Best Spring Hikes in Asheville, NC

Best Spring Hikes in Asheville, NC

Article last updated 01/31/2025
Lookout Mountain

As the mountains green up with the coming of spring, the new season also brings a burst of color to the trails in and around Asheville. Hundreds of types of wildflowers appear on the paths that lead to stunning vistas and thundering waterfalls. These trails are among local favorites for seeing the best spring wildflowers in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Different kinds of wildflowers bloom at different times (because of elevation and species) throughout the season. As a result, Asheville enjoys one of the longest wildflower seasons in the country. Check out our interactive Asheville wildflower bloom schedule for an idea of what flowers may be blooming during your visit, and see our guide to spring in Asheville for events and trip ideas!

For more great trails to enjoy year-round in the Asheville area, please see our Asheville hiking guide or find your perfect Asheville hiking trail by using our Asheville Hike Finder. Easily filter by distance from downtown, trail length and difficulty level.

Top Spring Hikes Near Asheville, N.C.

POST-HURRICANE UPDATE: We’ve researched the status of these trails following Hurricane Helene, and the ones listed here are open. However, conditions may have changed, and some trails may look different due to storm impact. Before heading out, check the trail’s AllTrails page and read recent reviews for the most up-to-date conditions.

Graveyard Fields, Blue Ridge Parkway

Asheville adventures

The distinctive landscape of Graveyard Fields, with large open areas, makes it a nice place to easily see beautiful wildflowers just steps from the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can also see the cascading Lower Falls and Upper Falls on this popular hike. Graveyard Fields offers a great display of wildflowers common to the Blue Ridge, including bluets, galax, asters and honeysuckle. You may also see larkspur, foamflower, jack-in-the-pulpit, evening primrose, bellflower and many more along the way. As spring turns to summer, Graveyard Fields features many budding blackberry and blueberry bushes.

Driving distance: 35 miles, 57 minutes

Grandfather Mountain State Park

Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain is one of the region’s most ecologically diverse nature preserves and it’s home to many rare North American wildflowers. At any given time in the spring months, you’ll see dozens of varieties of stunning blooms. The show at Grandfather Mountain begins in March with serviceberry, bloodroot, violets, oconee bells and dutchman’s breeches. April brings bluets, trout lilly, dwarf iris, wild geranium and pink/yellow lady slipper. In May, enjoy a display of true mountain staples such as flame azaleas, mountain laurel and mountain magnolia. Park rangers at Grandfather Mountain offer annual wildflower walks to help you explore the amazing variety of spring flora and fauna. 

Driving distance: 69 miles, 1 hour 25 minutes

Pink Beds, Pisgah National Forest

Wildflowers

For a treat in late spring, the relatively level Pink Beds Trail in Pisgah National Forest offers the chance to discover the rare “swamp pink” flower that only grows in a few locations in the southern Appalachians. Swamp pink is part of the lily family and loves the rare mountain bogs found in this valley. It’ll also be hard to miss the mountain laurel and rhododendron on the trail, which in many cases also shows a pink hue. This area of Pisgah National Forest is known as the “Cradle of American Forestry.” Babbling brooks, beautiful wooded areas and beaver dams are among the other forest features you’ll encounter.

Driving distance: 32 miles, 54 minutes

Oconaluftee River Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Wildflower on Oconaluftee River Trail

At the North Carolina entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Oconaluftee River provides fertile ground for a stunning two-mile display of wildflowers accessed by the Oconaluftee River Trail. April is probably the best time to see the more than 40 species of wildflowers which include fringed phacelia, wild geraniums, trillium, phlox and crested dwarf iris. While taking in the wildflowers along the river banks, explore the outdoor Mountain Farm Museum, a series of historic log buildings built in the Park area during the 1800s and early 1900s.

Driving distance: 55 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes

Deep Creek Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Deep Creek Waterfall Asheville
Deep Creek Waterfall

Three waterfalls, glistening streams and gorgeous wildflowers, make Deep Creek a popular spot for hikers looking to experience the great outdoors. There are 1,600 species of flowering plants in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Deep Creek features a nice variety of those including beard tongue, solomon’s seal and trillium. If you're lucky, may see some lady slippers, too. The flowers create an idyllic setting for the area’s three most well-known waterfalls: Toms Branch Falls, Indian Creek Falls and Juney Whank Falls. Deep Creek is also a top area for outdoor recreation such as tubing.

Driving distance: 68 miles, 1 hour 15 minutes

Rainbow Falls Trail, Gorges State Park

Widlflowers at Rainbow Falls

Imagine a 150-foot tall waterfall framed by bright pink, purple, yellow and blue wildflowers that carpet the foreground. That’s exactly what you’ll find on this trail that begins in a dense forest in Gorges State Park. The abundant wildflowers and waterfalls are a result of the area’s high rainfall totals which are enough to help Gorges State Park earn the classification of a temperate rain forest. The highlight is thundering Rainbow Falls. Add a few tenths of mile to your hike and you’ll also see Turtleback Falls, a popular summer swimming hole.

Driving distance: 54 miles, 1 hour 15 minutes

*Note: All driving distances are from downtown Asheville. Please check the Blue Ridge Parkway Road Closures Map ahead of time for updates.

For more great trails in the Asheville area, please see our Asheville hiking guide.