9 Gorgeous Fall Hikes Near Asheville For Leaf Peepers
What are the best fall hikes near Asheville to see gorgeous fall foliage? We love Black Balsam via the Art Loeb Trail, Graveyard Fields, DuPont State Forest, Bent Creek Experimental Forest, and Craggy Gardens. Below, discover even more easy-to-moderate hiking trails perfect for families, pets, couples, and solo hikers – from Asheville locals. Hikes are ranked in order of peak foliage times.
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Asheville in the fall is one of our favorite times to hit the trails. The temperatures grow cooler, and the Blue Ridge Mountains light up with gorgeous fall foliage. We love hopping on the winding, two-lane Blue Ridge Parkway, chasing waterfalls and stopping for photos at scenic overlooks. With quick access to the Pisgah National Forest, Appalachian Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Grandfather Mountain, we have plenty of fall hiking suggestions. Before you go, check out peak leaf peeping time. All photos are our own.
What You'll Find In This Guide
Graveyard Fields & Loop
Graveyard Fields and Loop should be one the top Blue Ridge Parkway hikes near Asheville on your fall bucket list since foliage peaks here first. The hiking trails boast two unique, rocky waterfalls: Upper and Lower (Second) Falls. Lower Falls is about .4 miles from the trailhead when you take a right after the footbridge. Loop back to hit the actual Graveyard Loop to Upper Falls.
Parts of the trail intersect with the Mountains-To-Sea Trail. There are other trails around Graveyard Loop, including Graveyard Ridge Trail (meh). However, I prefer Upper and Lower Falls. The main cons, though, are how busy the area gets in peak season as well as how easy it is to get lost on the trails. It’s a must at least once!
Black Balsam Via Art Loeb or Sam Knob
Black Balsam is a moderately short, family-friendly hike and one of our most frequented. We see many school groups and people with dogs – but the smaller dogs struggle to navigate the rocks. With a 400-foot elevation gain, Black Balsam has stunning fall foliage views and is a great workout. It’s a challenging trail, but for visitors new to the mountains, it’s also manageable. I love this trail to remember how vast the mountains (and world) really are; it’s a great perspective with sprawling vistas. Find numerous parking areas and a lot with multiple trail access points to help with traffic flow.
Mount Pisgah Trail
Fall visitors swarm Mount Pisgah for hiking, picnics, and accommodations like the Pisgah Inn (restaurant included). As one of the most popular hikes in Asheville in the fall, expect a tough 700-foot elevation gain with the top peaking at a 5,721-foot summit with an observation deck.
Tom and I love this hike for the challenge and Blue Ridge Mountain views. We’ve hiked down Mount Pisgah during pop-up rain showers: The rocks grow extremely slippery, and hiking poles aren’t a bad idea even with ideal weather.
🥾 Local Tip: For avid hikers, pair Mount Pisgah with Graveyard Fields or Black Balsam. Or, if you are not afraid of heights, hike the gravel road to a fire tower at Fryingpan Mountain for breathtaking 360-degree views (it’s a rather boring hike, but the views are worth it!). Read our complete Mount Pisgah area itinerary.
Craggy Gardens
Craggy Gardens is one of the best fall hikes near Asheville for families, pets, and picnickers. We most frequent Craggy Gardens for its incredibly scenic trail – we love Craggy Flats and the gazebo overlooks – and charcoal grill picnic area. If you grill like us, bring charcoal, a lighter, and food, but remember to leave no trace, especially for the black bear population.
While you can park at the visitor center, boasting a gorgeous overlook, we prefer the Craggy Gardens picnic area with plentiful parking. From there, hike to the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center with more seasonal restrooms and a souvenir shop selling water, snacks, and gifts. The Visitor Center grows busy, and it’s not easy to find parking, especially on the weekends. Turnover is fast. After your hike, head to Craggy Pinnacle or Mount Mitchell.
🍂 Hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains can be overwhelming if you are new to the area. For guided tours, book this half-day Blue Ridge Parkway waterfall tour with an expert local guide or this scenic driving tour of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Bearwallow Mountain
One of the best family-friendly fall hikes, Bearwallow Mountain has two options for hikers: a loop or an out and back via a chill gravel access road and “harder” forest trail. Since the top is a grassy meadow sometimes filled with moody cows, look out for well… you know…
Bearwallow Mountain peaks at 4,232 feet and is aligned with the Eastern Continental Divide. On a clear day, see Mount Mitchell, the Black Mountains, Mount Pisgah, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Hickory Nut Gorge. Views go as far as South Carolina. Across the street – and for more experienced hikers – we love lesser-used Trombatore Trail to Blue Ridge Pastures at 5 miles.
