
Amazing! We have 3,000+ miles of free, public hiking trails near Asheville, including 1,600 miles in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, 850 miles in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and many more along the Blue Ridge Parkway and in state parks and forests. Where are the best hikes?
Here are our favorite scenic day hikes near Asheville in our mountains. We feature hikes for all skill levels, located in 16 counties in western North Carolina. When selecting trails, we use the following criteria:
- The hike trailhead is easy to find and within 100 miles of Asheville.
- The trail is safe, marked, and maintained.
- Does not require any special equipment, technical skills, or special shoes.
To help you plan, see our Hiking & Waterfall Safety Tips. Also see: 10 Accessible Paved Trails | Top 20 Summit Hikes | 70 Outdoor Things to Do






























































































Search Options Above
If you are searching by region:
- Asheville
- East (Black Mountain , Chimney Rock, Morganton)
- North (Burnsville, Hot Springs, Madison City, Mt Mitchell)
- South (Brevard, Hendersonville, Saluda, Tryon)
- West (Bryson City, Cherokee, Highlands, Sylva, Waynesville)
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park (includes more options for West)
- Blue Ridge Parkway (includes more options for North and West)
ADA Hiking Trails
Several area trails are designated as accessible according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). One is a 1/4-mile trail at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Also, Mt. Mitchell has an ADA 1/4-mile paved trail to the observation tower, although it's uphill. See our Top 10 Accessible Paved Trails.






