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Where to hike in asheville nc
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Discover the perfect Asheville hike for your next outdoor adventure! Filter your search results by difficulty, length and distance from downtown Asheville—then choose whether you want to see waterfalls, wildflowers or beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain views. Still can’t decide? Check out our Asheville Hiking Guide for lists of the top local hiking trails by experience. The Asheville Hike Finder is now available on all Alexa devices.
Just north of downtown, the acre Asheville Botanical Gardens at the University of North Carolina at Asheville is an urban oasis with a shady half-mile loop trail that highlights species of plants native to the Southern Appalachians.
More Info. A open mountain meadow, Bearwallow Mountain is perfectly picturesque and ideal for picnicking. Two trails start at Walker Knob Overlook. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail with its characteristic white circles starts from the middle of the parking area. This hike on the Big Butt Trail goes up from the left side, in back of a wooden sign which says “Little Butt 3 miles,” a slight overestimation.
Little Butt is our destination; Big Butt, itself, is overgrown and without a view. Hikers can easily take in the view, too, with this easy, scenic stroll through the woods. With plenty of exposed rock around the falls, this is a great picnic spot. Catawba Falls is relatively close to downtown Asheville just 25 miles away and offers stunning beauty thanks to a series of cascades that, together, are feet tall. The U.
Forest Service recently has made the easy-to-moderate trail even more enjoyable by adding two new footbridges so that you no longer have to rock hop across the river to enjoy the falls. The hike is just three miles round trip. Local author Charles Frazier made this foot-high peak in the Great Balsams famous with his novel of the same name. The movie version won the hearts of even more fans. With an average of 7 to 10 hours on the trail, this adventure requires preparation and commitment, but rewards with solitude and remarkable views.
Take advantage of its relative obscurity to have this peaceful riverside loop trail all to yourself. Deep Creek is one of the most beloved areas in the Smokies, known for offering the opportunity to see three beautiful waterfalls. Take a 5-mile loop hike to see them all or craft a shorter hike. Deep Creek is also known for its popular tubing sections — one of which passes directly in front of one of the waterfalls!
The Deep Creek trail was an old logging road used around the turn of the 20thcentury. Splash dams were built along the creek to float timber down to the sawmills in the area. After all, the summit of Devil’s Courthouse is at 5, feet. Tucked away in the beautiful Big Ivy area of Pisgah National Forest, the foot Douglas Falls offers the rare opportunity to walk behind a waterfall. The waterfall drops from an overhanging cliff and features an impressive rock wall in the background.
Fryingpan Tower is the tallest fire tower in Western North Carolina. So, even though the hike isn’t difficult, this hike may not be for those who are afraid of heights. The only way to see the views on this hike is by climbing the tower. After he died, his wife donated the property to the National Park Service and now this acre National Historic Site preserves his legacy.
This great day trip from Asheville combines history, nature and especially interesting for kids lots of goats. This family-friendly hike off the Blue Ridge Parkway has something for everyone and several hiking options.
Founded as a retreat center in the s, Montreat later developed as a conference center for the Presbyterian Church and also includes a college. Graybeard Trail is challenging, but rewards effort with incredible views. Stop by the Montreat Store on your way to the trailhead for a free trail map. This gentle trail takes hikers through Bent Creek Experimental Forest and the North Carolina Arboretum, with great views of mountain ridges and Lake Powhatan, as well as a glimpse of the magnificent Biltmore House.
Accessible enough for kids, the trails that connect the falls are scenic and include picnic spots. From the parking lot of the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, head toward the left of the parking lot, to the paved Forest Road c. Bring a picnic, a Frisbee or a kite and plan on practicing yoga in the idyllic scenery here near Hot Springs. The trail starts with a lovely wooden bridge over the creek, followed by a set of stairs down.
