From tumbling waterfalls to towering mountains, hike Asheville’s most popular trails throughout western North Carolina. From waterfall hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway to towering summits at Linville Gorge, and from grassy mountaintops on the Appalachian Trail to the ultra-scenic, waterfall-packed DuPont State Forest, these great hikes near Asheville top lists of favorites.
Hike the Appalachian Trail at Max Patch, one of North Carolina’s most popular AT hikes, on a grassy, bald mountain that’s covered in wildflowers. Catch a gorgeous sunrise, sunset or afternoon picnic on this moderate two mile loop with stunning 360-degree views and seemingly endless sunshine.
Hike the Appalachian Trail in Western NC, climbing to sun-drenched ridges and angular peaks, meandering rivers, wildflower-covered mountain balds and view-packed historic fire towers.
Hike to the most popular, most beautiful and most scenic waterfalls near Asheville on our top ten favorite trails in western NC.
Hike to the towering 150-foot Rainbow Falls, Turtleback Falls and Drift Falls through a wildflower-filled forest in North Carolina’s Gorges State Park.
Hike the Mount Mitchell High Loop, catching stunning summit views at the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. Follow the Old Mitchell Trail through rocky forests, sun-drenched fields of wildflowers, thickets of wild berries and a small waterfall.
Hike to the view-packed Black Balsam Knob summit on the Art Loeb Trail, exploring a grassy, wildflower-covered mountain with 360-degree vistas, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Asheville.
Hike to the summit of Blackrock Mountain, climbing from Pinnacle Park in Sylva and catching breathtaking vistas of western North Carolina’s stunning Plott Balsam mountain range.
Hike the Tanawha Trail at Rough Ridge, a rocky, angular precipice that offers exceptional summit views of Grandfather Mountain and the Linn Cove Viaduct, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Boone, NC.
Hike the Appalachian Trail to Siler Bald near Franklin, NC, and score some exceptional, 360-degree views from a sun-drenched, grassy summit.
Hike the Linville Falls Plunge Basin Trail to stunning waterfall views, trekking to the base of the falls on the floor of Linville Gorge. It’s one of the undisputedly best, most beautiful waterfall trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville.
