We had planned to hike Graveyard Field our first day in Asheville, but after sleeping in a little…read morelate and also getting over a recent back strain thought starting with Craggy Pinnacle may be better. It took us about 45 minutes to get there from Biltmore Village. I had read that parking could be an issue, but plenty of parking spots available on a late Monday morning in June. Usually when my husband and I are hiking I'm happy our kids aren't with us because I knew they would be complaining. However, this was one hike that I think they would probably enjoy and saw many families with big and little kids enjoying it. It's a pretty short way to the top (maybe 25 min tops) and while it was a nice little workout I didn't find it too difficult. The reward at the is a beautiful view of Asheville and the first thing I heard when we got up top was an adorable 4 year old boy saying "wow this is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." It was picture perfect so we snapped some pics, enjoyed the view and headed down. Down was a little tricky and I was jealous of those who had walking sticks, but we made it down with no issues In fact, once down we felt like we needed a little more of a workout so added the nearby Craggy Gardens Trail, which was perfect. And after that we were ready for lunch so headed back to Asheville!

This hike is one of the best hikes to do any time of year. It is a short easy to moderate hike near…read morethe visitors center. The views are breathtaking and you meet great people and dogs along the way. I plan to do this hike again when the seasons change. If you need an uplight in your spirits or a stroll in nature this is your hike. Enjoy!

It is a short hike that is moderate with difficult sections but the views were worth it. I…read morerecommend going at an off time since parking is limited.

It's a short trail (1m round trip) with limited parking options and a lot of vertical climb aided…read moreby railroad tie timbers positioned as erosion-limiting stairs. The view is pretty good, especially in a clear day, but there are better hikes to be had IMO.

A stunning way to experience some of the best of the Blue Ridge Mountains…read more A scenic BR Parkway drive leads to an easy trail to the top, where the view is expansive, gorgeous, and seemingly endless.

One of the highest spots on the parkway, the gardens offer a verdant hiking trail. It is often…read morefoggy, and this area feels very much like the Great Smoky Mountains in how water moves around here. The vegetation is quite different than you'll see elsewhere. The parking area for the crag itself is quite large, and if you're lucky enough to catch it on a clear day, the views will be majestic.

This is one of many beautiful roadside stops that you can find throughout the state of North…read moreCarolina. It is free and located just off of the main road. This isn't a place you hang out for a long time at unless you do a picnic. Really , it is a great place to admire the vast beauty of nature and take some Instagram worthy pics, then keep it moving. Certainly worth stopping for at least once.

This spot is the first or second that I stumbled upon as I drove along a portion of the Blue Ridge…read moreParkway. So glad it has plenty of parking because the view from here is breathtaking. I'd love to spend a bit of time just observing the way that the sun moves along the mountains, because the way the mountains cast shadows on the trees here is stunning. In fact, at one of these outlooks there may have been a couple doing just that.

Beautiful! Stopped here on our drive to Asheville…read more It's a nice walk to the waterfall, and next time I'd love to plan to spend a little more time at the falls.

I recommend! I am from the East Coast along the beaches and this was a little challenging for me…read morebut I would definitely do this again! Bring supplies such as water, snacks and sneakers. Bathrooms on site.

Blue Ridge Parkway is such an incredibly beautiful drive and well worth taking a few minutes out of…read morethe way to enjoy this lovely detour. It should be a crime that the government wants to privatize all national parks and it's a shame that we may not be able to enjoy this stunning area of the United States much longer. Take the long way during your roadtrip and drive through the Blue Ridge Parkway with the windows down, you will not be disappointed! The fresh air and calming scenery is healing to the soul! There are plenty of overlooks, as well. Take your time, enjoy the ride!

The Blue Ridge Parkway spans several hundred miles long and a good chunk of it was unfortunately…read moreclosed when we came through due to hurricane damage but we were able to do a few hours on the road from the edge of the Smoky Mountains NP all the way to Asheville and it was GORGEOUS. The open stretch was in higher elevations (hence not impacted by the hurricane) which meant we had some really spectacular views of the mountains and terrain. It really was wonderful. There are a ton of scenic overlooks and a few maintained spots where you can pull over and enjoy a picnic or use the facilities (they're barebones restrooms but they have them) but aside from that amenities are few and far between so be sure to pack some food, drinks, and make sure your tank is full of gas so you can enjoy the views and explore stress free! The only trouble was there wasn't a lot of information available on what we'd find on the parkway (meaning what stretch was closed, what was open, must see overlooks, hiking trails, etc) as the visitors centers were closed and the Smoky Mountain NP visitor center we stopped into didn't have any brochures or maps or anything. Luckily once we got onto the parkway we were able to find a scenic overview with some signage that had a map so we took a picture of that and was helpful. The good news is is that I believe right after our trip they reopened another large stretch of the Parkway northeast for Asheville (which I believe has has all the amazing waterfalls) so we'll have to come back another time to enjoy all those views!

