These Hikes Have Reopened Near Asheville Post-Hurricane Helene
As more North Carolina sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway have safely reopened post-Helene, so has access to popular hiking trails near Asheville.
Below is a list of some of the hiking trails that are currently open in and around the Asheville area. If you would like to share any trail news or re-opening updates we're missing here, please email [email protected].
*Our community is making progress surely and safely, so planning is key. Consult DriveNC.gov for information on open roads and safe routes to your destination. While these areas are open, know that routes to get there might have detours. Stay alert when driving, be aware of your surroundings and avoid overly crowded areas. Do not drive through or attempt to visit any impacted areas.
Bent Creek Experimental Forest and Hard Times Loop
Large swaths of Bent Creek have reopened for hiking and biking, including the popular Explorer Loop and Hard Times Connector Trail. Bent Creek River Park remains closed for the immediate future, so parking closer to Lake Powhatan Recreation Area is recommended.
Pro-Tip: Check here for the full list of open trails.
Black Balsam Knob Hike
When you think of views from the Blue Ridge Parkway, chances are these are the kinds of views that come to mind: the unimpeded, long-range vistas from Black Balsam Knob. Surrounded by wilderness, this tree-free ‘bald’ is an easy, family-friendly hike, ideal for picnicking or blueberry picking.
Pro-Tip: The temperature at Black Balsam is sometimes as much as 20 degrees cooler than in Asheville. It can get very windy and there’s little shade, so plan for the weather. Camping is allowed anywhere as long as you’re 500 feet off the trail.
Graveyard Fields Loop Trail
This iconic family and pet friendly hike off the Blue Ridge Parkway has something for everyone and several hiking options, from a gorgeous waterfall that feeds into a popular swimming hole to the Graveyard Ridge trail that takes you up to the upper falls.
Pro-Tip: You may be wondering about the name Graveyard Fields. It comes from the appearance of the landscape after logging and fire destroyed much of the forest and soil: the tree stumps left behind looked like gravestones.
John Rock Trail/Cat Gap Loop
The popular John Rock Trail is renowned for its stunning views and classic forest scenery. This hike features waterfalls, creek crossings, and challenging climbs, culminating in breathtaking vistas from a cliffside. For families, a simpler option is the paved trail behind the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, complemented by a visit to the nearby Fish Hatchery.
Pro-Tip: The stone face of John Rock provides incredible views. Be careful here at this 200-foot cliff. Stay on level areas and be extra cautious when the rock is wet.
Laurel River Trail
There’s something about the Laurel River Trail that feels hidden and undiscovered, even if you’re sharing this former rail-bed trail with others. Take a picnic, bring your dog and enjoy the fall leaves and weather. There are many places to sit out on the rocks and soak in the sun. This is a family-friendly hike that even small children can handle.
Pro-Tip: The parking lot is along the side of the road and fills up on nice days, so consider getting an early start or waiting until later in the afternoon.
Rough Ridge Hiking Trail
This short 0.3-mile hike from the parking lot offers spectacular mountain views of Grandfather Mountain and Linn Cove Viaduct, with distant views into Piedmont on a clear day. Adding another half mile to the hike will take you to the Rough Ridge summit (4,773 feet), where you’ll find several large boulders along the trail that make a perfect lunch spot while you enjoy the cool air, fall foliage and vast mountain landscape.
Pro-Tip: Pets are prohibited on this section of the Tanawha Trail to protect a critical and highly vulnerable plant community.
Daniel Boone Scout Trail
This challenging trek reaches the nearly 6,000-foot summit of Grandfather Mountain’s Calloway Peak, where you’ll be standing atop one of the most impressive lookouts in the Southeast. The trail is roughly seven miles round-trip and takes about four or five hours to complete, depending on how long you linger at the top (and at other viewpoints). The walk up to Calloway Peak involves some 2,000 feet of elevation gain, and the steepest reaches involve fixed ladders and cables. It’s a challenging hike, to be sure, but an incredible experience with a top-of-the-world sort of feel.
Pro-Tip: Beginning at about the 3.1-mile point from the trailhead on your way toward Calloway Peak, look in the woods to the right for the wreckage of a single-engine plane that crashed on the mountain in the1980s.
Beacon Heights Trail
It’s not a long hike: round-trip, this trail spans just under a mile. But it’s one of the most popular trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Grandfather Mountain, and for an excellent reason: the views from Beacon Heights are far-flung, panoramic and beautiful.
Linn Cove Viaduct via Tanawha Trail
A drive on the viaduct is undoubtedly beautiful, but nothing quite compares to exploring the beautiful high-elevation ecosystem below on foot, especially in fall! This hike on the Tanawha Trail offers breathtaking vistas, explores a ruggedly beautiful rocky forest at Wilson Creek, and meanders beneath the viaduct’s gentle curves.
Flat Top Mountain Trail
Located at Moses Cone Memorial Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the 2.5-mile Flat Top Mountain trail takes you to a historic look out tower on the summit. The park is a scenic 14-mile drive from Sugar Mountain. This is a moderate hike with a continuous gentle climb. Since it was once a carriage road, the trail is wide, smooth and easy to hike.
Pro-Tip: Dogs are allowed on the trail with a leash
Stack Rock Trail
The Stack Rock trail is considered the most technical section of the Tanawha trail. Located on milepost 304.8, you’ll see the iconic boulder that pokes out through the forest canopy while driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is a relatively short 1.2-mile out-and-back hike but requires some technical maneuvering through the trail.
Pro-Tip: Make sure and wear some sturdy boots. You’ll be doing some scrambling and hiking on this trail.