Asheville winter hikes: 10 AMAZING winter hiking trails near Asheville, NC

Western North Carolina is a fabulous winter destination. The weather is mild, but you only have to drive a short ways to be in a snowy winter wonderland. And just because the temperature drops doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors — there are many beautiful Asheville winter hikes to keep you active.

As a local, winter is my favorite time to go hiking in Asheville. The trails are far less crowded and you can see the mountains through trees on trails that would normally be overgrown. Plus – who can argue with frozen waterfalls and snowy balds?

In this post, I’ll share all my favorite winter hikes near Asheville in the Carolina mountains. Strap on some microspikes, grab your warmest pair of gloves, and let’s dive in!

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What is the weather like on Asheville winter hikes?

Asheville is both in the South and at high elevation. So while it rarely gets truly freezing like it does in the far north, mornings can be very chilly. You’ll need to be prepared for full-on winter trekking.

The biggest factor in the weather is elevation. In each of the hikes I list in this guide, I’ll tell you what to expect in terms of weather relative to Asheville. For example, hikes near Brevard are typically a bit warmer — but just a few miles away on the Blue Ridge Parkway it can be below zero degrees Fahrenheit.

A general rule is that mornings tend to be between 20-25 degrees in the valleys. But it often warms up to more like high 40’s or even low 50’s by 2 pm or so, especially on sunny days. After the sun sets, temperatures plummet well below freezing again. Those temperatures are about 15 degrees lower above 3,000 feet.

Higher elevations in WNC get snow throughout the winter. Asheville itself mostly gets rain, although we can usually count on one good storm (4-6″ of snow) per year. In 2020 our biggest storms hit in May and December, so it’s pretty unpredictable. But on clear days the skies are impossibly blue and nearly cloudless.

Always be mindful of ice on the trail and on roads getting to trailheads. Forest Service roads often close in icy conditions. Check the Pisgah National Forest website for the latest.

The best winter hiking trails near Asheville

I’ve listed these hikes in the order of least- to most-difficult. But a word of caution: there really isn’t such thing as an easy hike in Western North Carolina if you’re coming from a flatter area. All hikes in the Asheville area require some elevation gain and the ability to navigate icy single-track trails with rocks and roots. When I say a hike is “easy,” I mean relative to other trails in the area.

It’s extra-important to be realistic about your ability level when setting out on a winter hike — if you underestimate a trail, you could get stuck out in the woods in extreme cold when it gets dark by 5:30 pm.

Now that the safety warning is out of the way, let’s talk trails! Here are my top picks for Asheville winter hikes. All are within a 90-minute drive of downtown.

1. Dupont State Forest Three Waterfall Hike

Dupont State Recreational Forest is a lovely winter hiking destination — especially for beginner hikers. The trails here are mostly wide, flat-ish, gravel paths. You’ll occasionally encounter steep sections, but they don’t last for very long. Plus: the lower elevation means it’s usually about 10 degrees warmer than it is in Asheville!

The Three Waterfall Hike is the highlight of the state forest. You’ll walk along a 4.5 mile trail to three iconic waterfalls: High Falls, Triple Falls and Hooker Falls. High Falls is especially gorgeous in the winter as the trees near the waterfall’s mist ice over.

Start from High Falls Access Area and follow the clear signs for the High Falls Loop. The first waterfall you’ll pass is High Falls, a single 120-foot cascade. Be sure to take the side path to the base of the falls after you pass the main viewpoint. Next, you’ll come to Triple Falls — while the boardwalk to get a close look of the top two drops is often closed in winter, the best view from mid-way down the lower falls is always open.

Finally, you’ll reach the fsmall-but-mighty Hooker Falls, surrounded by beautiful pine forest. Double back to the base of Triple Falls and continue along the High Falls Loop to finish your hike.

You could also extend this hike to see Bridal Veil Falls. It’s a 4-mile round trip addition (with almost no additional elevation gain). When you reach the High Falls Access Area at the end of your hike, simply follow the signs to the covered bridge. Take a right immediately afterwards and follow this long, flat gravel road to the turnoff to the falls.

