Barnardsville, North Carolina

On your way in, stop at the ranger station parking lot to use the outhouses and grab a map for $1. Once at the Baxter Creek trailhead you have two options: 1. The Out and Back (12.2 miles) 2. The Loop (17 miles)Out and Back: Start on the Baxter Creek Trail and continue up for 6.1 miles until you...

Follow Big Creek Trail on a moderate climb to this 45-foot waterfall. Around 1.3 miles in, you will begin to hike alongside Big Creek, and shortly afterwards you will pass Midnight Hole, a particularly deep pool. There are a number of other small falls en route. In spring you should see a number ...

This 5 mile loop begins at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and State Fish Hatchery near Brevard, NC. Ample parking is available adjacent to the trailhead with bathrooms and water accessible. Grab a map from inside as well. To start the hike, look at the education center, to the left is t...

The coordinates for the parking area are 36.198288, -81.970137. You'll see a parking area that's dirt/gravel on the right side of the road. At the far end of the parking lot is a sign that says Elk River Falls with an arrow pointing up the hill. From this point its about a .2 mile long walk to th...

Laurel Falls via Appalachian Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Hampton, Tennessee.

Sam Knob Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Canton, North Carolina.

This is one of my favorite quick "getaway" loops in the Pisgah Ranger District. Turn onto Black Balsam Knob Road (Mile Marker 420 on the Blue Ridge Parkway) go until you reach a dead end and park at the parking lot. You'll see the Sam Knob trail to the right of the public bathrooms. From there, i...

Park at the Lot at the end of Black Balsam road, and start your morning in the dark, down the old dirt road at the end of the lot. Take this road until you get to Ivestor Gap and make a right onto the Art Loeb, try and time it so the sun is just about to rise here. Hike or trail run The Art Loeb ...

The parking area for Black Balsam Knob is at mile marker 420.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's free to hike here. Take the Art Loeb Trail a half mile until you reach the knob. Along the way you will be walking almost entirely on the bald which is a very pleasant experience. You feel like you're ...

If you're feeling frisky, set your alarm for the early am and park at the Beacon Heights Parking area about 30 minutes before dawn. Put on your head lamp and hike the short trip to Beacon Heights, bask in the glory of the warm morning sun, then head back down and connect with the Tanawha Trail. A...

This waterfall is right off the side of the road on NC 215. NC 215 is straight off of the blue ridge parkway and is just north of Brevard. The waterfall has to main parts one that is above the road and one that is below. The part below the road is the most scenic and the easiest to walk too. The ...

Hooker Falls is located in Dupont State Forest in southern North Carolina. The hike is a great hike for kids to go on and to have a picnic. The waterfall is a beautiful waterfall that offers a great place to swim. Along the hike there are also other places you can see the river and you can swim a...

Beacon Heights is the perfect hike when you're on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Linville and Grandfather Mountain, Milepost 305.2. The trail is a steady climb uphill for less than a half mile. The last section being fairly steep and rocky. Once at the top, there are several rock outcroppings, but...

Both falls provide ample open, flat rock right up next to the massive falls where you can picnic, take photos, or just lounge in the sun and mist. There are signs saying so, but be sure to be careful near the waters edge below the falls - swimming is not allowed as the current can be very strong....

Calloway Peak via Profile Trail is an out-and-back trail with waterfall views located near Banner Elk, North Carolina in Grandfather Mountain State Park.

The Pigeon River is a dam controlled river that winds its way through North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The river provides beautiful views as one paddles along via raft or kayak.  Cutting through portions of the Pisgah and Cherokee National For...