Whether you’re a seasoned trail veteran or a newbie, we are in a prime location for plenty of fun, challenging, scenic, and varied hikes in the North Carolina high country with 3,000+ miles of free, public hiking trails within a few hours drive.
Many use Asheville as their basecamp for mountain excursions, and for good reason. It is a culturally rich and thriving oasis in the hills with fabulous eateries, first-class hotels, great nightlife, and a wealth of art galleries to peruse. But you can pit-stop in any number of adorable NC mountain towns, or just make a hiking day trip of it if driving distances doesn’t bother you. If you do plan to stay a while, check out our list of Summer 2022 events & festivals in the mountains, here.
We use ROMANTICASHEVILLE.COM as our one and only resource for hiking near Asheville, and pretty much anything else re: the NC Mountains. Highly recommend you follow Mark & his gang here on their IG. All hikes below are linked to the RomanticAsheville info pages for more detail, tips and recommendations ~ don’t skip reading the full details RA offers on each page! They do this like it’s their job 🙂
High Shoal Falls – Near Morganton, 63 Miles from Charlotte
South Mountains State Park offers 40 miles of trails and an 80 foot waterfall that are well worth the drive. Hiking up to the High Shoal falls is 2.7 miles in the most gorgeous woodland paradise you can imagine. The Hemlock Nature Trail is even wheelchair-accessible with boardwalks along a .75 mile route while Chestnut Knob is a bit more challenging and clocks in at 4 miles roundtrip.
Chimney Rock – 95 Miles from Charlotte
Super popular with Charlotteans and pretty close by, Chimney Rock can get a bit crowded when the weather is fine. It can also be touristy ~ after all Chimney Park has it all covered with hiking trails, rare plants, native wildlife, and one of North Carolina’s highest waterfalls ~ the famous Hickory Nut Falls from the film The Last of the Mohicans. A quick .75 mile hike will bring you to its base with the top 404 feet above you. Waterflow depends on the recent rainfall and can range from a trickle to roaring. Take advantage of the other trails in the park and enjoy the view of Lake Lure from the top of Chimney Rock while you’re here.
Hawksbill Mountain – Linville Gorge. 105 miles from Charlotte
A popular hike in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area on the Jonas Ridge Trail because of the payoff at the top. You’ll be winded as you climb 700 feet to the 4,009 foot summit with a few options for different routes. I suggest taking a different path up than you do down to take in as much of the Linville Wilderness beauty as you can. At 1.5 miles, the elevation change is the real challenge here so allow yourself plenty of time to reach the top. Once you do, linger a while. The views are nothing short of breathtaking and some of the furthest-stretching in the area. The unpaved service road (1264) in Pisgah National Forest is closed January through March, so plan your trip accordingly. This is about an hour from Asheville, but worth the side trip. Linville Falls is a popular destination in the Gorge as well. On a hot summer day, you can see why.
Sitting Bear Mountain – Near Hawksbill
If you’re itching for more after your Hawksbill hike, Sitting Bear Mountain is nearby, less crowded, and has similarly stunning views. Careful, this hike has some of the steepest climbs, although the overall elevation of the summit is slightly less than that of Hawksbill. Your ascent will bring you to a view of Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock that will make you want to sit and stay a while. If you’re a camper, consider the option to stay the evening and camp at one of the primitive camp sites along this trail.
Beacon Heights near Blowing Rock – 115 Miles from Charlotte
You don’t have to have a killer hike to get killer views. This short mile-long loop off of the Blue Ridge Parkway has several rock platforms 4,340 feet up to take in the mountain. You can even see Grandfather Mountain from the western summit. If you wanted a longer hike, you could add Tanawha Trail to the Linn Cove Viaduct and Rough Ridge as part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
Black Balsam Knob – Blue Ridge Parkway, Outside of Brevard. 145 Miles from Charlotte
With the first bald only .5 miles from the parking lot, Black Balsam Knob gives you huge bang for you buck. Thanks to the networks of balds, there are consistently stunning views of the area as you hike as little or as much as you’d like along this trail. It easy to make your own custom route based on whatever distance you’d like to achieve. If you’re looking for an accessible hike for younger children or older adults, this is one of the least challenging but most rewarding around.
