Blue Ridge Parkway pictures and a list of hiking trails near Asheville, NC.

Checking out at least one of the many hiking trails in North Carolina is a must for everyone, even if you’re staying here for just a day or two. North Carolina has many wonderful, well maintained, hiking trails. You can choose to take a short one hour long walk to a waterfall or go hiking for the whole day in a state park.

The more extreme adventurers among you can also plan a through-hike on the Appalachian Trail or trek the 1,000-mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail. It stretches from the Great Smoky Mountains all the way to the Outer Banks. Nick and I were lucky to be called back for a house sitting job in NC for the second time. We truly enjoy the beautiful, mountainous area around Asheville, see the pictures in our other North Carolina articles.

Scroll to the bottom to find a list of hiking trails in the Asheville, NC, area and a link to 50 long distance hiking trails in the USA by fellow hiking enthusiast Brian Bradshaw. When hiking long distances you might want to consider supporting your knees with a knee sleeve.

Blue Ridge Parkway starts just outside Asheville North Carolina

A beautiful North Carolina day for hiking

Follow the orange dot

First signs of Spring

Entrance to the Dupont State Park

Beautiful waterfalls

The hiking trails are neatly groomed at Dupont State Park

You can even try your luck fly fishing

Check out this informative article by fellow hiking enthusiast Brian Bradshaw: Top 50 Long Distance Hiking Trails In The USA 

List of hiking trails in the Asheville, NC, area:

• APPALACHIAN NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL Approximately 300 miles of this Maine-to-Georgia primitive hiking trail spans North Carolina. Click the link to learn more about this scenic trail and where to find it in downtown Asheville.
• BILTMORE Discover the wonders of Biltmore™ in Asheville. Begin with the breathtaking beauty of 250-room Biltmore House — America’s largest home® — and century-old gardens, then explore the 8,000-acre backyard through a variety of activities like hiking or horse back riding.
• BLUE RIDGE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA A National Heritage Area is something to treasure, and Asheville is in the heart of one of the most beautiful in the country, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. Click the link to find out more.
• BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY Outstanding scenery and recreational opportunities make the Blue Ridge Parkway one of the most popular units of the National Park System. “America’s Favorite Drive” winds its way 469 miles through mountain meadows and past seemingly endless vistas.
• CHIMNEY ROCK AT CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK One of NC’s newest state parks, Chimney Rock brings the best of the mountains together in one place. Stand atop the 315 foot Chimney Rock and admire stunning 75-mile views overlooking Lake Lure and the Hickory Nut Gorge. Scenic hiking trails, guided rock climbing, live animal education programs and ancient geological features attract visitors from around the world.
• CRADLE OF FORESTRY Home of the first forestry school in America, this historic site offers guided walks, historic buildings, living history interpreters, outdoor fun, antique equipment, an old logging train, and the Forest Discovery Center.

The hiking trails in Asheville and Western North Carolina range from easy to difficult.

The trails will take you past beautiful mountain scenery, nature scenes and waterfalls. The timeless and beautiful scenery you will encounter along the way makes these hiking trail so amazing.

Do you live in Asheville, NC or have visited the area? Did you enjoy any of the hiking trails yet? Leave us a comment below.