• Length: 4.5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 500 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Driving time from Asheville: 45 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Always open, but the road can get a bit icy. Park at the parking lot at High Falls Access Area.
• Trail conditions in winter: Good. Be very careful if you explore the rocks at the base of High Falls — they get icy.
• Weather relative to Asheville: Usually about 5 degrees warmer. There’s almost never snow here.

2. Bearwallow Mountain Trail

Bearwallow Mountain is one of the favorite Asheville hikes for locals and tourists alike. Located just 30 minutes from town and 2 miles round-trip, it makes for a great morning or evening excursion. In winter the crowds are fewer and you’re more likely to get long-range views all the way to Mount Mitchell.

Start by parking at the top of Bearwallow Mountain Road. There are parallel parking spaces where the road turns from gravel to asphalt, or you can park further down the asphalt portion if you have to. A clear sign marks the trailhead.

The trail meanders up for about 500 feet over the course of a mile. You’ll encounter a few switchbacks at the beginning, but it levels off pretty quickly. It’s never steep or difficult and the trail is very well-maintained.

At the top, you’ll come to a clearing with a small power station and a cow pasture. Head toward the power station for the best views north (to your left). The slope to your right offers the best views south into the South Carolinian and Georgian foothills.

The summit of Bearwallow Mountain is the perfect place for a picnic or a game of frisbee. Just make sure you pack warm enough clothes to hang out for awhile!

When you’re ready to head back down, you can either return the way you came or take the fire road (which is less steep). For a longer hike, continue on the Wildcat Rock connector — you can descend all the way to the base of Hickory Nut Gorge if you want, but it’s a brutally steep climb back up.

• Length: 2 miles
• Elevation Gain: 500 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Driving time from Asheville: 30 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: There’s the easy way, and there’s the short way. The easy way would be to take the paved roads via Fletcher. Use your GPS, since it’s mostly on small residential roads. It takes around 45 minutes. The other option is to brave the windy, fast, icy, sketchy U.S 74 through Gerton and then take the unpaved, steep, potholed Bearwallow Road to the trailhead. In winter I would only recommend this for people with 4-wheel drive and high-clearance vehicles. My tiny car made it in March and December, but it was not happy.
• Trail conditions in winter: The trail occasionally closes for maintenance or due to erosion. You can still take the fire road to the summit when the trail is closed. Check the status on Conserving Carolina’s website.
• Weather relative to Asheville: 5-10 degrees warmer. Rarely snowy, often icy.

3. Looking Glass Rock

 

If you’ve ever driven on the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Asheville, chances are you’ve stopped for a view of WNC’s favorite monolith. Looking Glass Rock is perhaps the most iconic geological feature of Pisgah National Forest.

The sheer cliffs you see from the Parkway are a popular rock-climbing destination. But there’s an easier/non-technical way to the top, too. It’s around the back slopes near the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education.

From the parking lot, you’ll immediately ascend moderately-steep switchbacks for the first mile and a half. Then, the trail flattens out a bit and shifts to a more gradual ascent. This section can be slippery, wet, flooded, or covered with leaves in the winter — bring a change of socks in case you have to walk through a few inches of standing water.

Finally, you’ll start climbing steadily again to the top. You’ll come out through the trees onto a large rock face with plenty of space to explore. Near-panoramic views of the Great Balsam Mountains abound. Have a picnic lunch or snack, take some photos, and head back the way you came.

A few words of warning about Looking Glass Rock: The summit gets icy in winter. Do not under any circumstances venture near the edges, even if you have microspikes — the rocks drop off a lot faster than you think. Additionally, be extra-careful with dogs up here — most accidents happen when someone tries to stop their dog from going over the edge. There are a handful of emergency rescues every winter.

