9 Accessible & Charming 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.

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. Explore a few frozen waterfalls, places to mountain bike, and more accessible nature trails.

Uncover the perfect easy winter hikes and walks in Asheville like Beaver Lake, Bent Creek Experimental Forest, Biltmore, 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. We want to keep you safe and prepared. Don’t get caught on a closed trail, either. Let’s get started!

Don’t miss our Master Guide To Asheville’s Stellar Hiking Trails.

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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See our Top Places To Stay in Asheville.

Don’t miss out on these Asheville properties on Booking.com, too.

Best Winter Hikes Near Asheville, NC

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.

Daniel Ridge Loop & Falls

Address: Daniel Ridge Falls, National Forest Rd, Brevard, NC 28712
Length: Moderate 4-mile loop or easy 1-mile out and back
Grab our Complete Guide To Daniel Ridge Loop Trail & Falls

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

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.

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.

Head to one of Brevard’s Breweries after your hike.

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

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Wildcat Rock Trail & Little Bearwallow Falls

Address: 3823 Gerton Hwy, Gerton, NC 28735
Length: 2-mile out and back to Little Bearwallow Falls or 4-mile out and back to Wildcat Rock

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.

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.

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.

Chimney Rock State Park

Address: 431 Main St, Chimney Rock, NC 28720
Admission fee, numerous trails, and Hickory Nut Falls

Chimney Rock View with town and lake below

We are honestly too scared to hike Chimney Rock during tourist season(s). This area gets packed and is known for mile-upon-mile back-ups. Please note that you will have to pay to enter and park at Chimney Rock State Park.

However, Chimney Rock is the perfect hike in the winter around Asheville as the crowds disappear, and you’ll find reduced admission prices.

Hickory Nut Falls At Chimney Rock State Park — Don’t miss Hickory Nut Falls at Chimney Rock, an easy 1.4-mile out-and-back trail.

Chimney Rock State Park is an attraction in and of itself. There are hiking trails, a cafe, an elevator to the top of Chimney Rock (stand on a giant rock with stellar views), and gift shops. Some of the upper trails may close due to ice.

Don’t miss all of Asheville’s Stunning Waterfall Hikes.

Bearwallow Mountain

Address: 4854 Bearwallow Mountain Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Length: 2-mile out and back with a gravel access road or forest trail options
Visit our guides to Bearwallow Mountain & Trombatore Trail

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. Please just keep in mind that a lot of the BRP is closed in the winter.

DuPont State Forest

Visitor Center Address: 1300 Staton Road Cedar Mountain, NC 28718
Various trails, difficulties, & lengths
Visit Uncorked Asheville’s Guide To DuPont

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.

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.

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.

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

Address: 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806
Numerous trails, gardens, and pay to enter
Grab Our Guide To The North Carolina Arboretum

Asheville winter hiking trails North Carolina Arboretum with bench by water under a tree — The North Carolina Arboretum has fantastic biking and walking trails in the winter. Find babbling streams, endless benches, winter gardens, and various loops and out-and-backs.

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

Hard Times Trail Address: 375 Wesley Branch Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
Numerous trails for mountain biking and hiking

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.

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.

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

Address: Merrimon Ave. past the North Branch Asheville library
Length: 2.1-mile loop (sometimes a portion of the loop is closed in winter for maintenance — then, the Perimeter Trail becomes an out and back)
Grab Our Complete Guide To Beaver Lake

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.

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.

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

Biltmore Estate Address: 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803
Various trails and must pay a full ticket price or be a passholder to enter
Don’t Miss Our Guide To Biltmore Estate

Biltmore Asheville Bass Pond trees and pond

Asheville Winter Hiking Trails Biltmore with woman in purple coat looking out at Bass Pond from gazebo

Biltmore Lagoon Hiking Trail with Lagoon and Biltmore House on the hill in the background

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.

If it’s still late autumn, don’t miss these Gorgeous Fall Foliage Hikes Near AVL.

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

See our Top Places To Stay in Asheville.

Don’t miss out on these Asheville properties on Booking.com, too.

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 Marriott 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 Inn for sunsets, drinks, and food.
1900 Inn On Montford

Don’t miss our Top Asheville Hotel, Resort & B&B Picks Here.

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!