fall hikes

Discover Epic Fall Vistas

Hiking trails in the Asheville area are great for all experience levels, and all boast amazing views of mountain scenery. Foliage begins at the highest mountaintops and gradually descends to lower elevations as the autumn progresses. Below are some suggested hiking trails in Western North Carolina for your next fall vacation. To maximize your experience, be sure to check out our fall hiking tips.

• Early Fall

  
  

  Graveyard Fields Trail (Shining Rock) - easy/moderate
  Located at mile post 418.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, this 3.2-mile trail is a popular family hike thanks to its beauty and ease. The trail will lead hikers to Lower Falls (a moderate descent) as well as through open, grassy areas and past nice pools for wading on a hot summer day.

  Crabtree Falls - difficult
  Located at mile post 339.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, this 2-mile loop hike takes you to beautiful Crabtree Falls and through growths for birch and hemlock. This area gets its name from the numerous crab apple trees that can be found. Access is at the Crabtree Meadows camping area, which offers picnicking facilities and a restaurant.

• Mid-Fall

  
  

  The Carolina Mountain Trail - easy
  Located within the North Carolina Arboretum, this 1.2-mile trail winds a hiker through three different forestry types: pine, mixed hardwood and ericaceous. Hikers can also rest and enjoy an overlook at Bent Creek.

  Mountain-to-Sea Trail - moderate
  With many different access points, we recommend access from the Folk Art Center at mile post 382.0 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  You'll pass Craven Gap, Rattlesnake Lodge and Craggy Gardens before reaching Balsam Gap at mile post 359.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This suggested section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is 21.7 miles long, but you can turn around at any point. The Folk Art Center is also home to a quarter-mile educational loop with information about the local wildlife and foliage. It's a perfect trail for young children and inquisitive minds.

  West Ridge-Graybeard Loop - difficult
  Located in Montreat, NC, this loop provides a very steep initial climb, a dozen great viewing points of the Asheville Watershed/Blue Ridge Parkway/Mount Mitchell area and a slippery descent along the Graybeard Stream. Access is through the Montreat stone entrance on Assembly Drive. Just past Lake Susan, the road bears to the left and becomes Graybeard Trail. Look for Big Piney Road on your left and park in the gravel pullout area. You will see the sign “Private Drive: Hikers Welcome.” Allow four hours for experienced hikers and eight hours for beginners.

• Late Fall

  
  

  Great Woodland Adventure - easy
  Located within Chimney Rock Park, this 0.6 mile interactive trail is great for families with small children. This trail will take you past handcrafted wood and metal sculptures of Grady the Groundhog (the Park’s mascot) and his woodland friends.

  Hickory Nut Falls Trail - easy/moderate
  This .75-mile trail in Chimney Rock Park offers a leisurely walk through hardwood forests of oak, hickory, maple and basswood harboring abundant plant life, including rare and endangered wildflowers and old favorites such as Jack-in-the-pulpit and Solomon's-seal. The reward is 404ft Hickory Nut Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. Dainty white blossoms of Lady rue and grassy fronds of Deerhair bulrush thrive in the waterfall’s mist. Deerhair bulrush is a grass-like plant with small knobs at the end of shiny, wiry leaves, found growing out of the cracks along the rock and cliff wall near Hickory Nut Falls.

  Dupont State Forest - all levels
  Located near Hendersonville & Brevard, Dupont State Forest is 7,600 acres of forested land and has over ninety miles of trails for hiking, biking and even horseback riding on designated trails, which range from very easy to very challenging. Their trails combine a wonderful blend of incredible scenery, varied hiking levels and unbelievable waterfalls.

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