5 Great Winter Hikes Near Asheville
By Mark File
Warm Up On These Top Winter Hiking Trails
Taking a winter hike offers many advantages: refreshing temperatures, fewer hikes and even better views thanks to leafless trees and our famous deep blue skies.
Here are five great winter hikes that are easy to reach from Asheville:
Bearwallow Mountain Trail
Less than 20 miles from downtown Asheville is a short hike that rewards with 360-degree views from a treeless summit on the western rim of the Hickory Nut Gorge. Cattle often graze on top, but they will gladly share the meadow with you for a picnic by the historic lookout tower. Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy recently protected the mountain and built the one-mile trail for all to enjoy. The uphill climb will quickly warm you up!
Winter at Moore Cove Falls, a favorite waterfall hike near Asheville, N.C. Photo by Jonna Reiff.
Moore Cove Falls Trail
Located near the John Rock hike is a 50-foot waterfall tucked away in a beautiful cove along the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway. The family-friendly ¾-mile trail takes you to an observation deck. If the rocks are not icy, you can even walk behind the waterfall. Moore Cove Falls is a favorite waterfall hike for kids and dogs.
Lover’s Leap Loop Trail
While much of the Appalachian Trail is too remote for winter hikes, you can easily take a “walk in the woods” in nearby Hot Springs. In fact, since the trail runs along the main street, park downtown and start your hike there. Cross the French Broad River and climb the ridge up to several rock outcrops for views across the valley and river. On the way back on the 1.5-mile roundtrip hike, stop for a soak in the hot mineral springs. Hot Springs is a 36-mile drive from downtown Asheville.
Winter view from John Rock. Photo by Jonna Reiff.
John Rock Trail
Located in Pisgah National Forest, hike the 5-mile loop to the rock summit for sweeping views of neighboring Looking Glass Rock and the Blue Ridge Parkway. On the way up to the 3,320-foot summit, stop at Cedar Rock Falls--easy to spot thanks to the leafless trees. The John Rock trailhead is 37 miles from downtown Asheville.
Rattlesnake Lodge Trail
This 3-mile roundtrip hike is a local favorite on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Hike the former carriage road up the ridge to the ruins of an early 1900s summer retreat. Winter is the perfect time to visit since you can more easily find the stone foundations of many buildings with the help of an information board at the site. The trailhead is just 17 miles from downtown, along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Bonus: Hike the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile scenic drive that winds through the mountaintops from Virginia to North Carolina, is known as America's favorite scenic drive. In the winter, the road often closes due to ice and snow in the higher elevations. When the road closes to vehicles, it's open to hikers who want the unique opportunity to explore on foot. You can park at any entrance (just don't block any gates!) and hike to favorite overlooks and trails. You can see Blue Ridge Parkway road closure information on the National Park Service website.
