Blue Ridge Mountain Hiking Trails

We have been hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains for over 16 years, and have hiked well over 1,000 miles of trails. These mountains are full of great trails that combine breathtaking scenery, rich history, beautiful creeks, and incredible long distance views.

Combined, the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia have nearly 5,000 miles of hiking trails. 3,000 of those are in our home location, Western North Carolina. The biggest problem is choosing which hiking trails to explore!

We're Western NC locals, and call Waynesville, NC home. We're out on the trail nearly every weekend, and we put this comprehensive guide to all the trails we've hiked together to help you find the perfect trails for you to visit and explore.  

Each one of our trail guides contains photos, directions, tips, information, and often a video to help you decide which trails are right for you.   

Let's dive in and go on a hiking adventure in the Blue Ridge Mountains!

Updated: 1/10/2025

Trails We Love

The Blue Ridge Mountains, a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, are a hiker's paradise, offering some of the best hiking trails on the East Coast. With a variety of terrain and ecosystems. These mountains are home to countless trails for hikers of all levels to explore.

In this guide, we'll take a closer look at some of the best hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We've hiked all of these trails and many more, and put together these guides to our favorite and top rated trails. These are all trails that are easy to access, safe as far as hiking trails go, and offer unique scenic interest.  

Here are some list articles that highlight some of our favorites.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hiking Trails

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a vast wilderness area that straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. With over 800 miles of hiking trails, the park offers endless opportunities for hikers to explore the natural beauty of the region.

Fortunately, we live just over the mountain from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and many of the very best trails in the smokes are a short drive from our home near Waynesville, NC. We spend a good portion of our hiking time in the park, due to how well the trails are managed, and because of just how gorgeous they are.  

There is just something difficult to put into words about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and hiking there and spending time in nature is a truly rewarding experience, and one that never gets old for us.

Here are some of our picks for the top hiking trails to check out in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

Pisgah National Forest Hiking Trails

Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina is a hub for hikers, offering a vast network of trails that wind through some of the most scenic areas of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Pisgah National Forest is another one of our favorite hiking destinations. While the trails aren't maintained as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, they are more remote and rugged, with far fewer people. If you're looking to get away, and immerse yourself in these mountains, trails in Pisgah National Park are perfect.

Here are our guides to our favorite trails in Pisgah National Forest.

Blue Ridge Parkway Hiking Trails

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a well known scenic road that winds through the upper elevations of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina. It's a popular destination for tourists, offering stunning views of the mountains, forests, and valleys of the region.

But the parkway is also home to many hiking trails that offer visitors the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the area up close. In fact, most of our adventures on the parkway aren't for the gorgeous scenic drive, but we usually drive it to reach some of our favorite area hiking trails.

Here are just a few of our personal picks for the top trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway:

Hiking Trails in NC

North Carolina is a hiker's paradise, offering over 900 miles of stunning hiking trails for all levels of fitness and experience.

From the highest peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains to the lush forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the region is home to an abundance of beautiful and well maintained hiking trails that attract outdoor enthusiasts from around the world.

We also call the North Carolina Mountains home, and most of our hiking experience is right here in North Carolina, on the trails we highlight below. While we love trails all over the Blue Ridge Mountains, we find North Carolina trails to be some of the very best, because of the high elevation views and number of waterfalls you can explore.

Here are some of our favorite hiking trails in Western NC:

Our Best Blue Ridge Mountains Hiking Trail Videos

Here are just a few of our top hiking videos from our YouTube Channel!

Tips for Enjoying Your Hike

Hiking can be a rewarding and enjoyable activity, but it's important to take a few precautions to make sure your hike is safe and enjoyable.

First, make sure you're hydrated and fueled up before you start your hike. Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy meal or snack to give you the energy you need to complete your hike.

It's also important to pace yourself and take breaks when needed. Don't push yourself too hard and take breaks as needed to rest and recharge.

Another tip for enjoying your hike is to stay present in the moment and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. Enjoy the scenery, listen to the birds chirping, and smell the fresh air.

Finally, always be prepared for the unexpected. Weather can change quickly on the trail, so make sure you're prepared with hiking essentials.