Easy hikes near Asheville NC: A local’s guide to the best short trails

Asheville, North Carolina is a hiker’s paradise. It’s surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, and iconic waterfalls. Even better, many of the most beautiful views are accessible on easy hikes near Asheville.

In this post, I’ll tell you all about my favorite easy hikes from a local’s perspective. You don’t have to drive far, scramble up a rocky cliff face, or destroy your knees to summit 6,000-foot balds or swim under waterfalls near Asheville. All of the hikes I list here are under 5 miles, and within 90 minutes of downtown. Most of them are off the beaten path.

So strap on your hiking boots, grab some snacks, and read on to discover the best short hikes in Western North Carolina!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through these links, I receive a percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you.

Additional note: I spend every weekend on the trails, so I’ll keep adding to this post as I discover great short hikes. For now, I’m steering clear of the most crowded trails like Linville, Skinny Dip and Catawba Falls due to coronavirus concerns.

Easy hikes near Asheville NC: Frequently Asked Questions

Before we dive in to the best short hiking trails near Asheville, let’s go over a few of the basics.

When is the best time to go hiking near Asheville?

Asheville is an amazing year-round outdoor destination. It doesn’t get too hot in the summer (usually 80 degrees-ish), winter is mild (highs in the 50’s are common) and the rest of the year is absolutely perfect.

Each season has its advantages. From December-March, the trees are barren so you can get awesome ridge-line views that are normally obscured. But the Blue Ridge Parkway closes for repairs and whenever it gets icy or snowy, so many of the best easy hikes near Asheville are inaccessible.

March-June brings out spectacular wildflowers — mountain laurels first, then rhododendrons. Spring can be a bit rainy and muddy, but it’s a great time to see waterfalls at their peak flows.

June-August brings perfect weather and explosions of wild mushrooms. But it also storms almost every afternoon. If you’re hiking in the summer in WNC, you’ll need to get an early start, since it’s very dangerous to be on exposed ridges in thunderstorms.

September-November is peak leaf season and drier than the rest of the year. The higher elevations change colors first (as early as mid-September), and they’re completely barren by mid-late October. The change in seasons slowly creeps down the mountainsides. This is a great time of year for fire tower hikes, but waterfalls slow to a trickle.

Regardless of which season you choose, keep in mind that the temperature at 5,000 feet is about 15 degrees cooler than in Asheville. At the top of Mount Mitchell in August at 2 pm, it’s still only about 70 degrees. Wear layers!

Are the hiking trails in Asheville well-marked and well-maintained?

The answer to this is…it very much depends.

The easiest-to-follow, best-maintained trails in WNC are in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Appalachian Trail and Mountains-to-Sea Trail are also clearly marked.

Trails in Pisgah National Forest are pretty well-marked, especially in the Pisgah Ranger District. You’ll often go a mile or two without seeing blazes but you’ll see signs at every intersection. In the Appalachian Ranger District of Pisgah, trails are well-marked but the footing is tricky (lots of roots and rocks).

Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests are a bit more remote. Don’t count on clear trail markings in these areas, unless you’re on very popular trails. You’ll sometimes find signs at intersections but not always.

The wilderness areas are the most challenging areas to hike in near Asheville. These include popular destinations like Shining Rock and Middle Prong. Trails are completely unmarked and minimally maintained (often very eroded). If you’re setting out for a hike longer than a mile, or you’re going anywhere off the beaten path, bring a paper map and compass. Also be prepared for completely washed-out trails, high river crossings, and extremely steep slopes.

Will I get cell service on the trails near Asheville?

Hahahaha nope.

Seriously, do not rely on having phone service on the trails. People get lost and need emergency rescues all the time because they were counting on the Internet for directions. Take a photo of the trail map on your phone and bring a paper map.

Usually if I turn on Google Maps to navigate to a trailhead in Asheville, it works offline until I arrive. But it won’t reconnect if it gets disconnected, and it won’t help me get home when I turn it on with no service. Someday I’ll write a post about how I spent nearly two hours almost running out of gas looking for Black Mountain Campground on unpaved Forest Service roads…

My favorite trail navigation tool in WNC is the paid version of the Alltrails app. You can download trail maps ahead of time and use them offline once you’re in the woods. The one downside is it has limited trails in its database. If you’re familiar with the area, you can still use it for navigation offline without a pre-downloaded map, but only do this if you have a paper map as backup AND you have a general sense of where you are (i.e. from anywhere on the trail, you can identify the peaks around you and know which way is north).

How are the roads to the trails? What’s parking like?