• Length: 6.1 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,700 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Driving time from Asheville: 45 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: A paved road will take you all the way there. Turn off U.S. 276 at the Center for Wildlife Education, then follow that road for 0.4 miles. This road is almost always clear of snow and ice. A tiny parking area is on your right, but unless you arrive by 8 am you’ll almost definitely have to park on the shoulder. Make sure your car is completely off the road.
• Trail conditions in winter: Mostly good — you may encounter light snowfall, but rarely serious snow. Ice on the summit and flooding in the latter half of the hike are bigger issues.
• Weather relative to Asheville: About the same, with occasional light snow if you go in the morning.

4. Twin Falls in Pisgah National Forest

Twin Falls is my favorite winter waterfall hike near Asheville. This is one of the few waterfalls in WNC that is super-impressive in winter — but completely hidden by trees in summer. Your only chance to see it is when the leaves are off the trees.

The hike starts from the Avery Creek Trailhead, but in winter you’ll usually have to park at the Pisgah Horse Stables and walk an extra mile up the gravel road. From the trailhead, it descends gradually and crosses a small stream about a half-dozen times on increasingly sketchy (and icy!) wooden bridges. You’ll reach an intersection with the Buckhorn Gap Trail, where you should take a right. It’s about a mile from here to the two 100-foot cascades.

You can scramble right up to the falls — the one on your left is easier to reach. Just a warning that you’ll be off-trail here. You’re allowed to bushwhack, but nobody maintains the manways up to the falls, so don’t count on having stable rocks to cross or trees to hold onto. I fell into the water trying to cross the left waterfall.

You can return the way you came for a 4 mile hike or continue on the Buckhorn Gap Trail for a 7-mile loop. Bring a paper map if attempting the longer loop; the trail isn’t well-marked and gets confusing when it crosses a few gravel roads.

• Length: 3.8/7 miles for out and back/loop
• Elevation Gain: 400 feet/850 feet for out and back/loop
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Driving time from Asheville: 45 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: The Pisgah Horse Stables are a mile down on all-weather dirt road that occasionally closes in snow. If the road’s open, it’ll be in good enough shape to take a sedan car down it.
• Trail conditions in winter: The bridges get pretty dodgy in the ice. Bring a change of socks in case you fall in.
• Weather relative to Asheville: About the same.

5. Carvers Gap to Roan Mountain

This is the Asheville winter hike everyone must do once in their lives. The Roan Highlands on the Appalachian Trail are spectacular year-round. But in the when you’re hiking in snow — which is reliable at this elevation December-February — they’re really something else.

This hike starts from Carvers Gap on the TN/NC border. You’ll head south on the Appalachian Trail and immediately start climbing up a series of switchbacks. After about .75 mile, you’ll come out on the first grassy bald, from where you’ll have panoramic views in all directions. The only obstructions are the balsams covered in snow.

Continue along the AT for as long as you like — if you go about 3.5 miles out, you’ll cross four 5,500-foot balds. The views just keep getting better as you go. The trail stays fairly easy, although the climb up Jane Bald is rocky. When you’re ready, turn around and head back the way you came.

If you’re feeling extremely brave and have cold-weather camping gear, you could even do the entire 18-mile hike to Highway 19E. This is the best winter backpacking in North Carolina.

• Length: The most popular route to Grassy Ridge Bald is 7 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,200 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Driving time from Asheville: 90 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Carvers Gap is a bit of a zoo, but at least the crowds mean the roads are always clear.
• Trail conditions in winter: Because you’re on the balds where there are no trees to mark the trail, it is extremely easy to get lost in snowy conditions if you get off-trail. DO NOT venture off the trail up here unless you are 110% sure you can make your way back.
• Weather relative to Asheville: There is almost always some snow up here in winter, and often 6-8″ after a storm. It’s often in the single digits in the mornings and highs rarely get above the mid-20’s. This is a serious winter hike.

Long Asheville winter hikes

The first five hikes I covered above are doable by hikers of most experience levels. But if you’re an experienced backcountry adventurer, you might want something more challenging and off the beaten path.

