Hiking in North Carolina is an incredibly varied experience. Located in the southeastern U.S., the state is known for its narrow and sandy string of islands named the Outer Banks that extend into the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Coastal Plain along the state’s shoreline is swampy and shallow, rising into the Piedmont Plateau farther inland, which is dominated by rolling hills.
On the western side of the state, the Blue Ridge Mountains stretch into Virginia, while the Smoky Mountains extend along the Tennessee border. The most famous spot for hiking in North Carolina is easily the 2,184-mile-long Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, which passes through this area.
Pisgah National Forest blankets the southern Appalachians, and at the heart of all that greenery there’s a backwoods gem—a forest within a forest. The 18,479-acre Shining Rock Wilderness protects an East Coast paradise of waterfalls, mountaintop views, and remote trails.
Capture some of North Carolina’s best views as you hike into the Linville Gorge Wilderness on this spring-perfect trek.
This classic hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains packs it all: a cascading stream, tunnels of rhododendron, and panoramic views, all only 45 minutes from Asheville
Just you, the squirrels, and your shortcomings.
Strap your canoe to the car and prepare to get elevated at this North Carolina haven.
Shining Rock Wilderness, North Carolina
Wander through the sand on these three impressive trails.
Sneak in the side door to Great Smoky Mountains.
Looking for a multisport trip? You couldn't do better than this stretch of wilderness on the east coast.
While Great Smoky Mountains might be the most visited park in the system, Cataloochee is far from the crowds—with a bit of luck, you can see as many elk as people.
Hike Sugarloaf and Morrow Mountains in just a few hours at Morrow Mountain State Park outside Charlotte.
Hike to a beautiful waterfall and go for a swim in South Mountains State Park near Charlotte.
Even locals hardly know about this secluded spot
Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, Tennessee/North Carolina
Make a quick getaway to a lush forest 10 minutes from Uptown at RibbonWalk Nature Preserve.
Enjoy lake views and isolated woods on this easy trail along Badin Lake in Uwharrie National Forest.
Explore well-preserved Living History Farm on this short hike near Charlotte.
Enjoy a short hike to 200-year-old ruins along Reedy Creek on the Robinson Rockhouse Trail in Charlotte.
When you're in need of some amazing views, and willing to drive for them, hit the Grindstone Trail on Pilot Mountain outside Charlotte.
This close-to-Charlotte hike takes you along McMullen Creek via fun, bike-friendly boardwalks.
Stroll 4.8 miles along Lake Norman on the Lake Shore Trail about an hour from Charlotte.
Be a "birder" for a day on the easy Shady Trail in Latta Plantation.
Let you mind go free while you wander along a pretty lake on the uncomplicated Seven Oaks Preserve Trail.
Climb Browns Mountain, hike a narrated battlefield trail, watch a reenacted revolutionary war encampment, see war muskets—Kings Mountain has it all!
Charge up the most famous peak outside Charlotte for views of the surrounding forests via the Crowders Trail.
Wander through a secluded forest on this east loop in the Reedy Creek Preserve outside Charlotte, North Carolina.
Get the story behind Boone Fork Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina—and how to see it yourself.
Stroll along the shores of Salem Lake on this 7-mile loop over rolling hills and under tall pine and poplar trees.
This 19.3-mile, 2- to 3-day backpacking trip follows an old trapper's route to pleasant streams, old volcanic peaks, and the wooded digs of numerous wildlife.
Trek along a chain of ancient volcanoes to pristine mountain creeks and an old gold mine on this 14.4-mile, 2-day hike in Uwharrie National Forest.
Big views. Quiet streams. A forest paradise. This 8-mile hike to a Hollywood-made-famous summit still offers plenty of solitude, plus fine campsites for a wilderness overnight.
This 10.2-mile kayak or canoe trip starts out with a big rush over Class III rapids, then runs a mellow river lined with hardwoods rich with waterfowl and wildlife.
Climb Mt. Sterling and hike through history on this 16.4-mile loop through the eastern Smokies.
Climb knobby ridges to the white quartz cap of Shining Rock, then follow a pristine stream back to your car on this arduous 7.8-mile loop.
This moderate 5.5-mile loop on the eastern boundary of the Smokies combines stellar woodland hiking with superb waterfall exploration.
This 13.2-mile loop is classic Smokies: free-flowing creeks, wide valley views, and hardwood forests peppered with long-abandoned homesites.
On this 5.6-miler, see the rare granite domes and lively waterfalls that earned this Nantahala National Forest valley the nickname "Yosemite of the East."
Hike a 6.9-mile loop past raging waterfalls to the lonely ridges of North Carolina's Upper Piedmont for sky-high views in South Mountains State Park.
Get to know the Mountains-to-Sea Trail while spiking your adrenaline on this 4.8-mile dayhike among the tallest mountains east of the Mississippi.
Ride a bus to a 2.3-mile tour of Guilford Courthouse, scene of a turning-point battle in the American Revolution.
