There are many more birding sites in western NC than we mention below. In order to keep this list manageable, we've limited it to some of the locations that have been frequently visited by the GCBC. For each of the spots below, more detail can be found in books cited on our Literature page or in the site descriptions on the Carolina Bird Club website.
This is a collection of many birding locations. The GCBC typically runs this route, moving from Brevard up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, in late spring or early summer to enjoy the last of spring migration, but it can make for very rewarding birding any time between spring and fall. It's a great way to take advantage of the wide variety of species that can be found by birding at several different elevations and in several different habitats. See the birding map linked above for specific sites. The NC books cited on our Literature page all have information about these spots, but Simpson's Birds of the Blue Ridge Mountains has the most detailed accounts.
This route, like the one for the BRP south of Asheville, offers a great diversity of birds due to its very significant changes in elevation and habitat. The GCBC has tended to visit in the summer, but this route can be fantastic any time from spring to fall. In a day of birding from the Folk Art Center up to Mount Mitchell, and then beyond and down Curtis Creek Road, a birder can find a large number of warblers and other passerines, including such hard ones to find as Kentucky, Swainson's, Cerulean, Canada, and Blackburnian Warblers, Winter Wrens, Hermit Thrushes, and so much more. The birding map linked above shows some specific sites, and even trespasses a bit into TN (don't tell anyone), where the club has gone to have views of Golden-winged Warbler, among other great birds. Again, it is recommended to refer to the NC books on our Literature page, and Simpson's Birds of the Blue Ridge Mountains in particular.
Jackson Park is a city park in Hendersonville that has become famous with birders in the Carolinas for its prolific fall birding (it is still good, but less legendary, at other times). During fall migration, birders can sometimes see a staggering number of warblers. The description on the CBC website is detailed, so we'll defer to that.