These answers depend very much on where you are. I’ve included specific notes for each trail in this guide, but as a general rule, you should always be prepared to drive down unpaved roads to reach a trailhead.

My car is a tiny Honda Insight and I’ve never been unable to reach a trailhead. But some of the offroad driving I’ve done has been…terrifying. I’ve gotten stuck in the mud twice and my car almost slid through the mud into the river at the Art Loeb Trailhead at Daniel Boone Boyscout Camp. If you’re renting a car for your Asheville vacation, I’d go with something high-clearance!

If you arrive at trailheads before 10 am, parking is usually a piece of cake. Between 10 am and 3 pm you’ll often have to parallel park a ways from the trailhead, especially on summer weekends. Always check parking regulations. In Pisgah, make sure your car is 100% off the road — the Transylvania County cops love ticketing out-of-state plates that are mere inches over the shoulder.

Finally, make sure you fill up your gas tank before you leave Asheville. The mountains burn through gas much faster than you expect, and some stretches of the Blue Ridge Parkway are miles from the nearest gas station. Another hiking horror story I’ll someday write is the time I drove 20 miles on empty after getting horribly lost in the back roads in the Black Mountains. Eventually I found a one-pump gas station that looked like this and did not take credit cards.

Easy hikes in Pisgah National Forest near Brevard

Here, I’ll list my favorite easy hikes in the Pisgah Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest. This area is about 45 minutes from downtown Asheville. Route 276 is the main thoroughfare.

This is where you’ll find most of the Asheville area’s best waterfall hikes, as well as some of the most beautiful low-elevation forest in the country. Many of these hikes are at under 2,000 feet of elevation, but as you head up 276, you’ll get up to almost 5,000 feet.

Additionally, many of these trails are shared hiking/mountain biking trails. Always stay alert for bikers — they come up fast (and quietly).

Twin Falls: Pisgah’s best winter waterfall hike

Twin Falls is my all-time favorite winter hike near Asheville. There is no point in doing this hike once the leaves are on the trees — the waterfalls are completely obscured. But go on a clear day from December-March and you’ll find two of the most beautiful and most off-the-beaten-path waterfalls (both 100 feet) in the region.

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 half-mile along the gravel road. The first mile or so crosses a pretty stream about a half-dozen times on increasingly sketchy wooden bridges. Keep an eye out for smaller waterfalls on the left side of the trail. You’ll reach a rather confusing intersection with the Buckhorn Gap Trail (go right), from where it’s about another mile to the Twin Falls Trail. Follow the orange blazes.

You’ll hear the waterfalls before you see them — the trees hide them very well. The trail stops about 100 yards away from the falls but you can bushwhack/scramble for a closer look.

Since this post is about easy hikes near Asheville that are under five miles, return the way you came. A longer (7-mile) option would be to climb the ridge and loop around by staying on the Buckhorn Gap Trail, but you really need a good map of Pisgah.

• Length: 4.5 miles
• Elevation Gain: I don’t have an exact recording of this hike, but it’s less than 1,000 feet.
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time To Go: Winter
• Driving time from Asheville: 45 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: The Pisgah Horse Stables is a mile from 276 down a reasonably maintained dirt road. It’s very pot-hole-y, but my tiny car handles it just fine at 20 mph. The horse stables has plenty of parking.
• Other important notes: Avery Creek is a popular mountain biking trail, so watch out. It’s also very wet and muddy — bring a change of socks.

Coon Tree Loop

If you’re looking for a moderate hike through one of the most lush parts of Pisgah, and you want to avoid the mountain bikers, the Coon Tree Loop trail is perfect.

This trail offers the rare chance to do a loop hike without tons of distance or elevation gain. You’ll see tons of mountain laurels in late April-early May. And you’ll walk alongside a classic Pisgah stream, with crystal-clear, cold water. It’s also great for wildlife — you have a decent chance of spotting a bear.

The Coon Tree Loop trail is not really marked, but it’s signed at every intersection. And it has very few intersections. So once you’re on the trail, basically just keep going straight along the single-track and you’ll be fine. I recommend hiking counter-clockwise, so you descend the steepest section.

• Length: 4.2 miles
• Elevation Gain: Just over 1,000 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best Time To Go: Spring
• Driving time from Asheville: 45 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: The Coon Tree Picnic Area has plenty of parking. Cross the road to access the trailhead.

John Rock Loop

The Pisgah Ranger District has two mid-altitude rocky balds. Looking Glass Rock is the most famous (mainly because it’s visible along the Blue Ridge Parkway). But it’s a little too long to be included on this list of easy hikes near Asheville NC. The shorter and easier alternative is John Rock, which is nearly as photo-worthy.