In the spring, there are a variety of shade-loving flowers here such as jack-in-the-pulpit and trillium. There are ferns all year round. Several more wooden bridges on the way traverse over the babbling creek. There are only a few relatively steep spots with built-in steps along the way. With thousands of acres of wilderness close to Asheville, where do you start to explore? For an introduction to the splendor of mountain scenery, try Craven Gap off the Blue Ridge Parkway, just 15 minutes from downtown.
It’s also the only place a president has set foot on the Parkway: President and Mrs. Obama hiked here in Mount Pisgah can be seen from many places throughout the Asheville area. In fact, many of Biltmore’s windows perfectly frame this iconic peak. Once you reach the summit, you’ll have a great view of another of the area’s most iconic peaks: Cold Mountain.
There are many places to sit out on the rocks and soak in the sun. This is a family-friendly hike that even small children can handle. Combine it with a visit to Hot Springs just 10 minutes farther away for a full-day outing. Part of the nearly 12,acre Linville Gorge Wilderness, this is unspoiled country where rock climbers and backcountry campers with serious gear like to spend time in solitude. Hike past abandoned but mostly restored homesteads and churches that were once full of life.
Visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mt. If traveling from downtown Asheville, you can be stepping on the Lookout Trail in Montreat in about 25 minutes and, after a brisk hike, stepping off it under an hour later. Rock outcroppings near the peak make for perfect picnicking, and the horizon is dotted with the peaks of the Seven Sisters of the Black Mountains. Fall color is spectacular here, but the views are impressive any time of year. The trail is steep and includes a few scrambles at the top, but the views are well worth the effort.
After your hike, be sure to stop into the Folk Art Center to discover art and handicrafts made by local artists.
The sounds of the rushing creeks and bird song add a peaceful, unhurried feeling to the atmosphere. Evidence of wildlife—such as the beaver dams seen on the ponds—is all around on this winding woodland trail.
Looking for a challenge? Dramatic views await at The Pinnacle, a rock outcropping that sits at elevation 5, feet. When you reach the summit, you’ll see the town of Sylva below, with the Smokies in the distance and the Plott Balsam mountain range in the foreground. The Horsepasture River thunders down a foot drop spraying up a mist that creates rainbows that sparkle in the sunlight.
In Spring , the historic fire tower reopened with sturdy steps and a fresh coat of paint thanks to a partnership with North Carolina Forest Fire Lookout Association, Appalachian Trail Conservancy and U. Forest Service. The tower was originally built in More Info. An alternative to the popular Black Balsam Knob hike that can be accessed from the same parking lot off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Sam Knob will win your heart with high mountain meadows and long-range wilderness views that rival any in the region.
Steep wooded slopes, mountain creeks, open fields and long-range views: this trail has a little bit of every type of terrain that you’d find in the Hickory Nut Gap area.
The Wildcat Rock Trail features a waterfall, long-range views, caves and wildflowers. Wildcat Rock TrailCompleted in , the three-mile each way trail is the result of years of conservation efforts between a local couple and several conservation groups.
Asheville Hike Finder Discover the perfect Asheville hike for your next outdoor adventure! Trail Filters collapse. Difficulty All Easy Moderate difficult. Features All Pet Friendly. All Kid Friendly. All Views. All Waterfalls. All Wildflowers. All Mountain Bald. Type All Out and Back Loop. More Info View Details. Bearwallow Mountain Trail Distance from Asheville: About 19 miles; minutes from downtown Length: 1-mile trail to the meadow; 0.
Cold Mountain Trails Distance from Asheville: For trailhead to longer, less strenuous hike, about 53 miles; minute drive For trailhead to shorter, more strenuous hike, 33 miles, 50 minutes Length: 18 miles round-trip on the easier hike, Deep Creek Waterfall Hike Distance from Asheville: About 65 miles, 1 hour 25 minutes Length: 5-miles loop or shorter if only doing sections Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult Deep Creek is one of the most beloved areas in the Smokies, known for offering the opportunity to see three beautiful waterfalls.
