hwy 19 between Burnsville and Spruce Pine take Hwy 80 south for 9.6 miles and take a left on Clear Creek Road. Take your first right onto the gravel driveway called Otter Rock Road. Continue up the driveway and follow the signs towards the Main Lodge and then to your specific Lodge (Mitchell, Pisgah, Winter Star or Clear Creek).

Coming from Asheville’s AVL Airport:

Exit the airport onto I-26 West and continue for 31.5 miles. Take Exit 9 onto US-19 North and continue for 21 miles. Take a right onto Hwy NC-80 South and go for 0.2 miles. Take a left to stay on Hwy NC-80 South and continue for 9.4 miles. Take a left onto Clear Creek Rd and then take your first right onto the gravel driveway called Otter Rock Road. Continue up the driveway and follow the signs towards the Main Lodge and then to your specific Lodge (Mitchell, Pisgah, Winter Star or Clear Creek).

Coming from Charlotte’s CLT Airport:

Exit the airport by staying straight through the traffic light onto Little Rock Road (you be following signs towards I-85) and continue for 0.3 miles. Continue for 14.5 miles and take Exit 17B for Hwy US-321 North. Continue for 32.5 miles and take Exit 43 for I-40 West. Continue for 37 miles and take Exit 86 for Hwy US-226. (This is a good place to fill up your gas tank, if necessary.) At the end of the exit ramp take a right onto Hwy US-226 North and then choose one of the two options below to complete your journey:

For a faster and more beautiful route that is also steep and full of switchbacks:

Continue on Hwy US-226 North for 6 miles and then take a left on Hwy US-70 West. Continue for 1.8 miles and take a right onto Hwy US-80 North. Continue for 16.6 miles and turn right onto Clear Creek Road. Take your first right onto the gravel driveway called Otter Rock Road. Continue up the driveway and follow the signs towards the Main Lodge and then to your specific Lodge (Mitchell, Pisgah, Winter Star or Clear Creek).

For a route that takes 15-minutes longer but is an easier drive:

Continue on Hwy US-226 North for 13 miles and then take a left to stay on Hwy US-226 North. Continue for 5.2 miles and then take a right to stay on Hwy US-226 North. Continue for 4.7 miles and take a left to go west onto Hwy US-19E. Continue for 6.4 miles and turn left onto Hwy US-80 South. Continue for 0.2 miles and take a left to stay on Hwy NC-80 South and continue for 9.4 miles. Take a left onto Clear Creek Rd and then take your first right onto the gravel driveway called Otter Rock Road. Continue up the driveway and follow the signs towards the Main Lodge and then to your specific Lodge (Mitchell, Pisgah, Winter Star or Clear Creek).