Park at the Pisgah Ranger Station and go to the far-right corner of the parking lot to pick up the Cat Gap Trail. You’ll walk along a flat section of forest, with a river on your left. This is a popular fishing area and a great place for backcountry camping.

About a mile in, you’ll come to the first turnoff for the John Rock Trail. I recommend taking it — the ascent in this direction is longer, but more gradual. Alternatively, continue another half-mile and pick up the John Rock Trail on the other side (for a very steep, eroded, but quick ascent).

The summit of John Rock is tree-covered, but you can get panoramic views from some of the social trails on both sides. The views of Looking Glass Rock are also fantastic.

The John Rock Trail loops back to Cat Gap, from where you can continue back the way you came. Signs clearly mark every intersection, and the Cat Gap trail is blazed but John Rock is not.

• Length: 4.9 miles
• Elevation Gain: Just over 1,000 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best Time To Go: Year-round
• Driving time from Asheville: 50 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the whole way. Park at the Pisgah Ranger Station, which has an enormous parking area and restrooms (which have been intermittently closed during COVID).
• Other important notes: Cat Gap is a popular mountain biking trail, but you can’t bike on the John Rock Trail.

Easy Hikes in Dupont State Forest

Dupont State Forest has the most incredible waterfalls in the entire WNC region. It also has some of the flattest, easiest trails accessible for people of all hiking experience levels. You could even push a stroller to some of the falls here!

Dupont in the winter is a sea of icy evergreen trees. In the summer, it’s a popular swimming destination. While it can get crowded, the trails are very wide, so it’s easy to spread out.

All hikes in Dupont State Forest are extremely well-marked. Mountain bikers share the trails throughout the park.

3-Waterfall Hike

If you only do one hike during your entire trip to Asheville, I recommend this one. A mostly-flat, meandering trail takes you past three classic Dupont State Forest waterfalls, each wildly different in character.

Start from the Hooker Falls Parking Area and follow the trail about half a mile to Hooker Falls. This is the smallest waterfall you’ll see today at only 12 feet. It’s a great spot to take a dip in the summertime. In winter, the evergreen trees along the path are beautiful when they’re coated with ice.

Double back the way you came and follow the signs to Triple Falls. It’s about half a mile from the Hooker Falls Parking Area. You’ll arrive at it from the bottom — a steep trail to the right takes you to the base of the falls. Then, walk back to the main trail and climb to the top of the waterfall. Along the way, you’ll pass several observation points. The entire waterfall is over 120 feet high, but it’s split into three smaller drops.

Finally, continue along the trail to High Falls. This is the largest waterfall of the three, at 150 feet in a single drop. You’ll reach the base of the falls first — in summer, you can rock-hop along the riverbank for good views (it’s dangerously icy in winter). Continue up the trail for several other viewpoints. This is one of my favorite places near Asheville in winter, where the spray from the waterfall causes the trees all around it to ice over (even when it’s too warm for ice anywhere else).

The hike doubles back the way you came to reach the Hooker Falls Parking Area.

• Length: 3 miles
• Elevation Gain: Mostly flat
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time To Go: Year-round
• Driving time from Asheville: 50 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the whole way. Parking areas at Hooker Falls and High Falls, with restrooms.

Bridal Veil Falls

If you’ve seen The Hunger Games, you surely recognize Bridal Veil Falls. It was one of the filming locations. It’s one of the most unique waterfalls in the region, and one of the easiest to access, especially for mobility-impaired visitors.

This hike starts at the High Falls Parking Area. Cross the covered bridge and walk along the gravel road for about two miles. Then, follow the signs along the short single-track trail to the waterfall. Return the way you came.

You are welcome to climb the rocks that the waterfall passes over. But beware of ice in winter, and note that the rocks are wet and slippery year-round.

Bridal Veil Falls makes a lovely picnic spot, and you’ll see a huge variety of the park’s flora along the trail. My favorite spot is along the bridge about halfway — it feels like you’re standing in a Pacific Northwest-like pine forest that was dropped into the middle of the meadows of the Shenandoah Valley.

• Length: 4.4 miles
• Elevation Gain: Mostly flat
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time To Go: Year-round
• Driving time from Asheville: 50 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the whole way. Parking areas at Hooker Falls and High Falls, with restrooms.

Easy hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Asheville

If Dupont and Pisgah are all about waterfalls, the Blue Ridge Parkway is all about spectacular views. Sure, you could see it all from the comfort of your car. But it’s a lot more fun to discover these 6,000-foot peaks on foot.

These hikes are almost all inaccessible from December-March when the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed. I’ve noted under specific trails where you can reach them from alternative routes.

Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain: The best easy hikes near Asheville

Ask anyone from Asheville where their favorite hikes are and they’ll say Shining Rock Wilderness. Ask them to be more specific, and they’ll say Black Balsam Knob. This grassy bald offers the absolute best panoramic views in Appalachia — and I would argue some of the best views in the entire country.

The trail begins from a parking area (with restrooms) a mile off the Parkway. It’s a relatively flat, very easy mile through the high-elevation pine forest. Then you’re above the treeline — follow the eroded, rocky trail to the summit or stop at any of the views along the way. Return the way you came.

Black Balsam Knob is epic on its own, but you can get even better views a mile further along — from the summit of Tennent Mountain. Simply follow the (unmarked) Art Loeb Trail another mile to the higher summit for 360-degree views of Graveyard Ridge. Descend and return to your car along Ivestor Gap Trail (steep and hard on the knees, but beautiful) or go back the way you came.

Black Balsam Knob is the best sunrise/sunset spot in the region. But if you hike in this area before dawn/after dark/anytime it’s foggy, make sure you have a good map and/or Alltrails. None of the trails are marked, there are tons of social side trails, and it’s extremely easy to get disoriented on the summit when it’s foggy. I once wandered around the summit for over an hour thinking I was going one way when it turned out I was just going in circles. Also, don’t even think about going up on the ridge if the weather forecast shows thunderstorms — you would be completely unprotected from lightning.

• Length: 3 miles to Black Balsam Knob. 4 miles to Tennent Mountain. 5 miles for the loop through Ivestor Gap.
• Elevation Gain: 350 feet to Black Balsam Knob. About 500 feet to Tennent Mountain. The full loop peaks at Tennent Mountain, but you lose the entire 850 feet in about a quarter mile afterwards.
• Difficulty: Black Balsam and Tennent Mountain are easy. The descent to Ivestor Gap is difficult and should only be attempted with hiking poles.
• Best Time To Go: April-November, when the Parkway is open. You could backpack in from Cold Mountain (about 15 miles) in winter.
• Driving time from Asheville: 1 hour 20 minutes.
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the whole way, but dense fog can make early-morning and after-dark drives risky. Large parking area with restrooms.
• Other important notes: If you camp anywhere in this area, you must use a bear canister and carry in all your water. Also, I’ll re-emphasize: None of the trails are marked. It’s very easy to get lost and disoriented in bad weather. Emergency rescues are common in this area. Bring a paper map and use Alltrails offline on your phone.

Little Pisgah Mountain: One of the best winter Blue Ridge Parkway hikes

Mount Pisgah may be the most iconic mountain in the area — you can see it from everywhere in downtown Asheville. But in the winter, you can’t reach it. So for epic views on both sides of the Parkway that you’ll have all to yourself, climb its cousin, Little Pisgah, instead.

The Little Pisgah Hike starts from Elk Pasture Gap. Go south on the Mountains to Sea Trail (white-blazed). The beginning of this hike involves a steep climb to a summit with disappointing views — but don’t worry, the best is yet to come.

A steep descent brings you to Buck Springs Gap Overlook and a spectacular view over Asheville and southern Pisgah National Forest. The trail to the summit of Mount Pisgah starts on your right (it’s a 2-mile round-trip hike to the top).

For even better views, continue along a mostly-flat additional half mile, where you’ll find overlooks on both sides of the Parkway. This is one of my favorite views in the region. On your right you can see all the way into Shining Rock, while off to your left you can glimpse Looking Glass Rock on a clear day. Return the way you came.

I don’t recommend this hike when the Blue Ridge Parkway is open. It’s crowded and the traffic noise really detracts from the views. But when the Parkway is closed, you’ll often be the only hiker on the trail, and you’ll only run into a few road cyclists at the viewpoints.

• Length: 4 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate-difficult. The climb up Little Pisgah is long and steep.
• Best Time To Go: December-March, when the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed.
• Driving time from Asheville: 30 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the whole way. In winter, take Route 151 from Candler — it’s steep, curvy and icy. There’s parking in a grassy area at the intersection with the Parkway. In winter, you can park along the road as well, so there’s space for about 30 cars — when the Parkway is open there’s only space for about 10 cars.

Frying Pan Fire Tower

If you want 360-degree views with minimal effort, and you’re willing to climb a rickety old fire tower to get them, the Frying Pan Fire Tower hike is perfect.

This hike starts from a dirt parking lot about a mile south of Pisgah Inn. It climbs for a mile along a dirt road. At the top, you’ll find a grassy field with the fire tower itself.