The following hikes are all 10+ miles long, with 3,000+ feet of elevation gain. These are all-day hikes that will wear out just about anyone. If you would like to attempt these trails and you’re not from WNC, I’d recommend trying a few of the easier hikes first. You’ll also need to start at the crack of dawn to finish before it gets dark.

All that said, these are five of my favorite Asheville winter hiking trails. They offer unparalleled scenery and, for the most part, solitude.

Soco Gap to Waterrock Knob

The Plott Balsams are my favorite mountain range in North Carolina. They’re rugged, remote, constantly blanketed in fog, and largely untrodden. Aside from a couple of popular Parkway overlooks in the middle of summer you’ll usually have them yourself. Plus, with the Balsams to the East and the Smokies to the West, the views are eye-popping.

The area is mostly inaccessible in winter when the Blue Ridge Parkway closes. But you can park at one of the gates in Maggie Valley and take the Mountains to Sea Trail all the way to the 6,000-foot peaks.

Start from Soco Gap Overlook, which is often an icy, sludgy mess in winter. Cross the Parkway and pick up the white-blazed Mountains to Sea on the other side. From here, it’s a straight ascent of about 2,000 feet to the Waterrock Knob parking area.

The beginning of the trail is usually in pretty good shape. You’ll cross a couple wooden bridges and swing around the ridge, where you’ll get your first glimpses of the peaks at about the 4-mile mark. Here it starts to get much steeper. Additionally, you’ll be climbing up the shady side of the mountain, so it’s colder and the trail will be quite icy.

Starting around 4.5 miles in, you might want microspikes. The path gets rocky, and because of a constant trickle of water from the slope above you, it turns into a solid sheet of ice. It’s about a half mile long. I fell twice in this section and only managed to keep a pace of about 1.5 miles per hour.

When you get near Waterrock Knob, you’ll enter an open meadow with epic views of the Smokies. It’s only about 0.2 miles to the Waterrock Knob trail, which is a paved path. Take a left to go to the summit — but it’s often too icy and steep to ascend all the way. The better views are if you take a right and go down to the parking lot.

Return the way you came, and allow plenty of time to descend the icy sections.

Note for peak-baggers: You could theoretically hike to a few other 6,000’ers from Waterrock Knob. I did manage to summit Yellow Face, despite some very dodgy rock faces where I needed rope. But the rest of the ridge is too icy, too steep, and requires too much time off-trail to safely attempt. An injury here would be bad — you’d be way off the radar of rescue teams — and with temperatures often dropping below zero overnight, hypothermia would be a major problem. If you do attempt it, keep in mind that even the “good” trails in the Plotts are mostly unmarked and unmaintained manways. In winter when the lack of vegetation makes it hard to identify where others have walked, a good topo map is essential.

• Length: About 10 miles
• Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet
• Difficulty: If it’s not too icy, I’d call this moderate for a long hike in big mountains. If it’s icy, it definitely crosses into the “difficult” category.
• Driving time from Asheville: One hour
• Road conditions and Parking: You’ll be on major roads all the way through Maggie Valley. The 0.1-mile section of the Parkway you’ll have to drive is always an icy mess. Expect to slide around a bit. Arrive by 10 am and you’ll have no trouble parking in the lot.
• Trail conditions in winter: This was the iciest hike I’ve ever done. Microspikes highly recommended. I couldn’t get up to Waterrock Knob’s summit because the pavement was a solid sheet of ice at a steep incline.
• Weather relative to Asheville: Up to 15 degrees colder and very windy at the summit. There is often snow in winter.

Elk Pasture Gap to Frying Pan Fire Tower

This is one of those hikes that is miserably crowded when the Parkway is open, but gloriously empty when it’s closed. The highlight is 360-degree views from the world’s most terrifying fire tower.

Start at Elk Pasture Gap, which you can reach by taking Route 151 from Candler. Park at the gates where the Parkway is closed off and take the Mountains to Sea (white-blazed) heading west. It’ll be to your right when you come up 151.

