Cool, crisp autumn breezes. Robin-egg blue skies that seem brighter – and bluer – than in any other season. The crunch of leaves underfoot, and their scent in the air. Wide-open, lofty vistas of the surrounding valleys painted in fall’s vibrant gold, orange, and red foliage color. There’s just nothing like an autumn hike in western North Carolina’s rolling Appalachians.
Fall is our hands-down favorite hiking season, a celebration of the departure of summertime’s heat and the onset of crisp, cool days. Hike our top ten favorite autumn hikes near Asheville, exploring some of Western North Carolina’s most exceptional views from towering mountaintops, craggy mountainsides and a few of WNC’s famed, historic fire lookout towers. Take a hike on NC’s stretch of the Appalachian Trail, chase waterfalls framed in autumn’s colorful hues, or catch picturesque vistas from view-packed, grassy mountain balds. (And for even more autumn beauty, check out our top ten Asheville hikes within 40 miles for more of our favorite adventures near town.)
Our top 10 fall leaf hikes near Asheville
Don’t forget to pack water, hiking gear essentials and multiple layers: WNC’s mountain summits can be downright cold in autumn, even on a warm Asheville fall day. Explore each trail’s info page to view detailed trail info, interactive trail maps, driving directions to the trailhead and our favorite photos from each hike. And when you capture your favorite fall shots, don’t forget to tag your photos with #ashevilletrails on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter… we’d love to see them!
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
Rough Ridge on the Tanawha Trail
1.2 MILES
Hike through fragile, rare mountain flora and over craggy, angular rock outcrops on the Tanawha Trail at Rough Ridge, exploring Grandfather Mountain’s middle elevations. This Rough Ridge hike catches gorgeous views of the surrounding landscape, swathed in vibrant leaf color, in early autumn.
VIEW TRAIL INFO, MAPS & PHOTOSGRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN
Beacon Heights Trail
.8 MILE
It’s short but oh-so-scenic. Hike the Beacon Heights Trail, located off the Blue Ridge Parkway, to gorgeous views of nearby Grandfather Mountain draped in fall’s colorful leaves.
VIEW TRAIL INFO, MAPS & PHOTOS
SHINING ROCK WILDERNESS
Shining Rock Mountain via Black Balsam Knob
10 MILES
Hike mile after rolling mile through autumn’s beauty on the Art Loeb Trail, one of western NC’s most scenic trails. The trail climbs from the Blue Ridge Parkway, summiting the view-packed balds at Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain, clad in golden fall grasses. Then summit the brilliant, white, quartz-crusted summit of Shining Rock Mountain, grabbing exceptional views of the autumn-hued surrounding balds.
VIEW TRAIL INFO, MAPS & PHOTOSROAN HIGHLANDS
Roan Mountain on the Appalachian Trail
4.7 MILES
Hike the longest continuous stretch of grassy bald mountains in the Appalachians, following the Appalachian Trail through golden fall grasslands on Round Bald, Jane Bald and Grassy Ridge Bald in the Roan Highlands. Views from this bald mountain trio are nearly continuous, exceptional 360-degree panoramas. It’s one of our favorite western North Carolina hikes in any season – but somehow even more magical in autumn’s golden hues.
VIEW TRAIL INFO, MAPS & PHOTOS
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
Graveyard Fields Trail
3.3 MILES
Chase waterfalls at Graveyard Fields in fall for a chance to catch views of these ultra-popular falls framed in stunning fall leaf color. Autumn’s hues descend early in the Graveyard Fields valley – so add this hike to the early-fall bucket list.
VIEW TRAIL INFO, MAPS & PHOTOSGRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN
Grandfather Mountain Profile Trail
6.2 MILES
Scale the rocky, lofty summit of Calloway Peak, the highest point on Grandfather Mountain’s imposing ridgeline. Views from the Grandfather summit are vast and sweeping, stretching over nearby Rough Ridge and Beacon Heights to mile after mile of western NC mountain beauty.
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NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST
Pickens Nose Trail
1.5 MILES
Hike this oddly named peak, located just off the Appalachian Trail near Albert Mountain, to stunning long-range views and abundant autumn leaf color. Views from the mountain’s towering, jagged rock outcrops stretch far and wide, with Georgia’s Black Rock Mountain on the far horizon.
VIEW TRAIL INFO, MAPS & PHOTOSHIGHLANDS, NC
Whiteside Mountain Trail
2 MILES
Hike a moderate two-miler near Highlands, NC, scaling to view after exceptional view from the sheer-sided, lofty Whiteside Mountain summit. It’s a beautiful hike in any season, but a seasonal right of passage in autumn – so plan for an early weekday hike if crowd avoidance is a priority. Crowded or not, the views from this trail are simply unforgettable.
VIEW TRAIL INFO, MAPS & PHOTOS
NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST
Pinnacle Park: hiking The Pinnacle in Sylva
6.5 MILES
An extension of the view-studded Plott Balsam Range, this craggy stub of towering rock near Sylva, NC offers exceptional views from its summit. Hike Pinnacle Park to The Pinnacle, and soak in some sublime autumn views from its knobby summit.
VIEW TRAIL INFO, MAPS & PHOTOSAPPALACHIAN TRAIL
Siler Bald from Wayah Gap
3.6 MILES
Hike the Appalachian Trail from Wayah Gap, climbing through a hardwood forest bathed in fall’s showy golden colors. Then summit the grassy, tree-barren summit of Siler’s Bald, catching extensive views of the surrounding peaks in the Nantahala National Forest speckled in reds, golds, and greens.
VIEW TRAIL INFO, MAPS & PHOTOS
TOP HIKES IN GEORGIA
Our favorite fall foliage hikes in North Georgia
1-16 MILES
It’s time for an autumn road trip! Chase more fall adventures on our favorite fall hikes in North Georgia, scaling to beautiful views on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and hiking to some of Georgia’s best waterfalls framed in autumn’s colorful show.
VIEW TRAIL INFO, MAPS & PHOTOS
WHAT TO PACK?
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 backcountry of Western NC. We print and stitch our Asheville Trails shirts and hats locally in Asheville and Atlanta, and they’re our favorite for trail adventures all over the South. And no matter what you pack in, pack it all back out. Please leave no trace and help preserve the beauty of the outdoors.
OUR HIKING GEAR LIST
Asheville fall foliage change: when to hike?
Because elevations vary widely across western North Carolina, peak foliage season will vary throughout the WNC mountains near Asheville. Fall leaf change will start with the highest-elevation mountain summits like Mount Mitchell in early autumn, will move down to lower elevations like Catawba Falls later in the season. Most of western NC sees peak leaf color in October. Check out this fantastic guide to fall color near Asheville for predictions of peak foliage color in WNC, and the science behind fall leaf color.
Fall hiking safety
Autumn coincides with hunting seasons in some western North Carolina counties and areas. Hike safely: follow these guidelines for safe hiking during hunting season.
Please Remember
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. And before you go, always check the trailhead kiosk, official maps, and the park or ranger office for notices of changed routes, trail closures, safety information, and restrictions.