I’m not going to lie — climbing Frying Pan feels sketchy as hell. The entire structure shakes with every small breeze. The higher you go, the more unstable it feels.

But I promise, the views are 150% worth it. And they really do get better the higher you go. You can only see about half as much from the second story as you can from the top.

The trail returns the way you came. It’s not marked, but it could not be more obvious which way to go. Plus, you can see the fire tower at the top the whole way.

• Length: 2 miles
• Elevation Gain: Under 1,000 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time To Go: March-November. This trail is only accessible when the Parkway is open.
• Driving time from Asheville: 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the whole way. Fog near Pisgah Inn can be an issue early in the morning. The unmarked dirt parking lot has space for about 10 cars, or you can park at Pisgah Inn and hike another flat mile each way along the (white blazed) Mountains to Sea Trail.

Big East Fork/Pigeon River

Imagine if you dropped a tropical jungle into the mountains of Western North Carolina, and cut a bright-blue river through the heart of it. That’s what you’ll see along the Big East Fork/Pigeon River hike.

The vegetation and landscape along this trail is completely unique — I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere else in the world. It’s insanely green, even in winter. The water is crystal clear. You’ll even see some of the quartz boulders that give Shining Rock its name.

The hike starts along Route 276 and follows the Big East Fork trail 3 miles. The trail ends at a river crossing where you can’t go any further on the left side. For the purposes of this list of easy hikes near Asheville, you can turn around anytime you want.

The hike is almost completely flat, but the terrain is tough. It’s muddy (often ankle-deep), you have to traverse the rocks in the river a few times, and the vegetation is thick enough to claw at your arms from both sides. The trail is completely unmarked and splits into social trails all over the place, but as long as you keep the river to your right on the way out and generally within sight/sound, you won’t get lost.

You’ll see a lot of people swimming in the river here, and many of the alternative Shining Rock hikes cross the river. But beware that the river is swift and deep. Don’t try to cross unless you know what you’re doing — even the relatively easy crossings here are wet crossings with water coming up to your waist. Read this guide to backcountry river crossings if you’re considering a more complex hike in this area.

• Length: As long as you want, up to 6 miles
• Elevation Gain: Flat
• Difficulty: Difficult due to mud, trail erosion, rocks, river crossings, and thick vegetation.
• Best Time To Go: Year-round
• Driving time from Asheville: 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the entire way. The trailhead is along Route 276 two miles west of where it crosses the parkway — those two miles are very steep and windy, but accessible year-round. The trailhead has a small gravel parking area, but a much larger, pot-holed, dirt parking area is another 100 feet down the road on the right.
• Other important notes: This is a popular camping area — you must use a bear canister. The trail is not marked but is easy to follow using the river as your navigation tool.

Graveyard Fields Trail

Graveyard Fields is one of the most biodiverse places in the entire United States. This high-elevation rainforest has it all — mountains, valleys, waterfalls, mountain laurels, rhododendrons, unreal fall colors, and hundreds of unique species of plants. You can see it all on a short hike from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Park at the Graveyard Fields Parking Area, which has restrooms. Look to the south and you’ll see Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain across the clearing.

The trail starts down a set of wooden stairs. Follow the clear signs to the Lower Falls, about half a mile from the parking area. Another wooden staircase leads to the base of the falls.

You can return the way you came for a very short but extremely beautiful hike. However, if you still have energy, continue another two miles to the Upper Falls. This trail is also very flat and easy.

As you loop back around, the boardwalks cross over a beautiful river with more amazing views of Black Balsam. You’ll see mountain laurels here as late as July. Pure mountain magic.

• Length: 2.9 miles
• Elevation Gain: 300 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time To Go: March-November
• Driving time from Asheville: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the entire way. This section of the Parkway gets very dodgy on foggy mornings. Graveyard Fields has a large parking area.

Easy hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville

The Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville has a completely different character than the southern section. Instead of rushing rivers and waterfalls, it has craggy peaks and balsam forests. You’ll find the highest mountains on the East Coast here.

This is another area where you have to be mindful of road closures. Most of these trails are inaccessible during winter, but you can still reach Mount Mitchell State Park year-round.

Rattlesnake Lodge Trail

This is one of the favorite local hikes near Asheville. What it lacks in views, it makes up for in historical intrigue. The hike takes you in a loop around the ruins of an old summer home.

Start at a small parking area off of Ox Creek Road in Weaverville. Ascend up a series of switchbacks to reach the only view on this hike. Then, continue another mile along the flat low-elevation trail to reach the start of the loop.