The hardest part of this hike is the first 2 miles to climb Little Pisgah. It’s steep and relentless. But once you knock it out this hike is smooth sailing the rest of the way. Follow the Mountains to Sea all the way to the Pisgah Inn. It criss-crosses the Parkway a few times, which make for great photo opportunities. You’ll pass the ruins of Buck Spring Lodge along the way.

After taking some photos of the view at the Pisgah Inn, walk on the Parkway until you pass the campground on your right. Shortly afterward, you’ll see a small trail on your right that looks like it follows the road. Take it. This trail is a bit hard to follow — it doesn’t seem to be maintained — but as long as you generally keep heading west, you’ll be fine. The manway dumps you out at the parking lot for Frying Pan Tower. It’s a gradual one-mile climb up a dirt road.

Now, the worst part of this hike: Climbing Frying Pan Tower. The tower is totally safe and open to the public, but it definitely does not feel like it. Even at the lower levels it shakes with every slight breeze. Once you’re above the third level or so, you’ll swear the heavy gusts of winter wind will take the whole thing down. It’s not for the faint of heart, but the views are 100% worth it. When you’ve had enough, return the way you came.

• Length: About 10 miles
• Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate. The climb up Little Pisgah sucks, but anyone capable of hiking 10 miles can do this hike.
• Driving time from Asheville: 30 minutes.
• Road conditions and Parking: Highway 151 is steep, sometimes icy and has lots of blind curves. Watch for cyclists and cars who can’t stay in their lane.
• Trail conditions in winter: Good! Even the unmaintained manway from the Pisgah Inn to the fire tower parking lot is in good shape.
• Weather relative to Asheville: 5-10 degrees colder and much windier.

Snook’s Nose Trail to Green Knob Fire Tower

Another hike to a popular Parkway overlook that is totally deserted in winter, Snook’s Nose climbs from the foothills to the peaks of the Black Mountains. This hike has a little of everything: a waterfall, mountain laurel tunnels, steep slopes, rocky summits, long-range views, and a fire tower.

Snook’s Nose Trail starts from Curtis Creek Campground near Old Fort. You may have to road-walk a short section if the gate to the campground is closed. The trail is orange-blazed, on your left just before the campground kiosk.

This trail is steep. You’ll start climbing almost immediately and you won’t stop for four miles. It’s the kind of steep that you feel in your calves and ankles, where your tendons feel like they’re stretching all the wrong ways and if it rains you’d expect to slide right back down the slope.

The first peak you’ll reach is Snook’s Nose itself. This rocky summit offers nice views of Linville Gorge (look for Hawksbill, the Chimneys, and Table Rock) to your right and the Black Mountain foothills to your left. If you do the hike in very early or late winter, be mindful that there are tons of rattlesnakes and copperheads around the rocks here. In January and February it’s not an issue.

From here, it’s another two miles to Green Knob Overlook. The climb isn’t as steep, but it’s definitely still a climb. You can see some of the 6,000-foot peaks of the Black Mountains to your left through the trees.

If you want to continue to the fire tower, head to your right and follow the Parkway for about 0.1 miles. The trail starts on your left. It’s a little less than a mile, and it’s steep, snowy and icy. The fire tower is often closed but you can take the steps most of the way up for good views of Mount Mitchell.

On your way back (the same way you climbed up), you can bushwhack to Slick Falls. Do not do this unless you are very experienced in off-trail travel and are willing to get very muddy. There’s a barely-visible manway about 1 mile away from the trailhead, and the waterfall is on AllTrails. But you will need to descend a ridiculously steep, eroded, slick rock face to reach a mediocre view of the waterfall.

My adventure to Slick Falls involved a 30-foot rope-assisted butt slide and I’m still trying to get the mud out of my clothes. Even Kevin Adams, WNC’s most trusted waterfaller, advises against this one for all but experienced bushwhackers. I assure you he’s right — it’s not worth it and getting closer to the falls would be certain death.

