Want to hike? Here are a few great choices in Asheville! | The Odyssey Online
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Want to hike? Here are a few great choices in Asheville!

Feel a million miles from home in your own backyard

Ryan McGreal
Oct 11, 2016
UNC Asheville
11
Want to hike? Here are a few great choices in Asheville!
Ryan McGreal

There are so many great ways to get outdoors and enjoy the sun. My personal favorite: hiking. Whether you're an extremely active individual or you consider yourself to be more of the sedentary type, hiking is something at everyone can do! The good news is, there are so many different trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway and these trails vary in level of difficulty, duration and beauty.

1. Craggy Gardens

Craggy Gardens is my personal favorite hike! Via car, it is about 45 minutes from downtown Asheville to the trailhead (about 20 miles) and there are two different hikes that you can do depending on the duration and scenery you want to see. There is the main trail located near picnic tables and then there is the pinnacle trail!

Pinnacle trail is a mile and a half round trip and you can see panoramic views of the beautiful mountains. The Craggy Gardens Trail is less scenic and a little longer. This hike is up hill but at the top you reach an open overlook with a small open field.

2. Fryingpan Lookout Tower

Only a mile and a half round trip, this 70-foot high tower offers a beautiful view! The reason this tower was built was to keep an eye out for forest fires. It's about five flights of stairs. I cannot wait until I get to go on this amazing hike!

3. Mt. Pisgah

This is only two and a half miles up the road from Fryingpan Tower and is a three-mile roundtrip hike. There are large picnic tables off the parking lot with grills. The second part of this hike is strenuous with lots of loose rocks, so I suggest wearing great hiking shoes or boots.

4. Looking Glass Falls

This is one of the most accessible waterfalls in the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a roadside accessible waterfall that is perfect for those with walking disabilities. This 60 foot waterfall is located about 36 miles from Asheville. It offers a place to swim, wade and to just let the water of the falls cascade over your body. You can swim under it or just hang out on the rocks and relax. This spot offers so many great opportunities!

5. Paradise Falls

These beautiful waterfalls are a little further than the rest, it is about an hour and a half away from Asheville. You go to Western Carolina University then its about 45 minutes from there! The hike is not very long, but it is completely down hill and then back up. So I suggest great hiking boots. There are multiple falls and spots to jump off of cliffs into the water!

I hope you enjoy these beautiful hikes and waterfalls!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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