Signs point you to the various ruins of Rattlesnake Lodge. Hike counter-clockwise around the loop for a gradual climb through the mountain laurels and an easy descent along a stream. You’ll reach the start of the loop after about two miles — from here, return the way you came.

Rattlesnake Lodge is a great winter hike. You can see the ridge of the Craggies through the trees before the leaves grow. Plus, it’s accessible even when the Parkway is closed.

• Length: 5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time To Go: November-March
• Driving time from Asheville: 20 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the entire way. If the Rattlesnake Lodge parking lot is full, continue along Ox Creek Road — you’ll find a bunch of pull-offs all the way down to the Parkway. Use the Mountains to Sea trail (northbound) to connect to the Rattlesnake Lodge Trail.
• Other important notes: This is a very common area to spot black bears! They coexist peacefully with people in this area, but if one gets close enough to make you nervous, make lots of noise to discourage it from approaching.

Craggy Pinnacle Hike

The Craggy Gardens area has the best views within 30 minutes of Asheville. It’s lower elevation than most of the other panoramas, but it’s a quick and easy drive, which makes it great for sunrises and sunsets.

Craggy Pinnacle is the easiest hike in the area. Park at Craggy Gardens Picnic Area and follow the Mountains to Sea (white-blazed) trail for just under a mile. You’ll come to a clearing with 360-degree views. It’s as simple as that.

If you want to do a sunrise hike, it’s a bit of a gamble weather-wise. Craggy Pinnacle is low enough that it’s often socked-in with fog in the mornings. But it’s high enough that it’s equally likely to be above the clouds. Sunset is a more reliable bet, but don’t come up here if it’s stormy.

• Length: Less than two miles round-trip
• Elevation Gain: Flat
• Difficulty: Very easy
• Best Time To Go: March-November
• Driving time from Asheville: 30 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the entire way. Craggy Gardens Picnic Area has a huge parking area with restrooms. The road up to the picnic area can be downright terrifying in dense fog (I’ve had less than five feet of visibility up here).

Hawkbill Rock Trail

This trail to one of the best overlooks in the Craggies barely belongs on a list of easy hikes near Asheville — it’s the steepest of all of these hikes. But the view is worth it.

The trail starts from the first small parking lot you reach if you turn into Craggy Gardens Picnic Area (i.e. don’t drive toward the picnic area — stop at the first parking lot you see). From the parking area, you’ll see a small Mountains to Sea trail post — but after 0.1 miles, you’ll come to the junction with the Snowball Trail. Take this route.

The trail climbs up a series of switchbacks where social trails lead to small lookouts. They offer some of the best views of the east side of the Parkway. After about half a mile it flattens out and meanders over gently rolling, pine-forest-clad hills.

The final ascent to Hawkbill Rock is on rocks, but it’s not really a scramble. Take one of the small side trails to the 180-degree viewpoints before returning the way you came.

While this trail offers similar views to Craggy Pinnacle without the crowds, I wouldn’t recommend it for sunrise or sunset. The trail is much more challenging and unless you’re experienced at hiking in the dark, you could easily injure yourself.

• Length: 2.8 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate-difficult
• Best Time To Go: March-November
• Driving time from Asheville: 30 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the entire way. Park in the grassy lot (space for about 10 cars) about 0.1 miles up the road to Craggy Gardens Picnic Area.

Douglas Falls Trail

Douglas Falls is one of the great hidden gems of the Craggies. It gets a fraction of the visitors compared to Linville or Catawba Falls, but it’s no less beautiful. In fact, it looks like it was plucked right out of a tropical island.

The most challenging part of this hike is getting there. It’s an eight-mile drive down an unpaved Forest Service road. I’d only drive this in a high-clearance vehicle after it’s been dry for a couple days. You’ll pass a bunch of other waterfalls along the way (I hiked in all the way from Craggy Gardens, which was eight miles round-trip.)

Once you reach the trailhead, it’s a one-mile, flat, marked, wide trail to the 70-foot waterfall itself. You have a good chance of being the only person there.

You can swim in the small pool below the falls. It’s usually warm enough in July and August. Return the way you came.

• Length: 2 miles
• Elevation Gain: Flat
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time To Go: March-November
• Driving time from Asheville: One hour
• Road conditions and Parking: The Forest Service road to get here is steep, full of potholes, unpaved, and generally a nightmare in a small car. It’s also closed after bad weather and in snow and ice. If you have doubts about your car making it, hike in from Craggy Gardens (8 miles) or Graybeard Overlook (10 miles) instead.

Little Butt Trail

Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. It’s surrounded by two other mountains that just barely miss that title. And yet, you can’t see these peaks until you’re almost right below them, because they’re surrounded by other 5-6,000’ers. That’s where Little Butt comes in.