This has been our favourite walk forever. Do not let the couple of bad characters hinder you from…read morethis beautiful hike, because getting to the top is its own reward with sheer beauty. This property was donated to the state park and open to all. Very clean and well-kept trails, dog friendly, and a nice place to rest and relax, including restrooms at the science centre.

I discovered this place through my daughter. She has gone here twice- once through her middle…read moreschool, and once through a local camp. She raved about it, and we finally got a chance to check it out. So happy we did! Purchase Knob was generously donated by the McNeil-Gilmore family to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is 535 acres of land that rises ultimately to 5,086 feet at the knob. In the meadow below the knob, at 4,850 feet, there are two buildings housing offices, a lab, a classroom for fifty students, and housing for up to eight scientists. Views are 180 degrees. You can hit the Cataloochee Divide Trail here, too. A refurbished cabin originally from the 1870s is nearby, which I will get to in a bit. When you get to the park, you will be blocked by a gate with a sign to the left identifying the park. It is open once in a while for scheduled visits/field trip students. It is easy to get your vehicle locked within the park. (People cannot get locked in.) Park your car on the sides of the road. Just walk around the gate if it is locked. Bring water, and a jacket in the spring or fall. The 2.5 mile round trip trail is basically a wide, dirt road that will eventually lead up to the main buildings. It is well maintained. When you get a glimpse of the building at the top, you will also see a grass trail leading upwards. I would take that trail. It is a shortcut. If you like to walk, just keep going, and the road will eventually lead to the building as well. On the way up, you will see many types of wildflowers. We heard (up) and spotted a hawk (down). I got a photo of nightshade, all the while with my body centimeters from a hidden cliff edge. Be careful on grassy edges! The open areas and tree-filled areas were of equal beauty. In early September I saw purples, greens, grays, and yellows, all framed by a clear blue sky graced by fluffy clouds. Your soul will take this in, and it will hold on to it. When we got to the top, we relaxed. We did not go to the knob proper. We used the very clean bathrooms, and laid down in the field right in front of the buildings. There is a water fountain. You are allowed on the deck, but not in the buildings unless you are with a scheduled group. There are picnic tables grouped close together, and bear-proof trashcans and recycling bins. You can check out the outside of the weather station that is a bit away. I would not traipse around the adjacent fields. I saw tagged plants and left that area so that we would not screw up any data. If you decide to go to the actual knob, you have to blaze your own trail. As of two days ago, the footbridge leading to Cataloochee was out. There is a sign warning of that; be careful crossing creeks. Anyway, that trail is easy to find; just look for signs. Check out the bulletin board for lists of the types of birds and butterflies that you can see there. I saw (possibly) a Cloudless skipper. It was fluorescent yellow! My first. To get down to the restored Ferguson cabin, just leave via the "grass carpet" trail. Make an obvious right and hitch your horse, or kids. This right will lead you to the cabin. The Fergusons were the first farmers to have an elevated farm. Their apples are still there. Do not pick anything. Do not get in the boar trap. Do not get near bears. Do not bother the cow spirits. Call to make sure horses are indeed still allowed. Bears and boars can hurt you. We leave all snacks in the car. You never know. Call the general number to see if bear activity is intense before going to this park. Middle school and up teachers, call this number to schedule a visit: 828-926-6251. This park welcomes wimpy and tough hikers mid-March through November. Call if you have a desire to hike in the deep winter. Remember to check out the Purchase Knob WebCam online for weather and views. To get to this park, take Exit 20, stay on 276 South for five miles. Get on Hemphill Road and stay on Hemphill Road for four miles. This review is dedicated to my daughter Sophie, a quick, beautiful trailblazer.

Easy hike and access to beautiful Roaring Fork Falls, NC. We went in October at peak leaf season…read moreand it was just magnificent. The falls were a delight although a bit slippery. It's a great hike for beginners.

We got caught in the rain so we couldn't stay long but this is a great, super easy, hike for the…read morewhole family. Pretty flat gravel trail until the end. Then some rooty declines to get to the base of the waterfall. Long streaming falls are beautiful! There's a pool at the bottom that kids can play around in, slide down short rocks and swim if they're short enough. Water depth was about knee-high on a 5'2" adult. There are a few spots to crouch down and picnic too.

Came here on a weekday morning, started around 10:30AM, not many cars parked. Didn't see many…read morepeople, goes up for a bit then flattens out, then goes up again. Extremely foggy, couldn't see anything, so just went to Walker's Knob. Started clearing up once we started going down, but oh well. Not too bad of a hike, lots of dead trees and leaves on the ground, rocky too.

Beautiful trail near Black Mountain. It's rocky with a slight incline, but not too strenuous. A…read morecreek runs alongside the trail and the vegetation is lush. One of my favorites near Asheville.