Danny has been an accomplished Western N.C. hiker for more than 40 years, completing the Appalachian Trail, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and all the trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She is the author of three hiking books, including The Mountains-to-Sea Trail Across North Carolina: Walking a Thousand Miles through Wildness, Culture and History.
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
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,
Visit the side of a summer home from the turn of the 20th century LEAVE NO TRACE TIP The last of the ruins of Rattlesnake Lodge date back to the early 1900s. Help preserve this history by leaving the rock foundations, plants and flowers as you find them. What to Expect This trail offers views of beautiful mountain ridges and a lake. Take the short access trail and turn left on the
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
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
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
