Peak views here are postcard-perfect A short, easy-to-access hike through a rhododendron thicket brings you to the pinnacle and 360˚views, glorious sunsets or morning mist on the mountains. This close-to-Asheville hike includes a sampler of mountain scenery: long-range views, twisted laurel and dramatic rock formations. LEAVE NO TRACE TIP Craggy Gardens features a fragile ecosystem and delicate
A storied peak for experienced hikers Local author Charles Frazier made this 6030-foot-high peak in the Great Balsams famous with his 1997 novel of the same name. The 2000 movie version won the hearts of even more fans. Hikers love it too, but it’s not a journey to take lightly. With an average of 7 to 10 hours on the trail, this adventure requires preparation and commitment, but rewards
A legendary landscape, a variety of hikes With 8,000 acres of nearly intact Western North Carolina landscape, the grounds at Biltmore are equally as grand as the famed house. The roughly 22 miles of trails here run through meadows with stunning views of the French Broad River and along the river itself and past the estate’s agricultural fields. The majority of the terrain is flat and easy
Poetic mountain views at a National Historic Site Carl Sandburg, “the People’s Poet” bought his historic home Connemara in 1945. After he died, his wife donated the property to the National Park Service and now this 267-acre National Historic Site preserves his legacy. This great day trip from Asheville combines history, nature and (especially interesting for kids) lots of goats.
Panoramic views make this the perfect picnic hike Pack a lunch and pile in the car: Bearwallow Mountain is the perfect picnic hike from Asheville and close enough to be back to town in time for other afternoon activities. With two trail options — a gravel access road and a switchback trail — getting to the top and back is easy enough for the whole family. LEAVE NO TRACE TIP Bearwallow