• Length: About 10 miles
• Elevation Gain: 3,500 feet
• Difficulty: Difficult. I hike 20-30 miles a week and I was sore for two days after this one.
• Driving time from Asheville: 45 minutes.
• Road conditions and Parking: The road to Curtis Creek Campground is gravel, but the first section of it is well-maintained by the state. Things get a bit dodgier when you get to the Forest Service-maintained section. Sedan cars can do it in dry weather, but take it slow.
• Trail conditions in winter: Some of the steeper sections are eroded, but mud is a bigger issue than ice. Mountain bikers can use this trail but you won’t see many in winter.
• Weather relative to Asheville: 5-10 degrees colder.

Mount Sterling via Baxter Creek Trail

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a fabulous destination to see the Appalachian Mountains in winter. You’ll encounter none of summer’s crowds, better views through the trees, and snowy peaks. Plus you don’t have to deal with nuisance-bears or aggressive wild hogs. (Yes, these are both things in summer.)

Mount Sterling is my favorite Smokies hike. It’s only accessible on an overnight trip or a day hike of at least 12 miles — which means even in peak season, almost no one makes it up here. But it has one of the taller fire towers in the park and incredible biodiversity.

Start from the Big Creek Campground parking area and take the wooden footbridge over Big Creek. Follow the Baxter Creek Trail — which is also labeled as the Benton-Mackay Trail. It’s a straight-shot 6-mile climb to the summit through about 12 different microclimates.

You won’t get much in the way of views until you’re at the peak. But starting around 4,500 feet, you will encounter one of the Smokies’ most beautiful ecosystems: moss-covered pine forest with fallen trees everywhere. Go on a cloudy day and you could mistake your location for Bali — it’s that green.

Your destination is, of course, the fire tower. It’s not as rickety as Frying Pan, but if you don’t have a good head for heights you may want to stop halfway up. When you’re done, return the way you came.

• Length: 12 miles
• Elevation Gain: 4,100 feet
• Difficulty: Aside from the distance, this is actually an easy hike. The trail is wide and well-maintained and it’s not overly steep. However, 12 miles and 4,000+ feet of elevation will put it in the “difficult” category for most people. If you can do 10 miles/3,000 feet comfortably, you can do this hike.
• Driving time from Asheville: 1 hour.
• Road conditions and Parking: I have a love-hate relationship with Big Creek. It’s only about 3 miles off the highway, but the last 0.75 miles of gravel road has beat up my car more than anywhere else in WNC. In a high-clearance vehicle this is an all-weather road. In a low-clearance car…good luck. The parking area is even worse than the road. Horse riders prefer that you not steal their parking spaces in the stable lot.
• Trail conditions in winter: Excellent. No erosion or ice. Possible snow in January and February.
• Weather relative to Asheville: 5-10 degrees colder at Big Creek; up to 15 degrees colder and very windy at the summit.

Wolf Pit to Table Rock

Finally, I’ve saved the best winter hike near Asheville for last. Yes, it’s the hardest. Yes, it’s remote, rugged, steep, rough, brutal distance, even more brutal elevation, and often on trails that have no business being called “trails.” Yes, you have a chance of plunging off the side of a cliff 2,000 feet into Linville Gorge. Yes, you need to leave before sunrise in order to make it back just after sunset. But that’s the magic of Linville — and I promise you it’s worth it.

This hike starts from Wolf Pit, a parking area just outside of Lake James. It starts with a bang — a steep, constant, rocky climb up Shortoff Mountain. You’ll have incredible sunrise views over Lake James and the foothills.

Once you reach Shortoff, you’ve hit the easy section — a few flat miles along the rim of the gorge. A fire tore through this area recently, leaving expansive views on all sides. Keep an eye out for the unique summit lake about 1 mile after Shortoff. You’ll be tempted to stop every 20 yards because the views are Just That Good. But you need to cover this section fast (like, in an hour) to have a prayer of finishing during daylight hours.