On a clear day, the overlook at the end of Little Butt Trail offers the best view of Mount Mitchell that you’ll get outside of the state park. (That “clear day” part is key — even on beautiful sunny mornings, it’s foggy up here.)

The trail winds through classic high-elevation balsam forest. It descends, and then ascends, steep rock-cut stairs in each direction. This is one of the more challenging easy hikes near Asheville, but the view is 100% worth it.

Park at Balsam Gap and take the trail on the south end of the parking lot for 2.5 miles. After you climb a steep staircase, the overlook is about 0.1 miles ahead on your right. It’s unmarked but fairly obvious through the trees. Return the way you came.

• Length: 5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,300 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate-difficult
• Best Time To Go: March-November
• Driving time from Asheville: One hour
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the whole way. Parallel parking at Balsam Gap — arrive before 9 am or it gets too crowded and you have to park along the Parkway.

Mount Mitchell – Mount Craig Trail

You can’t visit Asheville without checking out the highest peak east of the Mississippi! At 6,684 feet, Mount Mitchell towers over everything around it. The summit has a lookout tower with panoramic views. And best of all, you can reach it on an easy, less-than-a-mile-long paved road.

But why drive all this way for a short stroll when you can extend your adventure with a rock scramble? Mount Craig, about 1.5 miles to the north, is a fun add-on to your hike.

Park at the Mount Mitchell Parking Area and start by visiting the overlook. Then, return to the parking area, walk through the picnic area, and pick up the Deep Gap Trail. You’ll descend a set of rock steps before you reach a clearing with truly amazing views of the Black Mountains. The eerie dead trees all around were killed by insects and acid rain.

From here, the trail gets a lot more challenging — it goes up and down over rocks. You’ll need to use hands and feet in a few short sections. Scramble up to the summit of Mount Craig, with its 180-degree views, before returning the way you came.

While you’re here, definitely pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it in the picnic area. It’s the most beautiful one on the entire Parkway.

• Length: 4 miles
• Elevation Gain: I didn’t record it, but I’d estimate 1,000 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate-difficult
• Best Time To Go: Year-round
• Driving time from Asheville: One hour 15 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the whole way, with a big parking area at Mount Mitchell. You can reach Mount Mitchell State Park in winter via Burnsville (but not on the Parkway from Asheville).
• Other important notes: The ridge here is very exposed. This would be an extremely dangerous place to be in a thunderstorm. If the clouds are even remotely threatening, turn around.

Easy hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Ahhhh, the Smokies. The most biodiverse national park in the U.S. Where you can find waterfalls and ridge-lines. Where you can see elk, black bears, and dozens of species of endemic salamanders. And where you can backpack for days without seeing other people.

The key to enjoying a visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is…well…stay the hell away from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The good news is, since this post is focused on easy hikes near Asheville, we’re going to stay on the North Carolina side of the park. I promised you no more than 90 minutes’ driving from downtown, and in this case, that means easily avoiding the Tennessee crowds.

My section on the Smokies is short for now — most of the hikes I’ve done in the park are more than five miles long. But I’ll keep adding to it as I explore more!

Deep Creek Trail

Deep Creek is possibly the most off-the-beaten-path part of the Smokies that you can reach on a day trip. But it’s also, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful sections of the park.

The area is covered in lush vegetation thanks to the namesake creek (which is really more of a river). The mountain laurels in spring are unbelievable. You can go tubing right from the campground. And you can hike the Deep Creek Trail to five waterfalls.

This trail starts about a quarter mile away from the campground/restrooms at a large parking lot. It passes three beautiful waterfalls at the beginning, climbs a small ridge, and covers two more waterfalls near the end. Most of the trail is flat. And it’s one of the few truly awesome loop hikes in the park.

Starting from the parking lot, pick up the Deep Creek Horse Trail and start the loop going clockwise. You’ll pass the first waterfall after about half a mile — a wooden bridge crosses it, offering great views. Continue along the Deep Creek Loop trail and you’ll find the second waterfall another half-mile in.

From here, the trail breaks away from the river and climbs just under 1,000 feet through the mountain laurels. You have a very good chance of spotting wildlife in this area — deer are especially common and not at all shy. The trail descends after about two miles right before the third waterfall.

Continue until the trail hits a gravel footpath. Here, you’ll find Indian Creek Falls — the second-most-beautiful. A short wooden platform leads to a lookout. Then, follow the gravel path to Toms Branch Falls, where you can grab one of the wooden benches for a picnic overlooking the national park’s most perfect waterfall.