DuPont State Forest
One of our favorite Asheville fall hikes – even with the intense crowds – The Hunger Games waterfalls are unforgettable. Although filled with trails, DuPont State Forest is most well-known for its 3-waterfall hike: Hooker, Triple, and High Falls. We prefer to park at Hooker Falls Access Area and turn right to Hooker Falls. Then, backtrack to the scenic bridge for a moderately easy hike to see Triple Falls – a filming location for The Hunger Games – and High Falls.
DuPont also boasts a walking loop, covered bridge, and visitor center. If you are looking for a longer hike, continue past the covered bridge to Bridal Veil Falls. This is an additional 4-mile, out-and-back hike and another NC filming location for The Last of the Mohicans. No matter what, arrive early and go on a week day. Parking will become extremely limited. May the odds be ever in your favor.
Biltmore Estate Hiking Trails
A ticket, annual pass, or overnight property reservation is required to access the grounds.
You might think locals avoid Asheville’s largest tourist attraction, but we actually love it. Since moving here, we have been Biltmore annual passholders for its delicious restaurants, special exhibits, and 22 miles of well-kept, beautiful, and safe hiking trails. Our favorite trail combination includes the Lagoon and Deer Park Trails up to Biltmore’s Walled Garden to see the blooms. Park at Antler Hill Village or around the Lagoon.
No matter which estate trails you choose, these are some of the best fall hikes in Asheville to avoid the crowds and Blue Ridge Parkway congestion. Plus, there is so much to do at Biltmore Estate for any type of visitors. Purchase Biltmore passes or tickets directly on their website.
Bent Creek Experimental Forest
Bent Creek Experimental Forest is where residents go for terrific mountain biking trails and scenic hikes around Lake Powhatan. Families even teach their kids how to mountain bike here. For both mountain bikers and hikers, we enjoy The Hard Times Trail which connects Bent Creek Experimental Forest to The North Carolina Arboretum. For biking, the Explorer Trail is moderate for beginners. Trails are free to access with multiple parking areas. While this area stays busy on weekends, enjoy quieter weekday times with local vibes.
The North Carolina Arboretum
Visitors must pay a parking fee or membership fee.
We’ve been annual members of The NC Arboretum for years; we love their hiking and nature trails, seasonal holiday lights, and beautifully manicured gardens. Along with pretty easy to navigate, interconnected trails, The NC Arboretum boasts a visitor center, multiple restroom facilities, a gift shop, and a bistro serving up lighter fare and beverages. It’s a great place to have a picnic and spend the afternoon.
More Of The Best Fall Hikes Near Asheville
There are so many great Asheville area hiking trails, we couldn’t possibly name them all. A few more popular fall foliage hikes include:
- Tanawha Trail at Rough Ridge – A popular late-September Blue Ridge Parkway hike, enjoy views of Grandfather Mountain and Linn Cove Viaduct. This is a relatively moderate hike.
- Linville Falls – Head to Linville Falls in late October for multiple trails, gorgeous waterfall views, and a visitor center with facilities. Afterward, drink wine at Linville Falls Winery.
- Max Patch – A popular Appalachian Trail hike in early October, enjoy stunning views from this mountain bald. There is currently no camping here. Lover’s Leap in Hot Springs also intersects with the Appalachian Trail and boasts some of our favorite views.
- Grandfather Mountain – Another early October hike, pay to park and hit the trails. Enjoy the mile-high swinging bridge, animals, and a cafe. Look for Forrest Gump Curve.
- Chimney Rock – A pay-to-enter state park with numerous trails and its namesake, a 535-million-year-old monolith.
- Beaver Lake – Located in the beautiful North Asheville neighborhood, stroll the 2.1-mile perimeter trail along the lake, taking time to dip into the bird sanctuary. For more stunning fall walks, visit WNC lakes like Lake Junaluska too (my favorite).
Christine Frascarelli
Christine (pronouns: she/her) is the owner of Uncorked Asheville. After falling in love with those gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, Christine and her husband Tom decided to call Asheville, North Carolina home. When her pointy Italian nose isn’t stuck in a book, Christine is adopting all of the kitties, getting lost in the forest, and drinking an ESB. She has a BA in English and History from Smith College, her MLIS from USF-Tampa, and is a former U.S. Fulbright Scholar - Indonesia. Christine also owns The Uncorked Librarian LLC with books and movies to inspire travel.
