Outbound Collective logo

Catawba, North Carolina

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

Top Hiking Spots in and near Catawba

  • Linville, North Carolina

    Shortoff Mountain Summit

    4.8
    4.64 mi / 1178 ft gain
    Start your hike from the Shortoff Mountain Trail off of Wolf Pit Road at the base of Lake James. From the summit there is a small grassy area off a side trail that provided awesome cliff side views of the Gorge and Linville River! You can setup after making the hour and a half trek (maybe just in...
    Read more
  • Morganton, North Carolina

    Hike to the Summit of Table Rock Mountain

    4.6
    2.2 mi / 572 ft gain
    Off of Highway 181, the trailhead is very clearly marked with a large parking lot. Although the trail is fairly short, make sure you have your footing, because the trail does switch back and forth in addition to gaining elevation -- it's pretty steep in some places! It's all worth it when you get...
    Read more
  • Morganton, North Carolina

    Camp at the Chimneys in the Linville Wilderness

    5.0
    1 mi / 138 ft gain
    The Chimneys area is a lesser-known camping destination within the Linville Wilderness. The Chimneys are a series of rock formations that rise above Linville Gorge and provide unobstructed panoramic views of the gorge and surrounding mountains. These rocks sit adjacent to Table Rock which hosts w...
    Read more
  • Morganton, North Carolina

    Little Table Rock Trail

    5.0
    2.73 mi / 1148 ft gain
    Little Table Rock Trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Morganton, North Carolina.
    Read more
  • Blowing Rock, North Carolina

    Boone Fork Trail

    4.0
    5.06 mi / 1030 ft gain
    Boone Fork Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Boone, North Carolina.
    Read more
  • Morganton, North Carolina

    Hawksbill Mountain Trail

    4.9
    1.87 mi / 633 ft gain
    Hidden far above the beautiful Linville Gorge stands Hawksbill Mountain, among many other fantastic hikes. The roughly 1.7 mile hike from the dusty gravel parking lot is steep but worth every step. It took me about an hour to conquer with a few water bottle-guzzling stops. At the top, you are al...
    Read more
  • Morganton, North Carolina

    Photograph Hawksbill Mountain at Sunrise or Sunset

    5.0
    1.5 mi / 860 ft gain
    The trail to the summit of Hawksbill begins on an unpaved road for the Pigsah National Forest. In about a half a mile the trail turns left just before reaching the Jonas Ridge Trail. This turn is an clearly marked turn with a sign for "Hawksbill Summit". The trail then becomes steeper and rocki...
    Read more
  • Blowing Rock, North Carolina

    Price Lake Loop Trail

    5.0
    2.23 mi / 387 ft gain
    Price Lake Loop Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
    Read more
  • Blowing Rock, North Carolina

    Camp and Paddle at Price Lake

    This campground is all kinds of amazing, and if you get one of the sites in the A loop, you will have lakefront property (just be warned, if I see you there, I'll have to crash with you ;-). Price Lake is a gorgeous lake right off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and perfect for canoeing...
    Read more
  • Traphill, North Carolina

    Hike the Stone Mountain Loop

    4.5
    This is a strenuous 4.5 mile hike beginning from the Lower Parking Lot in Stone Mountain State Park (for a 5.2 mile hike, begin at the Upper Parking Lot). From the lot, take the trail by the bathroom. Keep right at the first trail intersection, then left at the second trail intersection to stay ...
    Read more
  • Traphill, North Carolina

    Hike to Wolf Rock and Cedar Rock

    5.0
    This easy 3.0 mile hike begins at the Lower Trailhead Parking Lot at Stone Mountain State Park and includes a 400' ascent to two granite outcrops with nice views. This hike can be combined with the Stone Mountain Loop hike for a 6.5 mile strenuous hike.From the parking lot, walk towards the strea...
    Read more
  • Marion, North Carolina

    Hike the Rock Jock Trail

    6 mi / 700 ft gain
    One of the first things I noticed when researching this hike was the conflicting information regarding finding the trail head, length of the hike, and the hike's correct route. Hopefully, as of September 2017, this report will contain the most up-to-date information currently available. To find t...
    Read more
  • Linville, North Carolina

    Rough Ridge Lookout

    4.3
    0.5 mi / 92 ft gain
    The trailhead for Rough Ridge will be on your righthand side when driving the Blue Ridge Parkway from Boone, NC. This trail gets busy in the warmer months, but parking usually is not too much of an issue. This trail is not open in the winter. Rough Ridge will take you around 30-45 minutes to rea...
    Read more
  • Banner Elk, North Carolina

    Calloway Peak via Daniel Boone Scout Trail

    5.0
    6.31 mi / 1991 ft gain
    At 5,946 feet, Calloway Peak provides hikers with perhaps the best view of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains. You'll have to earn this view - it is a tough climb up, although not terribly long. Begin at the trailhead for Tanawha Trail in the Boone Fork Parking Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway....
    Read more
  • Banner Elk, North Carolina

    Explore Boone Fork Creek

    0.25 mi / 75 ft gain
    Boone Fork Bridge and creek is situated at the base of Grandfather Mountain, on the Blue Ridge Parkway, milepost 299.9. Elevation 3905'.The trailhead is at the left side of Boone Fork Creek parking area and the trail is a gentle meander through Rhododendrons and a hardwood forest.As you head tow...
    Read more
  • Newland, North Carolina

    Hike the Conley Cove Trail into Linville Gorge

    5.0
    2.6 mi / 1200 ft gain
    Follow the gravel old 105 to the parking lot at the Rock Jock Trailhead. Follow this trail a short distance until it splits to the left for Conley Cove. The Conley Cove trail descends over 1,200 ft. into the Linville Gorge, providing a glimpse into the dense and wild Pisgah National Forest. Shor...
    Read more