Art Loeb Trail – Pisgah National Forest. Varies entry points about 145 miles from CLT
The northern end is at the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp near Cold Mountain, while the trail’s southern end is near the Davidson River Campground, near Brevard in Transylvania County. At 30 miles roundtrip, this hike is not for the faint of heart and should be broken up over a few days. The Art Loeb Trail crosses four 6,000-foot mountains, including Black Balsam Knob (above) near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Camping is available in the pine forest about a mile or two beyond Flower Knob- great for hanging hammocks from tree to tree. Rhodenderon and azaleas cover this area in the May & June. Shining Rock is also on this trail beyond Black Balsam and has a wilderness area as well as an overlook and rock outcropping.  Topped with dazzling quartz formations that give the rock it’s name, this is a unique hiking destination and a great option for a day hike.
Cold Mountain and Deep Gap. Pisgah National Forest. 150 Miles from Charlotte
Yes, “The Cold Mountain” from the book and film is also part of Shining Rock Wilderness in Pisgah National Forest and a tough 10-mile hike up 3,000 feet brings you to the summit. Part of your hike will be through the narrows and requires ridge walking (AKA clinging to the side of the mountain for dear life) for about 5 miles. Only experienced, in-shape hikers should tackle this mountain. Since the hike is in a wilderness area, there are no signs or trail markers. Along this path, there are great spots for climbing on top of the rocks for your very own mountain top views. Strenuous but worth it! The sunrise from Cold Mountain is incredible and overlooks the town of Asheville from afar. With a hike this length, consider camping or park at Cold Mountain and hike to Deep Gap for a shorter trip.
Deep Gap Trail. Mt Craig
Also known as the Black Mountain Crest Trail, this 2 mile round trip hike brings you to the summit of Mt. Craig, the second highest peak in the eastern US and only 37 feet lower than #1, Mt. Mitchell. Although you will definitely climb, this isn’t an excessively strenuous hike. Be prepared for cooler temps and fog at this altitude.
Graveyard Fields – Blue Ridge Parkway, Outside of Brevard. 145 Miles from Charlotte
Not as creepy as it sounds, the name comes from tree stumps toppled by high winds hundreds of years ago that look like gravestones. A 1925 fire is to blame for the starkly different landscape from the surrounding areas as the landscape is still recovering. The Graveyard Falls Loop is about 4 miles and starts from an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway passing 2 of the areas waterfalls along the way. What a great place to get out and stretch your legs after cruising the parkway!
For Beginners
North Carolina Arboretum
From .75 to 1.3 miles in length, the hiking trails at the North Carolina Arboretum are a great intro to hiking. Not only are they well-maintained and accessible, but you can take in some of the man-made beauty of the gardens post-hike. Each of the 3 trails winds through areas dense with wildflowers, ferns, and various tree species.
The Biltmore Estate Grounds
With thousands of acres to explore, Biltmore is more than just the colossal former escape of one of America’s wealthiest families, it also offers a rich variety of hiking, biking, and other activities to stretch your legs and get some fresh air after touring the home, shopping a little, or tasting wine from their winery. Since there is a price for admission, the 22 miles of trails are far less crowded than free public trails and are maintained at a level you’d expect from Biltmore- nothing short of pristine. The Deer Park Trail takes you through rolling pasture land with sweeping mountain views and new vantage points of the side and back of the house. Adding the Lagoon Trail will extend your trip. Although there are some hilly sections, this is not a steep climbing hike.
Going on a hike is really just a walk through the woods of varied length, intensities, and altitude changes. None of these trails require technical skills, special equipment, or hiking-specific shoes, but it’s a good idea to make sure you come prepared with hydration, a small snack, footwear with proper stability (no rolled ankles, please!), and a positive, can-hike attitude sprinkled with a bit of caution (some of these areas are quite steep after all). If you’re not quite feeling confident enough in your abilities, there are guided hikes available through a number of local organizations that can help get your feet wet in the hiking world.
Do you have a favorite hike near Asheville? Don’t forget to tag @ScoopCharlotte in your adventures on Instagram!
