Best Winter Hikes In & Around Asheville

Looking for the best winter hikes near Asheville, NC? As AVL locals, we’ll share where we love to go hiking in the winter in and around Asheville and Western North Carolina.

Winter Hikes Near Asheville with snowy trees at Bearwallow Mountain — Don’t let the chilly temps and cold keep you inside. Even in the winter, you can still chase frozen waterfalls and get outdoors with our favorite Asheville winter hikes.

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Are you headed to Asheville, NC in the winter and looking for things to do? Even though it is colder and a bit muddier, we love hitting the Asheville hiking trails.

Below, we are sharing our favorite winter hikes in Asheville as locals, including a few frozen waterfalls, places to mountain bike, and more accessible nature trails.

Find the perfect easy winter hikes and walks in Asheville like Beaver Lake, Bent Creek Experimental Forest, and The North Carolina Arboretum.

Then, explore what we consider to be the best winter hikes near Asheville, including trails in the Pisgah National Forest and those around Gerton, Chimney Rock, and Hendersonville. Of course, ‘best’ is pretty subjective, and we don’t always hike at the busiest or most popular places.

Keep reading, too, for Asheville winter weather information and hiking tips. Let’s get started!

Beautiful Winter Hikes Near Asheville NC Pinterest Pin with Little Bearwallow Falls and Bent Creek Experimental Forest dam along Hard Times Trail and Lake Powhatan — Headed to AVL in the winter? Save these Asheville winter hikes for later and never be bored inside or get those winter blues.

If you need a place to stay, don’t miss out on these Airbnb properties→

Best Winter Hikes Near Asheville, NC

Daniel Ridge Loop & Falls

One of our absolute favorite winter hikes near Asheville — that we also got terrifyingly lost on once — is Daniel Ridge Loop in the Pisgah National Forest. Daniel Ridge offers two beautiful trails and is a favorite of locals and mountain bikers.

Daniel Ridge Falls Winter Hike Pisgah National Forest with woman in plum colored coat with backpack sitting in front of Daniel Ridge Falls

Daniel Ridge Loop and Falls Asheville winter hiking trail in Pisgah National Forest with picture of the falls

Winter Hikes Near Asheville Daniel Ridge Loop and Falls with brunette white woman in plum coat standing on a bridge

You can either hike the 4-mile loop, or you can take the shorter and easier one-mile out and back directly to Daniel Ridge Falls — also known as Tom’s Spring Branch Falls.

For Asheville winter hikes, Daniel Ridge is perfect because it doesn’t get crowded, and you are surrounded by babbling streams and waterfalls.

Insider Tip: Leaving the Pisgah National Forest from Daniel Ridge, drive up to Looking Glass Falls, which sometimes freeze in the winter. Then, drop into nearby Burning Blush Brewery. They have outdoor seating, local craft beers, ciders, and wine, and rotating food trucks.

Many people also hike Looking Glass Rock in the winter, which is right before the Daniel Ridge Trailhead.

Wildcat Rock Trail & Little Bearwallow Falls

There are a ton of connecting trails around Wildcat Rock and Bearwallow Mountain. For one of the most difficult winter hikes near Asheville, you can trek the 4-mile roundtrip out and back to Wildcat Rock from the Gerton highway at Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Trailhead.

Asheville Winter Hikes Wildcat Rock Little Bearwallow Falls in Gerton with frozen waterfall — If you are looking for winter hikes near Asheville with waterfalls, Wildcat Rock is perfect. Little Bearwallow Falls also makes for a great stop for a break along the Wildcat Rock Trail.

If you want a chiller hike, you can also stop mid-way at Little Bearwallow Falls (about 1-mile in) — where people ice and rock climb.

Conserving Carolina maintains Wildcat Rock, Bearwallow, and Trombatore on our Asheville winter hikes list. We are a huge fan of their well-labeled and maintained trails. They are adding extensions to connect the trails, too. Conserving Carolina’s website will tell you all of the ways you can pick up these trails.

winter near Asheville Chimney Rock NC river at Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery — Gerton and Chimney Rock are beautiful for winter hikes near Asheville, NC.

Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery Near Wildcat Rock Trail with brunette white woman sitting in a chair and drinking an amber beer — If you are doing one of the Conserving Carolina winter hikes around this area, don’t forget to stop for beer at Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery.

Insider Tip: After hiking Wildcat Rock, head to downtown Chimney Rock for wine and tapas at Burntshirt Vineyard’s Tasting Room. Then, walk across the street for craft beer at Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery.

