Short Hikes Near Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Get Some Exercise!
Within a 30 minute drive of the city of Asheville, you can reach some excellent sections of the Mountains to Sea Trail via the Blue Ridge Parkway. While the trail spans the whole state, shorter segments of the trail along the Parkway are great for excercise walks, day hikes with children, or quick stress relieving strolls when you don't have a lot of time.
The Mountains to Sea Trail follows the Blue Ridge Parkway right through town, from Mount Pisgah in the South to Craggy Gardens in the North. Most of these hikes are out-and-back, so take the whole segment described below, or simply walk 'till you're done and then return to your car.
Accessing the Parkway
The quickest way on to the Parkway from downtown Asheville is via I-240 and US 74A East (Charlotte Highway, the blue route on the map above). But you could also take Town Mountain Road (NC 694) for a more scenic, curvy route or Tunnel Road (US 70) if you don't mind a few stoplights. From South Asheville or Biltmore Village, you can use Hendersonville Road (US 25 South) and if you're in West Asheville use Brevard Road past the Biltmore Square Mall (NC 191 South).
We'll use Charlotte Highway (point B on the map above) as the dividing point to refer to either "North" or "South" of Asheville.
North - Hikes Between Asheville and Craggy Gardens
Visitor Center Loop
Easy, 1.2 miles, 45 minutes to hike
The Mountains to Sea Trail travels along the east side of the Blue Ridge Parkway, while a spur loop travels up to the new main Visitor Center on the West side. By using the spur and the main MST, an excellent easy loop can be formed. This loop is a great leg stretcher, or even as a first venture into the woods for the younger ones. You're never too far from the road and never too far from the parking area, but it gives you a chance to get out and see a recovering second-growth forest at various stages of succession. There's also a neat tunnel under the Parkway that the kids will enjoy. The surface is mostly smooth, with only a few sections with rocks, roots, or log steps.
The trailhead is at the far end of the Visitor Center parking lot. There is a sign at the start of the trail and all intersections are well signed. The Visitor Center is the highest point on the loop, so it'll be half downhill and half uphill (but neither steep nor a high elevation change). Turn left and go clockwise for a more gradual descent, or turn right and go counterclockwise for a more gradual climb.
Folk Art Center to Bull Mountain
Easy, 1.5 miles, 45 minutes to hike, smooth trail
This short section of trail is well-maintained and heavily used, and just outside the city limits. Park at the Folk Art Center, just North of US 70 (Tunnel Road). You can park at the Tunnel Road intersection if the Parkway is closed, so this hike is do-able in the snow. Follow the trail North, across Riceville Road, and then begin a climb up a steep but short hill. The trail travels past some impressively large trees, through a mixed low-elevation hardwood and pine forest, and is mostly dry, so this hike is also doable even soon after rain. After a climb of about 200', you'll reach the summit of a low, rounded knob called "Bull Mountain" (not to be confused with the large Bull Mountain farther North on the parkway, which tops out above 5000' at Lane Pinnacle). This recommended segment ends at the Parkway crossing. Return via the same trail or the Parkway itself to make a loop.
Craven Gap to Rice Knob/Ox Creek Road
Moderate, varying lengths up to 2.5 miles, some obstacles on trail, allow 1-2 hours to hike
This trail segment is a bit higher in elevation, making temperatures during the summer noticeably cooler than at lower elevations. A parking pulloff, beside the end of Town Mountain Road in Craven Gap, is accessible during the winter during snow via Town Mountain Road or Webb Cove Road, even if the Parkway is closed. Parking pulloffs on Ox Creek Road are also accessible during the winter. Hike either direction; return via the same trail or the Parkway. The trail is moderately hilly, but there are no significant elevation gains overall. The trail is dry toward Craven Gap; wetter toward Ox Creek Road with a few small creek crossings. Nice, shorter options would be to hike from Craven Gap to the top of the ridge leading down from Rice Knob (where the trail begins a significant downhill), and then turn around, or to hike from Ox Creek Road south to the steeper sections of trail and turn around - this is the section of trail that President Obama and the First Lady hiked on their vacation to Asheville on April 24, 2010! You'll find large trees, a small rock cave, a small rock outcropping that is covered in wildflowers, wild mountain mint, prickly pear cactus, limited views of Lane Pinnacle (thanks to hurricanes Frances and Ivan) and a well-designed and maintaned trail on this section, great for an after-work excercise trip.
Bull Gap/Ox Creek Road to Rattlesnake Lodge
Moderate, 2.6 miles, 2 hours to hike
This segment of the trail is one of the Best Hikes on this site. Visit the Rattlesnake Lodge Best Hike page for more information.South - Hikes Between Asheville and Mount Pisgah
From Sleepy Gap south around Grassy Knob
Easy, up to 2 miles, 1 hour to hike
This segment of the Mountains to Sea Trail is nearly level with a fairly smooth surface. It is also part of the historic Shut-In Trail. From the parking lot, taked the signed Mountains to Sea Trail to the right. Some side paths go left and right; stay on the level path. it has white blazes. You travel around the slopes of Grassy Knob just below 3000' elevation. You will find a few rocks, roots, and muddy stretches here and there, but it's nothing to worry about. This segment makes an excellent leg-stretcher on a trip up to Mount Pisgah, a quick exercise hike, or a place to bring a camera during spring wildflowers, fall foliage, or fog which enshrouds the laurels at times. Large trees; lush forest. Near the Parkway a large, imposing bluff above the trail shelters a neat, flat cove below the trail.
