Blue Ridge Waterfalls & Forest Hikes

Visitor Guide to Asheville's Waterfalls & Trails

⏱ Half day to full day👤 All agesFree

Asheville sits amid one of the richest concentrations of waterfalls in the eastern United States, and chasing them — along with hiking the surrounding forests — is one of the great free pleasures of the region. The mountains, soaked by abundant rainfall and cut by countless streams, produce cascades of every size, many reachable by short walks or even from the roadside, set in the lush southern Appalachian forest.

Among the most popular and accessible: Looking Glass Falls, a beautiful 60-foot waterfall in Pisgah National Forest (southwest of Asheville) that you can see right from the road; nearby Sliding Rock, a natural rock waterslide; and, a bit farther, DuPont State Recreational Forest, home to a string of spectacular and relatively easy-to-reach waterfalls — Hooker Falls, High Falls, and Triple Falls — whose photogenic cascades and forests have starred in major films (including "The Hunger Games" and "The Last of the Mohicans"). The broader Pisgah National Forest and the trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway (like the waterfalls of Graveyard Fields) offer endless additional hiking, from gentle strolls to strenuous summit climbs, with wildflowers, rhododendron, and big mountain views.

It's all essentially free (some areas have a small parking fee), and you can tailor it to your energy — a quick roadside waterfall stop or a full day of forest hiking. Wear proper footwear (trails can be wet and rocky, and rocks near waterfalls are dangerously slippery — stay on trails and heed warnings), bring water, and check the weather. IMPORTANT: parts of the western North Carolina forests, trails, and access roads were affected by Hurricane Helene's flooding in 2024, and some trails or roads may be closed or damaged — check current conditions and closures (with the U.S. Forest Service and NC State Parks) before heading out. {/* TODO: operator verify current trail/road access & closures post-Helene */}