My son (7) and I are visiting this area for the first time in October. I can’t wait to see all the beautiful fall foliage and waterfalls! We’re from the AZ desert, where we don’t have much fall (or falls) to speak of. Thanks for putting this list together – it’s a bucket list trip for sure!
I hope you have a wonderful trip. WNC should be gorgeous in October. Thanks so much for the kind comment, too.
I’m planning on being in Asheville in January. Hoping it won’t be too cold to do some of these. I definitely want to see the Biltmore Estate.
That’s awesome. Please let us know when you are here: blogger meet-up! As long as it is not icy, I think you will definitely be able to do some of these hikes. It’s supposed to *maybe* snow here tomorrow, but I’ve heard that this is rare and early for Asheville. I don’t think the winters are that harsh from what I’ve heard (and we are both Northerners), but I have yet to live through one.
I really want to go to Asheville and go hiking!! I love hiking when I do it. I wish places in NY were more accessible for me to get to. I mean it can be done but I have to find some hiking buddies. I’ve done most my hiking in the summers in NH. I love it! The longest hike I’ve done involved climbing down some steep rocks and shimmying through narrow crevices. I looked down and looked at my brother like- is that the direction we’re going? Yup! It ended up being one of the coolest hikes I’ve done! Another awesome one was when we blazed our own trail around the Needle’s Eye in South Dakota. So amazing!! I NEED to hike more. It’s so fun to work hard, explore, and then get a cool pay off. So beautiful. These hikes in Asheville look and sound incredible! I have to go one day! I’m glad you mentioned which ones have restrooms. Haha! That’s one thing I get nervous about but I’ve also gotten bolder about that, ya know, if it’s a loooong hike.♀️
You cracked me up about your sense of direction. I was such a terrible daughter that when we moved to Ga and my mom kept saying, we’re going down to NY or Ct., I let her have it. “IT’S UP MOM. GEEZ!” My poor mom.
We both have terrible senses of direction which will probably make us pretty bad Amazing Race partners, but we’re still doing it!
Love your post and new site!!
AHAHA, we’d be terrible Amazing Racers too because we would stop and take pictures of the dogs and drink WAY too much after each race. The cute animals would distract us. There is so much not in our favor, but we would still win.
When we went hiking in Ireland at the Burren, I was grossly unprepared. We actually didn’t even know what the Burren was but heard we needed to check it out. I ended up hiking in the wrong clothes, and we arrived right after a pub visit. The hike took HOURS in the wide-open across rocks, and I definitely had to…mark my trail from all that beer. Tom saw a whole other side of me, literally. AHAHA. I appreciate restrooms–even semi-gross ones–because when a trail is frequented, it’s super hard to pop a squat, especially on the side of a rocky mountain. TMI? Maybe. But true.
I’d love to visit either of the Dakotas. That’s so cool! Some of the best hikes are definitely the ones where you think, “where the f’ am I?!”
You’d love Asheville SO much, and I will definitely take you hiking. Tom and I still need to brave some of the harder trails. We are just warming up.
I think Beaver Lake is my fave (both in look and in name). But honestly, all of these look gorgeous! I’m also partial to Botanical Gardens. There’s one on the Isle of Wight we keep meaning to check out (supposedly it’s haunted as well…).
Although I’m not a big hiker these days (what even are the outdoors?), but growing up in Colorado, I loved a good fall hike. I do have to say that on the whole, Europe is lacking in that beautiful fall foliage that at least parts of the US is famous for. Not that it’s entirely absent, and to be fair, I am writing this from dreary England where we HAVE lovely fall colours, you just wouldn’t know cause it’s grey everywhere.
Oh, and I of course love the name Graveyard Loop. But I’d probably die while hiking it haha. Also, I love/hate that Tom started humming the Neverending Story tune. That is 100% what Jeremy would be doing and I would also feel a tad triggered.
We love Beaver Lake since it is so close and is tied to the bird sanctuary. You definitely catch some amazing wildlife and beautiful mountain reflections.
Ohhhhhhh, haunted botanical gardens? That sounds intriguing! What makes them haunted?! I can only imagine…
Haha, dreary England would put me in that very same mood. The last time I was in London, it snowed in April. I don’t think I saw the sun once. Europe does lack fall foliage although I do love their parks and the fact that people use them. Riga was especially amazing for that.
I still need to figure out how Graveyard Loop got its name–ahaha!