This 4.6-mile loop gets two thumbs up for its rushing cascades, sweet campsites, and two fine viewpoints overlooking Pisgah National Forest.
Parallel the Blue Ridge Parkway on this 12.5-mile one-way hike with picturesque overlooks and streams cascading through towering hardwoods.
This 16-miler packs big vertical change and diverse landscapes (from grassy campsites to mountain summits) into a two-night trip.
This 5.2-mile loop climbs through chestnut oak and fern undergrowth to far-reaching views on top of Crowders Mountain. Bring your binoculars—warblers, hawks, and owls are a common sight along the trail.
Navigate rocky crags, snaking switchbacks, and wooden ladders on this 6.5-mile trek that crests Calloway Peak, the highest summit in the Blue Ridge.
En route to four 6,000-foot summits, this 7.8-mile bushwhack travels the crest of wooded ridgeline above the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Sample a weekend-sized chunk of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in the Pisgah National Forest.
Climbing granite slickrock to a highpoint above DuPont State Forest, this 4.4-mile loop jogs back down into a dense forest toward a trailside swimming hole.
Disappear into deciduous forest outside Asheville on this 7.5-mile bird-watching loop that wanders past a Civil War-era cemetery and hidden cascades.
Challenge the family with a 1.5-mile roundtrip that climbs nearly 1,000 feet to a craggy summit and far-reaching views of Linville Gorge and Pisgah National Forest.
Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, this 10-mile loop treks through the Pisgah National Forest past numerous ridge-top overlooks and up to a quartz-clustered summit.
End your hike with a splash on this 2.8-mile out-and-back to a Pisgah National Forest swimming hole oasis.
In the shadow of Mt. Mitchell, this 5.6-mile ridgeline hike climbs through hemlock and chestnut oak to a watchtower overlook of Blue Ridge and Pisgah peaks.
Conquer two 6,000-foot peaks in Pisgah National Forest on this 3-mile trek that straddles the Blue Ridge Parkway.
This 3.9-mile loop through Stone Mountain State Park wanders chestnut oak forest and offers views from the park's signature massive granite domes.
Looping 6.5 miles through South Mountain State Park, this Charlotte-area dayhike (or overnighter) showcases above-the-trees overlooks and sublime autumn colors.
Trek 18.2 miles from the South's best view to its most famous mountain.
Trek into the past on this 6-day route linking a rock arch, 5,000-foot balds, old settler homesites, and 100-year-old cemeteries.
This challenging 4.8-miler in the Black Mountains features a stiff climb past rhododendron and rocky outcrops to a windswept ridge connecting Celo Knob and Gibbs Mountain.
This ridge-country classic swings from the Blue Ridge Parkway through the Graveyard Fields en route to Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain. Tackle the 9.8-mile lollipop loop in a day or stretch it into a leisurely overnight with one of the many prime campsites around Ivestor Gap.
Climb over 10 peaks above 6,000 feet on this 11-mile shuttle-hike culminating at Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi River.
Ramble 4.4 miles troll along the cascades of the Eno River before ascending Cox Mountain. End with a dip the river's clear waters.
Looking for an oasis in the middle of the Research Triangle? Hike this 10-mile circuit through the towering pines and fern-filled ravines of William B. Umstead State Park.
For guaranteed solitude in Great Smoky Mountains National Park's southwest reaches, explore this quiet, 15.7-mile loop during the off-season.
This 7.2-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail visits the Shuckstack Mountain lookout tower for unrivaled views.
This paved, half-mile (one-way) trail leads to the highest point on the Appalachian Trail and 100-mile views of seven states.
Just 20 minutes outside of Durham, take this 3.9-mile loop to get a good look at an old mill as you traipse through bluffs, banks, and boulders along the Eno River.
In a mere 3.2 miles, reach the top of Occoneechee Mountain—the tallest point between the North Carolina Triangle and the Atlantic Ocean.
Top a Yosemite-like dome in a sea of green.
Trace the watery divide between the Carolinas.
Vista Point Trail in the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area presents an easy 3-mile loop past quiet coves, lookout points, and the habitat of one of the largest bald eagle populations in the eastern U.S.
Looking to stretch your legs and get back to the outdoors? This 6-mile loop winds through the lowlands and hills of Lake Crabtree Park in the middle of Morrisville, less than 20 minutes from Raleigh.
Looking for a mellow weekend with swimming options? Hit up this gentle, 10.4-mile loop in the Mills River area of Pisgah National Forest.
Climb past a glimmering highland lake to a lofty southern bald.
Paddle to explore beach, dunes, and maritime forest on an uninhabited barrier island.
Leave it to our seasoned map contributors to find solitude in America's most-visited park. This exclusive trip planner serves up routes guaranteed to get you off the tourist trail and into deep wilderness.
Plunge deep into quiet Appalachian hollows and traverse narrow ridgelines with views across row upon row of forested peaks.
Climb past a glimmering highland lake to a lofty southern bald.