5 Best Beautiful Fall Hikes in Stunning Asheville, NC
Crisp leaves crunching under your feet. A cool breeze keeping you deliciously comfortable despite your exertion. Stunning color nearly overwhelming your senses.
Fall is one of the best times of the year to go hiking in Asheville, NC. Between the cool weather keeping you comfortable and the extra beautiful fall scenery, hiking in Asheville, NC, in the fall is a transportive experience. Which is why we have pulled together below a list of 5 of the best hikes in the area.
1). Biltmore Estate Trails
When you hear about the Biltmore, you probably think about a grand mansion from the 1800s…and not much else. Right? However, the grounds of the Biltmore Estate are just as worth visiting as the historic home. The estate is filled with all kinds of gorgeous hiking and walking trails (and horseback riding trails, too!). In order to access the trails on the estate, you will have to have either a season pass or a one-time ticket. So plan to take in all of the Biltmore’s glory in one day to maximize the enjoyment that your ticket will bring you. If you would like to read more about their different trails, click here.
2). Bridal View Falls
Another easy, and beautiful, spot to hike is the trail to Bridal View Falls. This stunning hike is just under 2 miles long and takes you along a beautiful forested path to granite boulders that support a soft cascade of cool liquid crystal (aka H20). If you would like to read more about this hiking trail and the famous movies it appears in, click here.
3). Cold Mountain Trails
If you are passionate about hiking and are looking to be on the trail all day long (and to be rewarded by stunning views!), then the Cold Mountain Trail is for you! This moderate to strenuous trail (there are two options for climbing this summit) can take up to 10 hours to hike. So bring your best hiking boots and a backpackers lunch. And consider the option of leaving a car at both ends of the trail, so you only have to hike one way. Read more about the trail here.
4). Glassy Mountain Trail
The day you visit the Carl Sandburg home in Asheville, NC, is the perfect time to include a scenic and very moderate hike up the Glassy Mountain Trail. Bring a picnic lunch with you as there is a lovely flat outcropping of granite at the top just perfect for picnicking. This trail is perfect for hiking with a family, especially if that family includes young children. It will work their energy out without exhausting them - the perfect balance all parents are always trying to achieve. You can read more here.
5). Big Butt Trail
If you are looking for a strenuous but relatively short hike, then the Big Butt Trail is perfect for you! Clocking in at just under 5 miles, the hike itself won’t take more than an afternoon or evening, leaving you with plenty of time to enjoy one of Asheville’s fabulous gastronomic experiences for dinner. While strenuous (hint: maybe don’t bring young kids with you), the Big Butt Trail is absolutely stunning, with beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway and forest views all along the way.
We can’t wait to have you with us in Asheville, NC, this fall! This glorious season doesn’t last for long, so hurry and book your vacation with us now!