Douglas Falls Hike Distance from Asheville: Trailhead for short hike: About 32 miles 1 hour 10 minutes ; Trailhead for longer hike: About 20 miles 40 minutes Length: 1 mile round trip short ; 6. Graybeard Trail Distance from Asheville: 18 miles; 25 minutes Length: 4.
The tower was originally built in More Info View Details. Trombatore Trail Distance from Asheville: 19 miles, minutes Length: 5 miles round trip Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult Steep wooded slopes, mountain creeks, open fields and long-range views: this trail has a little bit of every type of terrain that you’d find in the Hickory Nut Gap area.
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36 Best Asheville Hiking Trails Locals Love | Uncorked Asheville
Wildflowers by the millions, wind-blown grasses, and some of the best views in Western NC fill this popular trail. Be sure to arrive early to score a parking spot, and please help prevent trail erosion by staying on the trail and following these easy leave no trace tips.
The Graveyard Fields Trail loops through a spectacularly beautiful valley just below Black Balsam Knob , diving through tunnels of gnarly-branched rhododendron and following wooden boardwalks through lush fields to visit several tumbling waterfalls. Follow the Catawba Falls Trail along the river, catching view after view of small cascades along the way.
The trail ends at the base of an enormous, moss-covered cliff, where Catawba Falls plunges in tendrils of whitewater and mist into a chilly, clear pool below. Rising high from the surrounding forest, this enormous domed rock is an iconic sight on the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway.
Hike to the summit on the Looking Glass Rock Trail to catch panoramic views from an overlook near the top, stretching far and wide. This series of waterfalls cascades over colorful rock into crystal-clear pools of chilly water, making it a popular summertime destination. Hiking gear list: our favorite, trail-tested gear Ready to hit the trail, but wondering what to pack?
Our hiking gear list features our favorite, trail-tested hiking gear for day hikes on local trails and in the North Carolina wilderness. And no matter what you pack in, pack it all back out. Please leave no trace and help preserve the beauty of Western NC. Chase some seriously beautiful cascading falls on our favorite hikes to waterfalls near Asheville. Or climb to outstanding vistas and historic fire lookout towers on soaring mountaintops on our favorite hikes on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina.
Always leave no trace , pack out everything you pack in, and if you see trash, pick it up and pack it out. Stay on the marked trail, tell someone where you’re going, pack safety and wayfinding essentials , and don’t rely on a mobile phone to find your way. Please always practice good trail etiquette. The hike is a steady up hill climb to the top of the mountain above Haw Creek Valley.
There is a lot of roadway noise on this trail from traffic traveling on the Parkway. Lots of wild mushrooms and some wildflowers. Richmond Hill Park Trail. Richmond Hill Park. Length: 4. A nice loop hike or bike within the city limits of Asheville. The loop shown on this page is a combination of the yellow and blue trails.
Leaving the parking area, the trail passes an information board and enters the woods. Continue straight ahead for a quarter mile to a four way intersection. Turn right. From this point bear left at all intersecting trails to make a loop of about three miles. Trail markers are often missing. Length: 9. The gap offers trail access for hikers and is used as a rest spot by bicyclists. A small gravel parking area and roadside parking are available for hikers just off the Blue Ridge Parkway on the side road perpendicular to the Parkway.
The trail heading south can be found by walking Shope Creek Road Loop. Pisgah National Forest. Length: 3. Length: A set of wooden steps provide access to the Mou Powhatan Recreation Area.
Bent Creek Recreational Area features many trails ranging from beginner to expert. Dogs are also able to use these trails but must be kept on a leash. The Park includes a small stream and a larger lake for fishing. Easy trail around a beautiful mountain lake.
Where to hike in asheville nc –
Quick Hikes Closest to Asheville · Biltmore Estate Trails · Craven Gap Trail · Hard Times Loop Trail · Lookout Mountain Trail · Lunch Rocks Trail. Graveyard Fields. Table of Contents ; Day One – Blue Ridge Parkway – Northeast Portion. Sunrise on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Crabtree Falls ; Day Two – Southeast.