• Length: 4.8 miles
• Elevation Gain: 900 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time To Go: Year-round
• Driving time from Asheville: One hour 15 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the whole way, with a big parking area and restrooms at Deep Creek.

Easy hikes near Asheville in other areas

A couple of the best hiking trails near Asheville are out on a limb, far from other popular recreation areas. Each of these is worth the drive on its own.

Bearwallow Mountain Trail

Bearwallow Mountain is one of the great rainy-day hikes near Asheville. Even when the weather is bad, the panoramas from the cow field at the top are epic. You’ll truly understand how the Blue Ridge Mountains got their name!

Start from the small parking area on Bearwallow Mountain Road about 2 miles past Gerton. The trail climbs a few easy switchbacks and then continues gradually upward for about a mile.

You’ll reach a huge meadow at the top, where you can take your pick of the views on all sides. On clear days, you can see all the way to Mount Mitchell. Just beware that cows graze here — watch your step and watch where you sit!

You can continue on the dirt road down the mountain to create a loop, or return the way you came. The trail is nominally marked but there aren’t any intersections, so you can’t get lost.

• Length: 2.1 miles
• Elevation Gain: 500 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time To Go: Year-round
• Driving time from Asheville: 30 minutes if you take the dirt road, 45 minutes if you take the paved road.
• Road conditions and Parking: The last six miles or so before you reach the trailhead is… a bit insane. First, you’ll come to a series of steep, blind switchbacks with a 35-mph speed limit and pickup trucks barreling down across the yellow line in the opposite direction. The last two miles are on a steep unpaved road. I made it in my tiny car, but it wasn’t real happy. You can take an alternative, longer route via Rt. 64 that is paved the whole way. There is enough parallel parking for about 20 cars at the trailhead.
• Other important notes: If you’re here in spring, hike the Trombatore Trail at the same time! This 5-mile trail starts across the street from Bearwallow Mountain and has a beautiful wildflower bloom in May.

Lover’s Leap Loop Trail

The town of Hot Springs is one of the great Appalachian Trail jump-off points. This tiny mountain village screams trail culture, and it’s a great place for hikers to pamper themselves after a long backpacking trip. But if you’re looking for a shorter hike, look no further than Lover’s Leap.

This trail climbs to a 180-degree lookout over the French Broad River on the Appalachian Trail. Start from downtown Hot Springs, cross the bridge, and take the stairs on the other side by the Nantahala Outdoor Center’s rafting headquarters. You’ll see the white blazes marking the Appalachian Trail.

The first quarter-mile is flat along the river. Then, it climbs up a series of switchbacks. Parts of this trail get very steep and slippery. A number of social trails lead to lookouts along the way.

At the top, you can see all the way into the Roan Highlands. If the lookout here is too crowded, there are quieter options another quarter-mile north on the AT.

You can return the way you came, but the descent is steep and slippery. The better option is to take the (clearly marked) gravel trail to complete the loop.

• Length: 1.8 miles
• Elevation Gain: 500 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best Time To Go: Year-round
• Driving time from Asheville: 45 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the whole way. Downtown Hot Springs has free parking for day hikers just across the railroad tracks.

Rich Mountain Lookout Tower

Another AT hike near Hot Springs, the Rich Mountain Lookout Tower offers the best panoramic views of the Roan Highlands.

This is one of the most challenging hikes on this list of easy hikes near Asheville. It has significant elevation gain, but it’s also not particularly steep. Most moderately fit people should be able to do it.

The hike starts from a small parking area just before you reach Hot Springs. Follow the AT north for about 2.3 miles. You’ll climb gradually most of the way. Eventually you’ll come to a signed turnoff to the left, which just says “fire tower”. It’s another half-mile of climbing to reach the tower.

Unlike Frying Pan Mountain, the Rich Mountain Tower is very stable. It even has a small enclosed room at the top where you could hide out in bad weather. Walk along the outside for 360-degree ridge-line views. Return the way you came.

• Length: 5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best Time To Go: Year-round
• Driving time from Asheville: 45 minutes
• Road conditions and Parking: Paved roads the whole way. The parking area has room for about 10 cars, but it’s never full

Final thoughts on the best easy hikes near Asheville, NC

Western North Carolina is the most beautiful place in the entire U.S. (not that I’m biased or anything as a local). You see something new on every hike. So whether you want to walk to a waterfall in Dupont State Forest or climb to the peaks of Shining Rock Wilderness, I hope you enjoy your time here in Southern Appalachia!

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about these hikes. Or, if you would like to learn about longer and more difficult hiking or backpacking routes, I can help you with that too. Email me here.

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