Why Asheville?
Asheville, the mountain city
Asheville is a city in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the largest city in Western North Carolina.
Nestled among mountains and forests Asheville is a top travel destination for exploring the outdoors, award-winning cuisine, a vibrant arts scene, and lots of memorable experiences and places to stay.
Hiking
My favorite hiking spots in Asheville
Fryingpan Mountain
Hike the Fryingpan Mountain Tower Trail to stunning summit views from a historic steel fire tower just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. Views include a close-up view of famous Cold Mountain
Address:
Buck Spring Gap Overlook
Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah National Forest, NC
What's great about it
This trail scores a fantastic, million-dollar-view off the Parkway, but on a relatively short and easy hike. And with 360-degree sweeping views of the surrounding Pisgah National Forest, the perfect place to catch a gorgeous sunrise or sunset.
Catawba Falls
Hike the Catawba Falls Trail east of Asheville, trekking through a mossy, shady forest valley to a beautiful series of waterfalls on the Catawba River. Hikers can explore waterfall after waterfasll in a sun-dappled valley just over two miles long through a shady forest.
Address:
3074 Catawba River Rd
Old Fort, NC 28762
What's great about it
The history, beautiful forest and stunning waterfalls score this trail high with local hikers: it's one of the most popular waterfall hikes near Asheville, and it makes for a great, shady trail run, too.
Mount Pisgah Trail
Mount Pisgah's spectacular views, hiking trails, picnic area, campground, lodge, restaurant, and country store make this area a popular destination along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Address:
Blue Ridge Parkway
Milepost 408
Canton, NC 28716
What's great about it
For generations, Pisgah has been a popular mountain retreat for travelers. Pisgah Inn & Restaurant attracts many visitors who want to experience the resources of the Parkway from a somewhat comfortable environment.