By Few cities in America put hikers within reach of so many trails as Asheville. Within an hour of downtown you can stand on a treeless mountain bald with 360-degree views, walk behind a tumbling waterfall, or follow a ridge of the Blue Ridge Parkway where the air turns cool and the wildflowers run thick. Whether you want a gentle stroll to a swimming hole or a lung-burning summit climb, these are the hikes worth building a Carolina mountain trip around.
Mount Pisgah: A Classic Summit Climb
If you want one quintessential Asheville-area hike, make it Mount Pisgah. The trail leaves the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 407.6, southwest of town, and runs 1.6 miles to a 5,721-foot summit crowned by the WLOS-TV broadcast tower and a sturdy observation deck. The first half eases through northern hardwood forest and tunnels of rhododendron and mountain laurel; the second half turns steep and rocky as you gain roughly 712 feet to the top.
The payoff is one of the best panoramas in the region. On a clear day you can pick out the Pisgah Inn and campground to the east, the Shining Rock Wilderness and Cold Mountain to the west, the Great Smokies beyond that, and Asheville, the Craggy Mountains, and Mount Mitchell to the north. The National Park Service rates the climb moderate to strenuous, so wear real shoes and bring water.
Pisgah is part of a wider trail network here. The short Buck Spring Trail passes the site of George Vanderbilt’s historic mountain hunting lodge, and the Frying Pan Trail climbs to a fire tower that birders love in spring and fall. For details, see the National Park Service Mount Pisgah trails page.
Craggy Pinnacle: Big Views for Little Effort
For the most reward per step, drive north on the Parkway to Craggy Gardens. The Craggy Pinnacle Trail starts from the Craggy Dome parking area near milepost 364.1 and reaches a 5,892-foot summit in just 0.7 miles each way, climbing only about 250 feet. The path runs through a moss-draped tunnel of weathered birch and rhododendron before opening onto a stone overlook with a sweeping, near-360-degree view that includes the dam-fed shimmer of Burnett Reservoir far below.
Craggy Gardens is famous for its hillsides of purple Catawba rhododendron, which typically peak in mid-June and draw crowds when they bloom. The nearby Craggy Gardens Visitor Center is open seasonally and makes a good first stop for trail conditions. This is a high, exposed stretch of the Parkway, so it closes frequently in winter for snow and ice. Check status on the official Craggy Gardens page before you go.
Graveyard Fields: Waterfalls and Open Meadows
One of the most distinctive landscapes near Asheville sits at Graveyard Fields, accessed from the overlook at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 418.8. At over 5,000 feet, the valley opens into broad meadows rather than the dense forest you find lower down, the result of old fires and storms that left the terrain knobby and open. Cool air, wild blueberry and blackberry bushes, and exposed ridgelines give it a wide, almost alpine feel.
The roughly 2.3-mile loop is mostly easy, with boardwalks, stairs, and a river bridge built into the route. It visits two waterfalls: Second Falls, the most popular and easiest to reach, and the taller Upper Falls at the far end of the loop. Come in mid-to-late summer and you can pick wild blueberries (the Park Service allows up to one gallon per person per day for personal use). Parking is free but limited, so arrive early on weekends or be ready to walk in from a distance. See the NPS Graveyard Fields page for current details.
Catawba Falls: A Rebuilt Waterfall Trail
East of Asheville near Old Fort, Catawba Falls reopened in May 2024 after a major two-year reconstruction in the Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest. Crews added retaining walls, boardwalks, three overlooks, and a 60-foot observation tower, plus a staircase of 580 steps that climbs to the upper falls. The trailhead now has an improved parking area with about 30 spaces, including accessible parking.
The lower portion of the trail is an easy walk along the Catawba River, passing the stone remnants of a 1920s hydropower dam, to the wide, cascading lower falls. The climb to the upper falls is more demanding, with the stairs gaining the equivalent of a 30-story building. Because of the limited parking, arrive early in the day, especially on weekends.
Plan Your Visit: Catawba Falls
- Managed by: Grandfather Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest
- Ranger station address: 109 E. Lawing Drive, Nebo, NC 28761
- Phone: (828) 652-2144
- Distance: About 3.5 miles round trip to the upper falls
- Difficulty: Easy to the lower falls, intermediate to the upper falls
- Website: U.S. Forest Service Catawba Falls page
Note that some features, such as portions of the upper viewing area, have at times remained closed for repairs following storm damage, so confirm the current trail status with the ranger district before driving out.
DuPont State Recreational Forest: Three Waterfalls in One Hike
About 45 minutes south of Asheville near Brevard and Cedar Mountain, DuPont State Recreational Forest packs three of the most photogenic waterfalls in the Carolinas into a single outing. Starting from the Hooker Falls access area, you can string together Hooker Falls, the cinematic terraced drops of Triple Falls (a backdrop in films including The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans), and the broad sheet of High Falls without moving your car.
The High Falls and Visitor Center parking area has restrooms, water, and helpful staff; the Hooker Falls lot is smaller and fills fast. Hooker Falls, Triple Falls, and the Triple Falls Trail are reserved for foot traffic, so leave the bikes for DuPont’s many other multi-use roads and trails.
Getting There
From Asheville, take I-26 East to exit 40 (Highway 280 toward Brevard), follow 280 west about 16 miles, then U.S. 64 east through Penrose, turning right on Crab Creek Road and again on DuPont Road. The Hooker Falls parking area sits just before the Little River bridge, about 3.1 miles down DuPont Road, with the larger High Falls and visitor center lot a mile farther on. For maps, hours, and updates, visit the N.C. Forest Service DuPont page or Friends of DuPont Forest.
Black Balsam Knob: Walking the Open Balds
For the feeling of hiking above the trees, head to Black Balsam Knob, reached via Black Balsam Road off the Blue Ridge Parkway near milepost 420, not far past Graveyard Fields. Unlike forested summit trails, much of this route crosses grassy mountain balds where the views are nearly constant. At over 6,000 feet, the knob serves up enormous panoramas of the Shining Rock Wilderness, Cold Mountain, and ridge after ridge of blue-tinged mountains.
The walk to the summit is short, roughly a mile round trip, though the exposed, often windy terrain and braided social trails can be confusing in fog. There is no shade and weather changes fast at this elevation, so pack a layer and watch the sky. Many hikers link Black Balsam with the neighboring bald of Tennent Mountain or a stretch of the Art Loeb Trail for a longer ridge walk.
Practical Tips for Hiking Near Asheville
- Mind the Parkway calendar. High-elevation sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway close in winter and after storms. Always check current road and trail status before you commit to a drive.
- Arrive early. The most popular trailheads (Graveyard Fields, Catawba Falls, DuPont’s waterfalls) fill by mid-morning on weekends and during fall color.
- Dress for elevation. Summits like Pisgah, Craggy Pinnacle, and Black Balsam can be 15 to 20 degrees cooler and far windier than downtown Asheville.
- Stay on trail near waterfalls. Wet rocks at the top of falls cause serious injuries every year in these forests. Enjoy them from the overlooks and designated viewing areas.
For a wider list of trails, seasonal conditions, and trip-planning help, the regional tourism office is a reliable starting point: Explore Asheville’s outdoor and waterfalls guide. Pick one summit and one waterfall for your first day, start before 9 a.m., and you will beat the crowds with energy to spare for a second trail.