Where to Paint
Have you ever wondered, “Where are the best places to paint landscapes in and around Asheville, NC?” Well, here is our list of beautiful and convenient places to set up your easel and paint en plein air.
By the way, if you have a suggestion, please email it to art@wncpap.com
French Broad River Park
508 Riverview Dr, Asheville NC – Google Map
Public Bathrooms: Yes | Good Parking: Yes
Shaded walking trails next to the French Broad River. Deck overlook. Dog park. Good view of the Amboy Road bridge.
Carrier Park
Amboy Rd, Asheville NC – Google Map
Public Bathrooms: Yes | Good Parking: Yes
Miles of walking trails. Open grassy areas. Covered picnic area. Many delightful and unexpected views of the French Broad River.
Botanic Gardens Asheville
151 W.T. Weaver Blvd. Asheville – Google Map
Website – Botanical Gardens at Asheville
Public Bathrooms: Yes | Good Parking: Yes
Shaded walking trails. Wooded groves. Reed Creek. Picturesque bridges.
Glen Bridge River Park
77 Pinners Rd, Arden NC – Google Map
Public Bathrooms: No | Good Parking: Yes
Shaded walking trails next to the French Broad River. Interesting trees over the river. Good view the river frontage road, and corn fields across the river.
Highland Lake
Note: Private Property – Permission Required
86 Lily Pad Ln, Flat Rock, NC – Google Map
Bathrooms: Yes | Good Parking: Yes
Lake with boat dock, goat barn, chicken coop, greenhouses, picturesque fields
Buncombe County Sports Park
58 Apac Cir, Asheville, NC – Google Map
Bathrooms: Yes | Good Parking: Yes
Large sports complex with long range mountain views.
Pack Square Park
121 College St, Asheville, NC – Google Map
Bathrooms: Yes | Good Parking: Yes ($)
Downtown Asheville with abundant architectural subjects and colorful characters.
Mills River Park
124 Town Center Dr, Mills River NC – Google Map
Bathrooms: Yes | Good Parking: Yes
Long range mountain views.
Hominy Creek Park
194 Hominy Creek Rd, Asheville – Google Map
Bathrooms: No | Good Parking: Yes
Looks across the French Broad River to the Biltmore Estate. (Tricky to get there.)
Walnut Gap Overlook
Blue Ridge Parkway, Mile Marker 396.4
Bathrooms: No | Good Parking: Yes
Spectacular long views. Blue Ridge Parkway, about 3 miles from entrance from the NC Arboretum.
Charles Owen Park
875 Warren Wilson Rd, Swannanoa – Google Map
Bathrooms: Yes | Good Parking: Yes
Picnic tables, grills, and a 1 mile “figure-eight” walking and bird watching trail, the Swannanoa river and the two lakes.
Fletcher Park
Howard Gap Rd, Fletcher, NC – Google Map
Bathrooms: Yes | Good Parking: Yes
Picnic tables, soccer fields, baseball fields, and a walking and bird watching trail, the Cane Creek, bridges.
Craggy Gardens
Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 364.1 – Google Map
Bathrooms: Yes | Good Parking: Yes
Spectacular, long range views both to the North and the South. Visitors Center. Approximately 24 miles from Asheville.
Azalea Road Dog Park
Azalea Road, East Asheville – Google Map
Bathrooms: ? | Good Parking: ?
Good views, Lake.
Guests Welcome!
PLEASE NOTE: You do not have to be a WNCPAP member to attend our any of our paint-outs. All you need to do is show up ready to paint! (Bring your own supplies, of course. And bring a friend if you’d like!)
If you would like to receive notifications of our paint-outs but do not wish to become a member, please join our WNCPAP Guest Email List. (Members do not need to subscribe. They receive all paint-out notifications automatically.)
Learn more about WNCPAP Membership.
Proposed Locations:
Woodfin Riverside Park – 1510 Riverside Dr, Woodfin
Bent Creek River Park – 1592 Brevard Rd, Asheville, NC
WNC Arboretum
WNC Nature Center
DuPont State Forest
Lake Lure/Chimney Rock area
Lake Junaluska
Lake Julian – 406 Overlook Extension, Arden, NC
River Arts District – Asheville
Burnette Reservoir – Black Mountain
Beaver Lake – North Asheville*
Beaucatcher Overlook Park
Richmond Hill Disk Golf Course (Emma)
Christ School
Behind BoJangles on Airport Road
Target/Lowes Parking Lot (Arden)
Asheville Recreation Park (Swannanoa River Rd?) (69 Gashes Creek Rd, Asheville?)
Orchard Lake Campground* (Saluda, NC)
Cane Creek School
Hoopers Creek (Fletcher/Gerton)
Butler Mountain/Emmas Grove (Fletcher/Fairview)
Waynesville/Canton
Biltmore Estate
(from the Biltmore Estate Policy)
“Taking photographs of the exterior of Biltmore House and grounds or sketching images of the house or estate grounds is permitted for personal use only. All commercial uses are prohibited without express written consent. Recording, filming, photography, or taping of any concert is strictly prohibited.”