North Carolina Hiking, our top picks!

When selecting the "best" hikes and walks, this catagory of "best" is somewhat subjective so we used the term "favorite" and based it on the following criteria:

1. The hike is 50 miles or less from downtown Asheville.

2. It is safe, well marked, and not overly strenuous.

3. It does not require any special equipment or shoes.

4. It is easy to locate.

Note: Several of our picks are along the Blue Ridge Parkway (also see our Blue Ridge Parkway Guide). This makes for great convenience except in the winter months when the parkway is closed in the higher elevations.

BEST VARIETY HIKE:. This short hike comes with an admission charge, but Chimney Rock Park is worth it. Drive to the base of the "Chimney" rock outcrop and take the elevator ride to the top. Past the "Chimney," look for the Skyline trail. A lot of scenery (and a few steep climbs) are packed into this trail, a 1.5-mile loop with breathtaking views of the gorge and a 400-foot waterfall. See the Devil's Head, pause at Exclamation Point, walk along a natural ledge on sheer cliffs, and get refreshed at Nature's Showerbath. Squeeze down the steps through the Needle's Eye to return to your car. A few short strenuous sections. If you want more, they have several more hiking trails. Go to the Chimney Rock Park Web site.

Directions: Take U.S. 74A southeast from Asheville for 25 miles.

PANORAMIC VIEWS:For another 360-degree view, roam the bald mountaintops at Black Balsam Knob. Almost entirely devoid of trees above 6000' the summit is more reminicent of New England than North Carolina. See photos from Black Balsam. Also see nearby Devil's Courthouse. Directions: look for the "Black Balsam" sign near milepost 420, just south of Graveyard Fields. Drive about 8/10 of a mile down the road and look for the trail on the right. Park along the road.

PANORAMIC VIEWS:For 180+ degree views from a rock face, hike Looking Glass Rock in the Pisgah National Forest . It's an especially great hike for winter months since it's accessible year-round (weather permitting) unlike the hikes from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 6.4 mile roundtrip trail gains 1,700 feet in elevation. It's about a 45 minute drive from downtown Asheville.

PANORAMIC VIEWS: A very popular hike is to the top of 5,700-foot Mount Pisgah, located 26 miles southwest of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 3-mile trail (roundtrip) gains 712 feet in elevation and is steep in spots. Your reward at the top is panoramic views of the North Carolina mountains, including Cold Mountain. (don't let the big TV transmitting tower on top spoil the view). This trail can too crowded for us on weekends.

Directions: Take the Blue Ridge Parkway south to Milepost 407.6. Look for a parking area on the left before you reach the Pisgah Inn.

LOFTIEST HIKE: This lofty North Carolina hiking trail keeps you above 6,000 feet and takes you over the highest two mountains east of the Mississippi. Go to Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in Eastern America at 6,684 feet, to hike the Deep Gap Trail. You drive (yes, drive!) to the top of Mount Mitchell and look for the picnic area near the beginning of the summit parking lot. Deep Gap Trail begins here and descends and climbs through fragrant spruce-fir forests to Mt. Craig, with panoramic views (about a 2-mile round trip). The trail continues for another 3.5 miles, topping several more peaks. Dress warmly, it's usually about 20 degrees cooler here than in town.

Directions: Take the Blue Ridge Parkway north to Milepost 355, about 34 miles from downtown.

WATERFALL HIKE: We love Dupont State Forest, 40 miles southwest of Asheville near Brevard. Our top pick is a 3-mile roundtrip easy hike to three beautiful waterfalls.

HIGHLAND HIKE: Graveyard Fields is a gentle hike with little climbing. But you still are rewarded with beautiful views in this mile-high valley filled with wildflowers and surrounded by North Carolina mountains with 6,000-foot peaks. With an easy four mile hike, you can see two nice waterfalls, the Upper Falls and Second Falls. Arrive early since this is a very popular hiking location.

Directions: Take the Blue Ridge Parkway south to Milepost 418.8, about 37 miles southwest of Asheville.

