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Asheville, North Carolina

Looking for the best hiking in Asheville? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Asheville. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Asheville

  • Lake Lure, North Carolina

    Hike to Hickory Nut Falls

    5.0
    2 mi / 200 ft gain
    This waterfall is located inside of the Chimney Rock State Park. There is a fee of 15 dollars to go to the State Park but it is very worth it because of the beautiful scenery and beautiful views. The hike to the waterfall is partially uphill on the way. When you get to the waterfall there are a f...
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  • Lake Lure, North Carolina

    Boulder at Rumbling Bald

    4.5
    1.5 mi
    Located off of Boys Camp Rd. in Lake Lure, North Carolina, Rumbling Bald is a huge boulder yard that has been in use since the 1970's and has begun to flourish. Conveniently at the trail head is a gravel parking lot with three Port A Johns to use. Make sure you get to the parking lot early thou...
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  • Hendersonville, North Carolina

    Hike along The World's Edge

    0.7 mi / 40 ft gain
    Park at the end of The World's Edge Road, but be aware that parking is very limited. There is a private residence up to the right so do not block their driveway/gate. Begin your hike by going through the leftmost gate, and continue straight until you reach the first view less than half a mile in....
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  • Canton, North Carolina

    Shining Rock via Shining Creek Trail

    4.3
    8.69 mi / 2569 ft gain
    There are several ways to access the Shining Rock Wilderness Area, but go for the main trail head off of Hwy 276. The trail is split by the Pigeon River, providing a seemingly infinite combinations of trails and routes, keeping in mind that this area intersects often with the well known Art Lobe ...
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  • Canton, North Carolina

    Hike Big East Fork Shining Rock Loop

    4.0
    14 mi
    We began this trip by camping overnight in Graveyard Fields. Those camp sites are .5 miles from the car, so we kept our food there over night. Bear activity has increased, so it's strongly advised to bring a bear canister and be wise about food storage. We woke up early the next morning made bre...
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  • Lake Lure, North Carolina

    Hike to Party Rock

    4.5
    2.4 mi / 1549 ft gain
    This hike is a strenuous 2.4 miles that takes about 1.5 hours to complete. The trail is not maintained--it is an old logging road--so there are lots of loose rocks and you frequently have to hop over the washout/creek. However, the difficulty on the way up is extremely rewarding at the top!The tr...
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  • Burnsville, North Carolina

    Roaring Fork Falls

    1.52 mi / 302 ft gain
    Roaring Fork Falls is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Burnsville, North Carolina.
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  • Burnsville, North Carolina

    Roaring Fork Falls

    1.31 mi / 249 ft gain
    Park at the work center but don't block the gate. Hike around the gate and head up the grassy and gravel road. Once you get to the creek a narrow path leads upstream to the base of the falls.  gps: n35 46.101/ w82 11.713 
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  • Brevard, North Carolina

    Moore Cove Falls

    4.3
    1.28 mi / 223 ft gain
    The hike relatively quick and has minimal elevation gain, making it a great hike for the family or a quick stop off if you're planning to do another hike in the same day. This part of the Pisgah National Forest is filled with scenic hikes. Once you've parked your car, cross over the stream via a...
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  • Brevard, North Carolina

    Art Loeb Trail

    4.8
    30.07 mi / 7467 ft gain
    Start at The Davidson River Campground just outside of Brevard, NC (276 Pisgah Ranger District). Have a shuttle car or a friend waiting at the Daniel Boone Boy Scout camp for the finish line. Hop on the 30.1 mile long Art Loeb Trail at the trailhead in the Davidson River Campground. Pull into th...
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  • Brevard, North Carolina

    Camp at Davidson River Campground in the Pisgah National Forest

    4.5
    Pisgah National Forest, in my opinion, is one of the best national forests in the United States. Being just a short drive from Great Smokey Mountain National Park it has all the feel of being in the smokies with more to explore. Pisgah has anything you could want to see or do from tens of water...
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  • Pisgah Forest, North Carolina

    Drive the Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway

    5.0
    76 mi / 1000 ft gain
    You can drive this highway getting different views during the different seasons. Along the drive, have your camera ready for beautiful vistas, Looking Glass Falls, and many adventures along the highway. The views are especially beautiful in the autumn with the leaves changing colors. This route d...
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  • Burnsville, North Carolina

    Backpack the Black Mountain Crest Trail

    12 mi / 5390 ft gain
    The Black Mountain Crest Trail is legendary among hikers in the southeast. It is the highest trail east of the Mississippi, as it traverses the summit of several peaks over 6,000 feet. It is also widely acknowledged as one of the premier hikes on the east coast. To whit, the trail immediately asc...
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  • Flat Rock, North Carolina

    Watch the Green Race

    5.0
    1.8 mi / 500 ft gain
    On the first Saturday of November the best creek boaters in the world gather at the Green River in North Carolina to see who can storm the Narrows and claim the top title (at least for the next year!). For paddlers, creek boating is a pursuit along tight and narrow steeps that most of us have ne...
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  • Canton, North Carolina

    Skinny Dip Falls

    4.8
    1.03 mi / 148 ft gain
    Park at the Looking Glass Rock Overlook. After enjoying the view of Looking Glass Rock, gear up and head to the right side of the parking area (right side if your back is to the overlook). On the opposite side of the road you'll see a mile marker and a little trail to the left of the marker. Foll...
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  • Brevard, North Carolina

    Looking Glass Rock

    4.6
    5.43 mi / 1572 ft gain
    This is a really nice, moderately difficult hike along a cascading creek, up switchbacks, and through wildflower fields. A couple miles in, you'll reach a helipad that is used for rescuing injured rock climbers - Looking Glass Rock is a popular destination for world class climbing. There is a sma...
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