Stories with Hiking Trails

42 Stories Posts
Water flowers down Indian Creek Waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Deep Creek Waterfall Hike

Three wonderful waterfalls on one Great Smoky Mountains National Park hike Deep Creek is one of the most beloved areas in the Smokies, known for offering the opportunity to see three beautiful waterfalls. Take a 5-mile loop hike to see them all or craft a shorter hike. Deep Creek is also known for its popular tubing sections -- one of which passes directly in front of one of the

Couple Hiking at Black Balsam at Sunrise

Black Balsam Hike on Art Loeb Trail

A Blue Ridge Parkway classic, this is a local favorite When you think of views from the Blue Ridge Parkway, chances are these are the kinds of views that come to mind: the unimpeded, long-range vistas from Black Balsam Knob. Surrounded by wilderness, this tree-free ‘bald’ is an easy, family-friendly hike, ideal for picnicking or blueberry picking. Appalachian “balds” such

Picnic Story: Mount Mitchell

Old Mitchell Trail

Visitors to Mount Mitchell State Park can walk in the footsteps of Elisha Mitchell himself, the man credited with discovering the highest peak in the east. This area of the Black Mountains would have been quite wild during Mitchell's treks in the early 19th century. Today, this well-marked trail offers a challenging but rewarding route to the summit.Tip: Pack a sweater or extra

Early Fall View from Pisgah Inn

Mount Pisgah Trail

Hike to the top of Asheville's most recognizable mountain peak Mount Pisgah can be seen from many places throughout the Asheville area. In fact, many of Biltmore's windows perfectly frame this iconic peak. Once you reach the summit, you'll have a great view of another of the area's most iconic peaks: Cold Mountain. LEAVE NO TRACE TIP As one of Asheville's most iconic landmarks,

Lunch Rocks View 1

Lunch Rocks Trail

Pack a lunch for this moderate trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway LEAVE NO TRACE TIP Lunch Rocks is a great place to have, you guessed it, lunch! While there are no trash receptacles when you reach the rocks, there are trash cans at the beginning of the trail. After your picnic, pack up everything you brought with you and throw away your trash when you get back to the Folk Arts Center. What to

Hard Times Loop Trail Fall Color

Hard Times Loop Trail

Take a hike in the forest just 15 minutes from downtown Asheville What to Expect This gentle trail takes hikers through Bent Creek Experimental Forest and the North Carolina Arboretum, with great views of mountain ridges and Lake Powhatan, as well as a glimpse of the magnificent Biltmore House. From the trailhead, walk through the gate and down the road. At the first

Big Butt Trail

Big Butt Trail

A high-elevation hike through a northern hardwoods forest What to Expect Two trails start at Walker Knob Overlook. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail with its characteristic white circles starts from the middle of the parking area. This hike on the Big Butt Trail goes up from the left side, in back of a wooden sign which says "Little Butt 3 miles," a slight overestimation. Little Butt

Hooker Falls in Fall

Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls Hike

One hike, three of the region’s best waterfalls Dupont State Forest is the best place to discover why Brevard and Transylvania County is called “The Land of the Waterfalls.” Get a sampler of some of the area’s wonderful waterfalls with a (mostly) easy hike to Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls. Accessible enough for kids, the trails that connect the falls are scenic

Mountain vista on top of Sam Knob during the fall

Sam Knob at Black Balsam Trail

Hike to views that will make your heart sing An alternative to the popular Black Balsam Knob hike that can be accessed from the same parking lot off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Sam Knob will win your heart with high mountain meadows and long-range wilderness views that rival any in the region. LEAVE NO TRACE TIP Sam Knob Trail follows an old roadbed that is prone to erosion. In fact, stairs and a

Riverside Cemetery in Fall

Riverside Cemetery Hike

A stroll through Asheville history Designed in 1885 in the park-like Victorian style, Riverside Cemetery is the final resting place of some of Asheville’s most prominent citizens, including Thomas Wolfe.  Set on 87 shady acres, Riverside is a walk through Asheville’s past on smooth, paved trails, past over a dozen family mausoleums and impressive statuary. Stroll through this