OK: while we were on our Clarksville trip, we watched this weather channel documentary on quicksand. Don’t even ask…I couldn’t sleep. ARTAX never could have died by quicksand. We learned that it is a myth that he would get completely sucked in and drown. Yes, he could have died from the elements but not drowning. SO SCREW THAT AWFUL MOVIE lol.
Wow, so many great hiking trails! I’m not the biggest fan of hiking but I have to admit, these trails sound wonderful and I bet they are absolutely stunning in the fall. I’m sure they are great other times of the year but there is something about fall hikes that are extra special. Our fall came and went in a hurry and now we have edged into winter already. Hiking won’t really be something we can do again until May. My husband would love the Looking Glass Rock hike, he’s all about the hard hikes. I’m a fan of the easy gentle hikes.
I always think that hiking sounds like a good idea until I am two hours in and tired lol! That’s when I start daydreaming about lunch, dinner, or meatball grinders.
For these fall hikes, I think you’d love Beaver Lake and all of the botanical gardens since they are much more like casual walks in the woods. They are great for exercise and beautiful without the demanding physical strain.
I’ve heard that most of these hikes are especially beautiful in the spring and early summer with the flowers that bloom. We’ve been to the Biltmore in the spring with all of their flowers and that’s just gorgeous. It sounds like many of these places see rhododendrons in June along with other vibrant flora (that I have yet to see).
We need to do Looking Glass–I don’t think we’ve hiked for a big stretch like that in a long time, if ever. It seems a tad intimidating. I’d need major snacks or a picnic lol!
Like you guys, I definitely think part of the winter season may stop us from hiking since we don’t do so hot on ice without the right shoes. Of course, our winter is much milder than yours. My FL blood still doesn’t love the freezing cold either. It seems like people hike all year here, as long as the roads and paths stay open. Asheville is so active.
I laughed at the psycho drivers comment! It must be a thing in the Appalachians. I’ve had many terrifying experiences driving through the mountains of TN!
I love the sound of all of these hikes! They are just my level. I like those easy strolls, but sometimes something slightly more challenging is good too! I need to get down there to check some of them out. It’s not a bad drive!
I am loving your new site. It looks amazing! I can’t wait to read more about Asheville!
I might just have to write a post about all of the crazy things that I see drivers do on the BRP! I think people forget that they are on an active road where it’s hard to see too far ahead. Plus, people just randomly slam on the breaks to dive into the overlooks. Others literally stop in the middle of the Parkway or park half in the road with their doors left open while taking a selfie. We watched this girl do just that and climb a semi-dangerous rock ledge just to get that selfie. If she fell…ahhh!
I’m driving through TN soon–I’ll be on the lookout, ekkkk!!!
We love a good moderate hike or a casual walk. I am not sure that we have the right gear yet for anything wilder.
You definitely have to visit. I just saw your newsletter. You’ve been traveling a ton, and I cannot wait to read about it.
Wow, you have been busy! All these trails look so beautiful and the fall foliage looks insane. I honestly haven’t seen beautiful foliage like that in person in a long long time. Maybe I need o make it out there during the fall? I mean, I may die hiking, but I think it will be worth it with foliage like this. Cause you know I’m more of a beach chaser.
Great list! I hope your neighbors don’t start giving you the evil eye for shelling out all the local secrets.
Can’t wait to visit!!!
We have been so busy. I basically sleep, blog, hike, drink wine, and repeat. I’m pretty hiking-obsessed in Asheville, which is great because hiking replaces my boring treadmill workouts in the chilly basement. My workouts have been slacking too, especially with the little GI scare.
I researched the heck out of fall hikes in Asheville right when we moved here. After 8 years in Florida, this deprived CT girl was GOING TO SEE THE DANG LEAVES. I’m so glad that we found great recs as well as lesser-known spots. I drag Tom out every other day. Most of these spots we now frequent. Tom and I just came back from Beaver Lake, actually. It’s still gorgeous!
I do miss the FL beaches so I feel you.
And, right?! I hate giving up local gems because I don’t want them to get trampled or overcrowded. Or, disrespected. BUT, they are not Instagrammable (lol), and I don’t think that people will flock there with the Craggy Gardens area nearby. Plus, these walks/hikes are a little less-hikey per se…so accessibility is key. Although, yup, I’ll get some SERIOUS side-eye. There is a huge (and amazing) active older community here that sometimes loves everyone and sometimes gets a little peeved… I think of your recent cruise when I think of established Asheville neighborhoods, hehe.
Come visit soon! Blogger meet-up to research the food and wine! I cannot wait.