Best Hikes
Blue Ridge Parkway
Best Easy Hiking Trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway Near Asheville
The Blue Ridge Parkway offers some of the most scenic hiking trails in Western North Carolina, with options ranging from easy nature walks to challenging summit climbs. To help you find the perfect hike, we’ve curated a list of the Top 15 Quick & Easy Parkway Hikes, all under four miles and packed with incredible mountain views.
These hikes are spread along a 120-mile section of the Parkway near Asheville, starting north near Grandfather Mountain and continuing south toward Mount Pisgah. Since sections of the Parkway close in winter due to snow and ice, always check for road conditions before heading out.
For a detailed guide, including photos of each trail, click the links below.
Ranger-Guided Hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Want to explore with a guide? Ranger-led hikes take place on Friday mornings during summer and fall, offering a free, interactive way to learn about the region’s history, ecology, and wildlife. Locations are announced 10-14 days in advance, so check back for updates.
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What to bring: Water, sturdy hiking shoes, and layers for changing weather.
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For more information, call 828-298-5330, extension 304.
Plan Your Parkway Adventure
Whether you’re looking for a short, scenic hike or a guided exploration with a park ranger, the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville offers some of the best accessible trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Check for current Parkway closures, pack your gear, and hit the trails.
Parkway Quick Hikes near Asheville (North to South)
Hiking Trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway: Complete List
Stop at any of these mileposts on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Asheville, North Carolina, area for a hike (listed north to south). Click links for more details!
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Milepost 294 Moses Cone Manor, variety of trails.
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297 Price Lake Loop Trail, easy walk of 2.3 miles.
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302.8 Rough Ridge 3/4-mile with wonderful views on a boardwalk atop a rocky ridge, on Tanawha Trail.
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304.4 Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center and Tanawha Trail.
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305.2 Beacon Heights Trail, one mile round-trip with panoramic views from a rock face mountaintop, on Tanawha Trail.
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308.2 Flat Rock Trail: Loop with panoramic views from rock summit. 0.63 mile, easy.
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316.4 Linville Falls Trail: Trails to multiple overlooks of the waterfall and Linville Gorge. 1-4 miles.
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320.8 Chestoa View Trail: 30-minute loop to vista. 0.6 mile. easy.
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339.5 Crabtree Falls: Loop trail to view waterfalls. 3 miles, strenuous.
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350.4 Green Knob Lookout Tower. A tower with 360-degree views is a 1/2-mile hike. Moderate/strenuous.
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355.4 Mt. Mitchell State Park & Mt. Craig.
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359.8 Big Butt Trail: Highland trail to Pt. Misery and Little Big Butt. 6.2 miles, strenuous.
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361.2 Glassmine Falls: Just a few steps out of the parking area to a view of Falls. 0.05 mile, moderate.
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364.2 Craggy Pinnacle Trail: See a spectacular panoramic view from the summit. 0.7 mile, moderate.
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364.6 Craggy Gardens Trail: Beautiful displays of Catawba Rhododendron bloom in June. 0.8 mile, moderate.
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374.4 Rattlesnake Lodge Trail: Woodland walk up the ridge to old homestead site, now just walls and foundations. 0.5 mile, moderate.
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382.0 Mountain-to-Sea Trail: MTS Trail from Folk Art Center to Milepost 365. The Mountain-to-Sea Trail roughly parallels the Parkway through most of the NC mountains.
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393.7 Shut-In Trail/MTS Trail: Bent Creek-Walnut Cove. 3.1 miles, strenuous.
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396.4 Shut-In Trail/MTS Trail: Walnut Cove-Sleepy Gap. 1.7 miles, moderate.
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407.6 Mt. Pisgah Trail: Hike to summit view from 5721 ft.. 1.3 miles, strenuous.
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407.6 Buck Springs Trail: Pisgah Inn Lodge to view. 1.06 miles, easy/moderate.
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408.5 Frying Pan Mountain Trail: Historic fire tower with views. 3/4-mile trail, moderate.
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417.0 Skinny Dip Falls: Park at Looking Glass Rock overlook for 1/2-mile hike to popular summer swimming hole.
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418.8 Graveyard Fields Loop Trail: Loop by a stream with several waterfalls. 2.3 miles, moderate.
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420.2 Black Balsam Bald & Art Loeb Trail. Outstanding hike across the balds with several hike options. 1-5 miles.
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422.4 Devil's Courthouse Trail: Panoramic summit view. 0.4 mile, moderate/strenuous.
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431.0 Richland Balsam Trail: Self-guiding loop through spruce-fir forest near the highest point on the Parkway. 1.5 miles, moderate.
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451.2 Waterrock Knob Trail: Summit view. 1.2 miles, moderate/strenuous.
Blue Ridge Parkway Biking Rules & Regulations
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Bicycle riders must comply with all applicable state and federal motor vehicle regulations.
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Bicycles may be ridden only on paved road surfaces and parking areas. Bicycles, including mountain bikes, may not be ridden on trails or walkways.
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The bicycle operator must exhibit a while light or reflector visible at least 500 feet to the front and a red light or reflector visible at least 200 feet to the rear during periods of low visibility, between the hours of sunset and sunrise, or while traveling through a tunnel.
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Bicycles must be ridden single file except when passing or turning left and well to the right-hand side of the road.
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Bicycle speed must be reasonable for control with regard to traffic, weather, road and light conditions.
Bicycling Tips
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Wear a bicycle helmet.
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Watch out for tourists driving their cars and looking at the scenery instead of the road.
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Be sure your bicycle is in good operating condition. Carry a spare tube and tools for minor repairs.
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Take a cell phone. However, you will not have good reception in many remote areas.
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Wear high visibility clothing. It sets you apart from the scenery and makes you more visible to motorists.
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Avoid the Parkway during periods of low visibility. Fog and rain may occur unpredictably.
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Exercise caution when riding through tunnels. Please be sure your bicycle is equipped with the proper lights or reflectors. When you go from bright sunshine to a dark tunnel, your eyes will not adjust fast enough to see the road. So go slow or walk your bike. There are no lights in the tunnels.
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Temperatures vary greatly along the Parkway due to different elevations. Wear your clothing in layers, if possible.
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Safe drinking water is available at all picnic areas, campgrounds, concession operations, and visitor centers. But these are far apart. Water from streams and springs is unsafe for drinking unless you purify it.
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Make an honest evaluation of your abilities before beginning a bicycle trip on the Parkway. In some sections, you will climb as much as 1,100 feet in 3.4 miles.
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Ride single file. When cycling in a group, adjust your spacing to allow motor vehicles to pass safely.