Of course, Chimney Rock and its trails are some of the post popular winter hikes near Asheville as well.

Bearwallow Mountain

Bearwallow Mountain Trail is one of the most frequented winter hikes near Asheville because of the views and accessibility. Exert extreme caution on the narrow, icy road up there, though.

A 2-mile roundtrip hike, either walk the gravel access road or hike up the forest trail to a beautiful meadow with cows. Bearwallow Mountain is an easy hike for families and is perfect for chilly picnics and sunsets.

Bearwallow Mountain Winter landscape with snow

If you are looking for harder winter hikes near Asheville don’t miss the Trombatore Trail directly across from the Bearwallow Mountain Trailhead.

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Check out our favorite Asheville Hiking Trails and Waterfalls Near Asheville. Just keep in mind that a lot of the BRP is closed in the winter.

DuPont State Forest

DuPont Forest is by far one of our favorite places for waterfall winter hikes near Asheville. Forty-five minutes from downtown, DuPont is free to enter.

There are endless trails throughout the area. Two of the waterfalls — Bridal Veil Falls at DuPont and Triple Falls — are where parts of The Hunger Games were filmed.

Hooker Falls DuPont State Forest — Hooker Falls is the easiest winter waterfall hike to access at Dupont State Forest.

Triple Falls At DuPont a three-tier waterfall also known as The Hunger Games waterfalls — Does Triple Falls look familiar? Maybe you saw them in The Hunger Games…

High falls covered bridge DuPont State forest with brunette white woman dressed for winter with a hat sitting on bridge — Don’t miss the covered bridge on top of High Falls. You pass through the bridge on your way to Bridal Veil Falls.

The most popular winter hike at DuPont is to see the three waterfalls — Hooker, Triple, and High Falls — which is about a 3-mile hike. You can add in Bridal Veil Falls, which will tack on an additional 3.7 miles. Find all you need to know about Dupont here→

Insider Tip: After hiking Dupont, we love heading to downtown Hendersonville for lunch, beer, and the Hendersonville wineries. If it’s late fall, catch the Hendersonville apple orchards, too.

Best Winter Hikes In Asheville, NC

The NC Arboretum

We are annual passholders for The North Carolina Arboretum and Biltmore. Less than 20-minutes from downtown, explore over 13 Asheville hiking trails.

The NC Arboretum trails range in distance and difficulty. Find .3-mile hikes to 1.3-mile hikes. Some trails allow for mountain biking, too. Grab all of the details about fees and parking here→

Bent Creek Experimental Forest Trails

For Asheville winter hikes and mountain biking, we absolutely love the Bent Creek Experimental Forest. Locals flock here on weekends, including us. These well-maintained trails range in length and difficulty, butting up against The North Carolina Arboretum.

Bent Creek Experimental Forest winter hiking trails along Hard Times Trail with dam — We love exploring the Bent Creek Experimental Forest Trails. Find Asheville winter hikes for families, mountain bikers, and joggers.

You can explore various trailheads along the way ranging in difficulty, and if you trek along the Hard Times Trail, you can see Lake Powhatan. Read more about the Bent Creek Trails here→

Don’t forget to order Apollo Flame Bistro grinders on your way home.

Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary & Perimeter Trail

For local Asheville winter hikes 10-minutes from downtown, Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary and Trail is another easy nature walk option. Walkers and runners will find a gorgeous flat hike in the heart of a well-established North Asheville neighborhood. Please note that dogs and running are not allowed in the actual sanctuary.

North Asheville Neighborhood around Beaver Lake with pond, walking trail, and houses — If you are looking for casual winter hikes in Asheville, spot birds and winter picnickers at Beaver Lake.

The Beaver Lake Perimeter Trail is about 2.1-miles. Sometimes in the winter, a portion of the loop is closed for maintenance and mud — transforming the trail into an out-and-back. Grab more information, including parking and directions here→

If you love quaint outdoor spaces, don’t miss the Botanical Gardens At Asheville.

Biltmore’s Trails

Did you know that Biltmore has over 22-miles of trails? Uncover endless walking, running, and biking trails all around Biltmore Estate. Some of these Asheville trails are as long as 3.5-miles and range from moderate to challenging.

You will need a Biltmore pass or ticket to access the trails. Get the most out of that Biltmore pass here→

Grab our complete list of Asheville’s beautiful parks and gardens→

Asheville Winter Hiking Weather:

From December to February in and around Asheville, you can expect daytime highs averaging around 50 to 60-degrees and evening lows around the 30s. We’ll see a few evenings drop into the 20s, too.