PICNIC HIKE: Have a picnic on the famous Appalachian National Scenic Trail (or A.T.) on top of Max Patch Mountain near Hot Springs (see our Hot Springs Guide). This 4,600-foot mountain was cleared and used as pasture in the 1800s. Today, it's a 350-acre tract of open land on a high knob with 360-degree views. What a picnic spot! It's a beautiful 50-mile drive, and you should allow at least 1 1/2 hours to get there. (Stop in Hot Springs on your way back to soak at the spa.) The summit is a short walk from the parking lot. You can hike north or south on the Appalachian Trail for as far as you want. Directions: Go north on Highway 19/23 from Asheville to Weaverville. Exit onto Highway 25/70 North to Hot Springs. From downtown Hot Springs, follow Highway 209 (7.3 miles) to Meadow Fork Road (State Road 1175). Go 5.3 miles to State Road 1181. Follow 1181 for 2 miles (turns into gravel). At the top of the mountain, turn right onto State Road 1182 and Max Patch parking is 3 miles.

BEST SIDEWALK STROLL: The Urban Trail in downtown Asheville is a 1.7-mile walking tour with 30 sculptures that depict the history of downtown. Walk half of it, stop for lunch, and complete your tour! Directions: Get a brochure at the Visitors Center or stop by Pack Place by the monument to pick up an audio tour at the art museum. Read more about the Urban Trail.

BEST SLIDING ROCKLocated in the Pisgah Forest, Sliding Rock is a natural 60-foot rock water slide that slides into a 7-foot deep pool. This is a must if you have kids. The frigid waters are enough to take your breath away but worth the thrilling slide down. During the season there is a parking fee per vehicle. The property offers restrooms, changing areas, and observation deck. Sliding Rock is open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day Weekend, a lifeguard is on duty during open hours.

Directions: Head east on HWY 276 out of Waynesville for about 20 20 minutes and Sliding Rock will be on your left. When leaving Sliding Rock turn left and continue on Hwy. 276 the Cradle of Forestry /Forest Discovery Center.

BEST IN-TOWN NATURE WALK: North Carolina Arboretum, just 10 miles south of downtown, has several easy to moderate walking trails. Our pick is the Natural Garden Trail, a one-mile loop starting from the Plants of Promise Garden to the Core Area Gardens. It is a gently graded, naturally surfaced trail that overlooks Bent Creek and the National Native Azalea Repository. Directions: Take exit 2 from I-26 and go south on Highway 191 to the Blue Ridge Parkway/Arboretum entrance. There is a $6/car admission fee.

BEST EDUCATIONAL HIKE: Walk two miles on a paved trail at the Forest Discovery Center at the Cradle of Forestry to see restored buildings from the early 1900s and learn about how forestry begin in the United States.

BEST AFTER DINNER STROLL:Go to the Botanical Gardens at Asheville for a ½ mile loop across streams, through meadows, and over a woodland ridge to a wildflower cove with an authentic log cabin. All of this is in the middle of town, just three miles north of downtown beside the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Admission is free. Directions: Take Broadway from downtown and turn left on Weaver Boulevard. The gardens are immediately on your left, and they are open from dawn to dusk. Read more.

BEST CEMETERY WALK: The Riverside Cemetery encompasses 87 acres of rolling hills and flower gardens overlooking the French Broad River. Riverside Cemetery dates to 1885. The City of Asheville adopted the cemetery in 1952. It is still an active cemetery with more than 13,000 people buried here, 9000 monuments and 12 family mausoleums. Riverside is the burial place of noted authors Thomas Wolfe and William Sidney Porter, better known as O. Henry. Once inside the large iron gates, you may take a self-guided walking tour through ancient oak, poplar, dogwood and ginkgo trees.Riverside Cemetery is located along Birch St. off Pearson Dr. within the Montford Area Historic District. Visitors are welcome 8:00am to 8:00pm during daylight savings time, and until 6:00pm the rest of the year. Self-guided tour packets are available at Riverside Cemetery office Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Many planned communites in the Southeast Mountains offer extensive hiking trails wihin the communites. These beautifully groomed trails can be as close as right outside your door and many connect to the Pisgah National Forest.

For more information regarding Planned Communites with extensive hiking trails, call 239.289.0218.