Do you love to get outside and see the natural beauty of a place when you visit?
Not just as a sight-seer — witnessing beautiful vistas of our blue ridge mountains on a parkway drive — but also lacing up your hiking boots or hopping on a bike to get up close and personal with nature? Us too.
If part of your dream Asheville getaway includes hiking and biking, you’ll be in good company visiting our inn. The seemingly endless amounts of hiking and bike trails in Western North Carolina are part of the reason we moved here, and we love chatting with guests about our favorite hikes and must-see trails.
So we thought we’d round up a few for you while you’re in research mode so you’ll have a taste of a few of the incredible trails you’ll find here in and around Asheville.
Best trails for your mountain bike near Asheville, NC
Bent Creek Experimental Forest is one of our favorite (and super accessible — only a 15 minute drive from the inn) trails for mountain biking in Asheville. The forest is a 6,000 acre area with trails in Pisgah National Forest. Here’s more info on Bent Creek trails.
Another close spot — just five minutes from the inn — is Richmond Hill Park, which we love for both hiking and biking. The park is currently upgrading their mountain biking trails, which should be completed early this November.
Road cycling near Asheville, NC
Road biking around Asheville is great because there are so many quiet valley roads and gravel roads only a few miles from Asheville.
Of course, the Blue Ridge Parkway is gorgeous, but we’d personally recommend avoiding it on your road bike during the weekends and peak seasons.
Bike Map is a great tool for finding the best local cycling routes. The Asheville to Marshall route, which you’ll find on there, is beautiful and flat. Leicester is another option that provides lots of rolling hills. If you’re in the mood for more of a challenge, Elk Mountain Road and Reems Creek to Ox creek are more mountainous.
Hiking trails near Asheville, NC
Who doesn’t go on a hike when they visit Asheville? Whatever your preferred speed, you’re bound to find the perfect hiking trail for you not too far from the inn. We love AllTrails for a great trail-finding resource, and here are a few local favorites:
- High Falls & Triple Falls – Easy – Dupont State Park – 50 minutes away
- Rattlesnake Lodge – Moderate – Blue Ridge Parkway – Bull Gap – 20 minutes away
- Craggy Gardens – Easy – Blue Ridge Parkway – 40 minutes away
- Catawba Falls – Moderate – Old Fort – 35 minutes away
- Black Balsam Knob – Moderate – Blue Ridge Parkway – 65 minutes away
- Max Patch – Moderate – Appalachian Trail NC/TN border – 75 minutes away
- Looking Glass Rock – Strenuous – Brevard – 60 minutes away
Find your ideal hiking and biking trails for your Asheville getaway
Whether you’re interested in mountain biking, road cycling, or hiking, there are an astounding amount of trails in and around Asheville for you to choose from.
From sweeping vistas to epic waterfalls, and from day hikes to quick afternoon rides, you’ll find the ideal adventure to match your dream getaway in our blue ridge mountains. We love to hop on our bikes for scenic rides and get out for hikes in our forests as often as we can — and sharing our favorite spots with guests is one of our favorite ways to relax.
If you have any questions about hiking or biking in the area as you’re planning your stay, we’re always here to help!