Asheville snow in winter with red and orange tree and snow — You never know when the winter weather will strike in Asheville. I get a gorgeous view from my home office.

While we don’t usually have feet upon feet of snow, we will receive light dustings, frequent ice, and the occasional snow ‘storm’ with half a foot of snow in the mountains. In 2020, we even had a white Christmas.

For winter hikes near Asheville, expect temperatures in the higher elevations to drop about 10 to 25-degrees cooler. Also, expect early morning fog. Sunset for November and December is around 5 PM and by February, the sun will set around 6:30/7 PM.

Don’t miss all of these cozy and fun things that you can do in Asheville in the winter.

What You Need To Know About Asheville Winter Hiking & What To Pack:

For what to pack and wear for winter hikes around the Asheville mountains, I recommend layers, a winter coat, scarves, gloves, hats, and boots. The winter hiking trails grow muddy and slippery. You’ll crunch on ice and find yourself with wet socks.

Blue Ridge Parkway Winter mountains with snow — The areas around the Blue Ridge Mountains and Parkway are beautiful when it snows during an Asheville winter.

Like always, but as a reminder, you will want to hike with matches, layers, first aid supplies, flashlights/headlamps, food, extra water or cleaning tablets/filters, a whistle, and emergency/extra supplies in case you get injured or lost. You might want hiking poles, crampons, or microspikes.

Bring a map or GPS — it’s easier to get lost on snow and leaf-covered trails. Know your trail blazes. We hike with this Garmin paired with the GAIA phone app. People frequently get lost or confused — tourists and locals. People do have to get rescued.

Hooker Falls at DuPont State Recreational Forest brunette white woman in pink and purple hiking gear in front of a waterfall near Asheville NC — For winter hikes near Asheville, know that temperatures vary. Pack layers and wear warm socks. I’d recommend an extra pair, too, if they get wet.

Don’t forget, too, that it’s colder and grows darker earlier in the winter. We suggest hiking first thing in the morning to avoid getting caught in the dark.

Tell others where you are hiking and when to expect you back. You won’t always have cell reception in the mountains.

Blue Ridge Parkway Winter Road with snow and fall foliage trees — While a lot of the Blue Ridge Parkway will close in the winter for ice, you can still access some of the hikes or catch them at the beginning or end of the season.

What You Need To Know About The Blue Ridge Parkway In The Winter:

Always check with the National Park Service (NPS) before heading out for any Asheville winter hikes along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Many parts of the BRP stay closed for ice. Sometimes, you’ll first catch closures on your GPS but always double-check the NPS closures here.
Dense and intense fog rolls in and out of the mountains. One second the road is there and the next, it’s gone. The same goes for those gorgeous views.
I recommend driving with your lights on for the safety of everyone — not just in the tunnels.
The winding roads are pretty terrible for motion sickness — take it from me. I usually drive or take ginger Dramamine.
In the winter, many locals will park around the closed BRP gates and enjoy a peaceful and rare walk down the road.

Best Winter Hikes and Waterfall Asheville Pinterest pin with Bearwallow Mountain covered in snow — Loving these winter waterfalls and hikes near Asheville, NC? Save this post for later to come back to it.

AVL Accommodation Recommendations

If you need a place to stay, don’t miss out on these Airbnb properties→

Asheville, NC Hotels

Hotels and B&Bs tend to book up fast in Asheville, especially in the fall, spring, and around holidays. Make dinner reservations wherever you can, too. A few hotels to consider that either we, our friends, or others highly recommend include:

Downtown Asheville
The Foundry Hotel
AC Hotel By Marriot Downtown Asheville
Hotel Indigo
Aloft – Downtown Asheville *One of our top picks; they renovated in 2020

Near The Asheville Outlets/Biltmore
Hampton Inn And Suites Asheville Biltmore Area *Our second favorite pick. We stayed here before we moved.
DoubleTree By Hilton Biltmore/Asheville
Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville

North Asheville/Montford
The Omni Grove Park Inn *We frequently stop by the Grove Park for sunsets, drinks, and food.
1900 Inn On Montford

Which of these winter hikes near Asheville, NC have you tried?

What are your favorite winter hikes near Asheville, so far? What’s on your Asheville winter hiking bucket list? Do you have any more winter hiking tips that we should add?

Please let us know in the comments!

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Best Winter Hikes In & Around Asheville