Guides
Park northwest of Winston-Salem has some of the state's prettiest waterfalls east of the Appalachian Mountains.
Three easy strolls to picturesque waterfalls offer the perfect introduction to Hanging Rock State Park, the top hiking destination within an hour of the Triad cities of Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem. None of these falls are more than a mile from your car, so they're open to just about any ability level. They do require delicate footwork at...
One of the Parkway's most rewarding hikes climbs 2,000 feet (one way) in 3.5 miles from the Boone Fork lot at Mile 299.5
Grandfather Mountain, the most iconic peak on the Blue Ridge Parkway between Asheville, N.C., and the Virginia state line, practically dares hikers check out to its highest crags. Because the peak is so prominent on the Parkway, it's only natural to answer Grandfather's challenge from one of the road's turnouts. My favorite way to hike this...
Best hike around the granite dome at Stone Mountain State Park south of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A bedazzling granite bulge forms the centerpiece of Stone Mountain State Park, North Carolina's cousin to the more famous mountain of the same name outside Atlanta, Georgia. Stone Mountain Loop takes you to the top of the bulge, past a scenic waterfall and through the restored homestead of a family that lived in the shadow of Stone Mountain for four...
12 mile loop from the Hwy 24/27 Trailheads
The Uwharrie Trail is 19 miles long and the Dutchman's Creek Trail is 11 miles long. Both trails have trail heads at the same location on Hwy 24/27. The 2 trails cross about 6 miles in from Hwy 24/27 to form a nice 12 mile loop. The trailheads are on Hwy 24/27 about 10 miles west of Troy NC. There is a parking lot for several dozen cars. In addition...
Short hike to one of the popular waterfalls/swimming holes in the Wilson Creek area
Waterfall with two nice swimming holes. Bottom swimming hole is larger than an Olympic size pool, so you can really swim. Both pools offer swimming, wading, diving, or simply floating. The pools are very deep, and the water is cool and refreshing. The upper part of the falls cascades into a deep pool, and it is not uncommon to see people slide, jump,...
1.9 mile trail near Linville Falls, North Carolina
Linville Falls-Erwin's View Trail is about 1.9 miles long and located near Linville Falls, North Carolina. The trail is great for walking and normally takes 1-3 hours.Linville Falls is one of the major attractions along the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 316. Linville falls is located in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina and is the beginning...
0.9 mile trail near Blackberry Inn, North Carolina
Craggy Gardens & Pinnacle-Blue Ridge Parkway is about 0.9 miles long and located near Blackberry Inn, North Carolina. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1 hour or less. Craggy Gardens and Craggy Pinnacle Trail is one of the most beautiful trails to hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway when the Rhododendrons are blooming forming a canopy of...
0.9 mile trail near Blowing Rock, North Carolina
This is a very family friendly walking trail in Blowing Rock North Carolina. It is part of the Moses Cone Memorial Park Trail system. The hike is about one mile in length but is a beautiful walk around the lake during any season. This hiking trail is a great stretch your legs type of hike after you have been driving in the car all day. Pets are welcomed...
0.8 mile trail near Grandfather, North Carolina
Linn Cove Viaduct-Tanawha Trail is about 0.8 miles long and located near Grandfather, North Carolina. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours. Trail-Probably one of the most interesting hikes I have been on yet. Starting from the Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center milepost 304.6 off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Short hike - As you travel...
0.9 mile trail near Pilot Mountain, North Carolina
The short Jomeokee Trail is an easy hike that circumnavigates the big pinnacle of Pilot Mountain. The name of the trail comes from the lexicon of the Saura Indians, who used the mountain as a natural tower from which they could watch the surroundings. Jomeokee also served as a landmark along the trail that from Virginia to Georgia. The orange-blazed...
Best hikes near the top of Pilot Mountain, the signature peak northwest of Winston-Salem.
You don't expect to see a mountain popping up from the gently rolling landscape of the North Carolina Triad (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point). But Pilot Mountain is like that: full of surprises. For hikers, the best surprise is that the trails, terrain and views from on high are good enough to make you forget you're a few hours east of the...
3.5 mile trail near Bentonville, North Carolina
Howell Woods is located near Four Oaks and Bentonville, North Carolina. The trails are great for hiking and bird watching and normally takes 1-3 hours or more. There are many short trails that can be combined to make a nice loop. Howell Woods is located in Four Oaks, NC and is owned by Johnston Community College. This is a fine place to take children...
2.7 mile trail near Raleigh, North Carolina
Sal's Branch Trail is about 2.7 miles long and located near Raleigh, North Carolina. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1 hour or less. The Sal's Branch Trailhead is located directly behind the visitor center on the highway 70 entrance to William B. Umstead Park. There is a very pretty lake (man-made) about halfway through the hike....
7.6 mile trail in Raliegh, North Carolina
Sycamore Trail is about 7.6 miles long and located near Raleigh, North Carolina. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 2-3 hours. The Sycamore Trail is located in William B. Umstead State Park. The trailhead is located on the northern side (highway 70 entrance) of the park. You can stop in the Visitor Center and pick up a map and then...
A nice loop in Raven Rock State Park
Raven Rock State Park is off of Hwy 421 between Sanford and Lillington, NC. The park is best known for its namesake rock - Raven Rock. The Campbell Creek/Lanier Falls Trails are about 5 1/2 miles when combined and can be completed in 2-4 hours. Generally speaking, these trails are much less traveled than the the Raven Rock trail. Even on days...
1.5 mile trail near Mamers, North Carolina in Raven Rock State Park
Little Creek Trail -Raven Rock State Park is about 2.2 miles long and located near Mamers, North Carolina. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes less than one hour. Little Creek Trail is a 1.5 mile, u-shaped trail which connects to the Raven Rock Trail. The trail is used primarily to access the group campground and the canoe campground...
3.5 mile trail in Moses Cone Memorial Park, North Carolina
Rich Mountain Carriage-Moses Cone Memorial Park-Blue Ridge Parkway is about 3.5 miles long and located near Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours. This is one of the many longer hikes in Blowing Rock North Carolina. This hike is attached to the Moses Cone Memorial Park trail system called the Rich...
Trips
This is a relatively easy hike to two waterfalls just south of the route 276 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The trail starts at the parking area and descends rather steeply right from the parking lot. The trail to the lower falls has much more traffic and there are a couple of sets of stairs along the way. From the lower falls, the trail becomes less crowded as you...
Land of Waterfalls - Dupont State forest, Falls of the Horsepasture River, Whitewater Falls Trail, Looking Glass Falls
Brevard, North Carolina, United States
Hiking | 9.5 miles
Hiking | 9.5 miles
The Land of Waterfalls refers to Transylvania County in North Carolina, where there are over 250 waterfalls. My trip only covers 9 of them, about all I could manage in a one day trip. Brevard is the town right in the middle of this and there are waterfalls just about every direction from this town. It is a good town to plan your trip around, with a good selection of places to...
A hike at Mount Mitchell State Park, highest summit of the Appalachian Mountains. Writeup at Two-Heel Drive.