You can see the Chimneys and Table Rock ahead of you well before you reach them. Eventually the trail drops almost 1,000 feet into a gap, then climbs about 1,500 feet to the base of the Chimneys. This is the hardest section. It’s open, with no protection from the sun or wind. The trail is very eroded and rocky. There are no switchbacks; it’s just up-up-up. I saw a rattler and a bear here in December.

At the Chimneys, the trail flattens out again. But it’s slow going. You’ll often be less than two feet from the cliffs that drop straight into the gorge. There is some low-key rock scrambling as you cross the ridge. Social trails abound to head up to the peaks — but some of them are for rock climbers and I wouldn’t recommend them without ropes.

Finally, you’ll come to a large parking lot for the Table Rock Trail. (In January and February it’ll be empty, since the road is closed.) It’s a final 500 rocky, steep feet to the summit, where you can see all 9 miles back to where you started. Return the way you came.

• Length: 16+ miles
• Elevation Gain: 4,100 feet
• Difficulty: This is a hard hike. You should only attempt it if you’re very confident in your ability to do this distance and this elevation. The vast majority of the elevation gain is in three short sections. One starts around Mile 12 (in other words: pace yourself).
• Driving time from Asheville: 1.5 hours.
• Road conditions and Parking: Wolf Pit is a mile up a gravel road from Lake James. A sedan car should make it in all weather. Parking is dodgy; arrive early and bring a good sense for how much mud you can safely park in on a slope without sliding or getting stuck.
• Trail conditions in winter: Very rugged. Erosion, steep drop-offs, and ice are all major problems in winter. Don’t even think about doing it without trekking poles. And don’t climb on the Chimneys in the ice. You’re on the Mountains to Sea the whole time, but you’ll go up to two miles without seeing a blaze between Shortoff and the Chimneys. Just stick to the rim of the gorge and you’ll be fine.
• Weather relative to Asheville: One reason this is such a great winter hike is because it’s warmer than Asheville! Usually winter lows start in the 30’s, and highs get up to the 50’s or low 60’s. On a sunny day, you’ll have near-constant sun exposure due to the lack of a tree canopy.

A few alternative winter hikes near Asheville

If you check the best winter hikes off your list and want even more, here are a few other Asheville winter hikes. I’ve included a couple details about why they didn’t make the top-10 cut:

• Walk on the Blue Ridge Parkway: Very easy way to get fabulous views. Park at the gates at French Broad Overlook, Elk Pasture Gap, Highway 276, or Highway 215.
• Catawba Falls Trail: Easy and very popular. The falls are 100% worth it, but it’s hard to get good photos without climbing on icy rocks. Better for spring/fall.
• Rattlesnake Lodge: Easy local favorite. No views; interesting ruins.
• Max Patch: Easy. Not included in this list because you need a 4wd/high clearance vehicle. If you have one, this is well worth doing.
• Rainbow Falls: Easy. Be very careful on the rocks if you continue to Turtleback Falls. There are fatalities here every year.
• Lover’s Leap: Moderate (short but steep). Popular but to be honest, it’s never been my favorite. Crowded and the views are only 6/10.
• John Rock Loop: Easier alternative to Looking Glass Rock. But I’ve found Looking Glass worth the extra effort.
• Sam Knob: Moderate. Park at Flat Laurel Creek Trailhead on Rt. 215. I’d highly recommend this one if it weren’t so damn cold in winter and if it didn’t require an icy, wet stream crossing.
• Graybeard Mountain: Moderate. Great views, but driving/parking in Montreat is a headache.
• Mount Mitchell from Black Mountain Campground: Difficult, long. Very, very, very cold and Mount Mitchell State Park often closes in winter.
• Mount Cammerer: If you hike up from the TN side, this is a moderate hike but a very long drive. From the NC side it’s 14 miles and not as pretty compared to Mount Sterling. It’s still gorgeous; I’d just choose Mt. Sterling first.
• There are hundreds of other winter-accessible trails in WNC — find your own favorites!

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