As the mountains green up with the coming of spring, the new season also brings a burst of color to the trails in and around Asheville. Hundreds of types of wildflowers appear on the paths that lead to stunning vistas and thundering waterfalls. These trails are among local favorites for seeing the best spring wildflowers in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
Different kinds of wildflowers bloom at different times (because of elevation and species) throughout the season. As a result, Asheville enjoys one of the longest wildflower seasons in the country. Check out our interactive Asheville wildflower bloom schedule for an idea of what flowers may be blooming during your visit, and see our guide to spring in Asheville for events and trip ideas!
For more great trails to enjoy year-round in the Asheville area, please see our Asheville hiking guide or find your perfect Asheville hiking trail by using our Asheville Hike Finder. Easily filter by distance from downtown, trail length and difficulty level.
We all love the Blue Ridge Mountains and it's incredible biodiversity, including wildflowers! Make it your nature to Leave No Trace to help keep these incredible outdoor spaces beautiful for years to come.
Top Spring Hikes Near Asheville, N.C.
*Note: All driving distances are from downtown Asheville
Please check the Blue Ridge Parkway Road Closures Map ahead of time for updates.
Craven Gap to Ox Creek Road, Blue Ridge Parkway
The Mountains-to-Sea trailhead at Craven Gap is just 15 minutes from downtown Asheville, meaning you’ll be among the forest and the wildflowers in no time. The Mountains-to-Sea trail spans the state of North Carolina. However, this two-mile stretch is particularly accessible and diverse. As you make the two-mile hike to Bull Gap, you’ll likely see robin trillium, violets, and azaleas and you may smell the wild mountain mint. Flowering prickly pear cactus await you at a small rock outcropping that provides nice views across the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Distance from Asheville: 7 miles, 15 minutes
Graveyard Fields, Blue Ridge Parkway
The distinctive landscape of Graveyard Fields, with large open areas, makes it a nice place to easily see beautiful wildflowers just steps from the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can also see the cascading Lower Falls and Upper Falls on this popular hike. Graveyard Fields offers a great display of wildflowers common to the Blue Ridge, including bluets, galax, asters and honeysuckle. You may also see larkspur, foamflower, jack-in-the-pulpit, evening primrose, bellflower and many more along the way. As spring turns to summer, Graveyard Fields features many budding blackberry and blueberry bushes.
Driving distance: 35 miles, 57 minutes
Douglas Falls Trail, Big Ivy Area of Pisgah National Forest
With about 35 species of wildflowers that bloom throughout the spring, you’ll have plenty to look at along the way to 70-foot Douglas Falls. Enjoy exploring around the base of the waterfall – a great place for a picnic. You can even walk behind the falls (watch your step on the slippery rocks). As you are driving to the trailhead, keep an eye out for Walker Falls, which tumbles next to the road.
Driving distance: 33 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes
Grandfather Mountain is one of the region’s most ecologically diverse nature preserves and it’s home to many rare North American wildflowers. At any given time in the spring months, you’ll see dozens of varieties of stunning blooms. The show at Grandfather Mountain begins in March with serviceberry, bloodroot, violets, oconee bells and dutchman’s breeches. April brings bluets, trout lilly, dwarf iris, wild geranium and pink/yellow lady slipper. In May, enjoy a display of true mountain staples such as flame azaleas, mountain laurel and mountain magnolia. Park rangers at Grandfather Mountain offer annual wildflower walks to help you explore the amazing variety of spring flora and fauna.
Driving distance: 69 miles, 1 hour 25 minutes
Pink Beds, Pisgah National Forest
For a treat in late spring, the relatively level Pink Beds Trail in Pisgah National Forest offers the chance to discover the rare “swamp pink” flower that only grows in a few locations in the southern Appalachians. Swamp pink is part of the lily family and loves the rare mountain bogs found in this valley. It’ll also be hard to miss the mountain laurel and rhododendron on the trail, which in many cases also shows a pink hue. This area of Pisgah National Forest is known as the “Cradle of American Forestry.” Babbling brooks, beautiful wooded areas and beaver dams are among the other forest features you’ll encounter.
Driving distance: 32 miles, 54 minutes
Oconaluftee River Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
At the North Carolina entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Oconaluftee River provides fertile ground for a stunning two-mile display of wildflowers accessed by the Oconaluftee River Trail. April is probably the best time to see the more than 40 species of wildflowers which include fringed phacelia, wild geraniums, trillium, phlox and crested dwarf iris. While taking in the wildflowers along the river banks, explore the outdoor Mountain Farm Museum, a series of historic log buildings built in the Park area during the 1800s and early 1900s.
Driving distance: 55 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes
Deep Creek Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Three waterfalls, glistening streams and gorgeous wildflowers, make Deep Creek a popular spot for hikers looking to experience the great outdoors. There are 1,600 species of flowering plants in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Deep Creek features a nice variety of those including beard tongue, solomon’s seal and trillium. If you're lucky, may see some lady slippers, too. The flowers create an idyllic setting for the area’s three most well-known waterfalls: Toms Branch Falls, Indian Creek Falls and Juney Whank Falls. Deep Creek is also a top area for outdoor recreation such as tubing.
Driving distance: 68 miles, 1 hour 15 minutes
Rainbow Falls Trail, Gorges State Park
Imagine a 150-foot tall waterfall framed by bright pink, purple, yellow and blue wildflowers that carpet the foreground. That’s exactly what you’ll find on this trail that begins in a dense forest in Gorges State Park. The abundant wildflowers and waterfalls are a result of the area’s high rainfall totals which are enough to help Gorges State Park earn the classification of a temperate rain forest. The highlight is thundering Rainbow Falls. Add a few tenths of mile to your hike and you’ll also see Turtleback Falls, a popular summer swimming hole.
Driving distance: 54 miles, 1 hour 15 minutes
