Top 10 Scenic Walking Areas in North Carolina Mountains, North Carolina Mountains

July 30, 2021 Marianna Hollaway

Discover the best top things to do in North Carolina Mountains, United States including Beacon Heights Overlook, GSMNP - Deep Creek Trail, Three Waterfalls Hike, Rocky Broad Riverwalk, Airing of the Quilts, Charles D Owen Park, Laurel River Trail, Upper Bearwallow Falls, Riverbend Campground, Annie Cannon Gardens.
Restaurants in North Carolina Mountains

1. Beacon Heights Overlook

Milepost 305.2 Blue Ridge Parkway, Linville, NC 28777
Excellent
86%
Good
5%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 21 reviews

Beacon Heights Overlook

Reviewed By jrobba - Charlotte, United States

It's a short hike from the Blue Ridge parkway, and while it was pretty easy for us and our kiddos (8 and 5), my inlaws were feeling it a little, as there is some uphill hiking. Overall, I'd put it between easy and moderate. The views from the overlook are incredible, and totally worth the 15 minute trek up there!

2. GSMNP - Deep Creek Trail

Deep Creek Trail, Bryson City, NC 28713 +1 877-444-6777 http://www.greatsmokies.com/Pdfs/DeepCreekTrails.pdf
Excellent
86%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 111 reviews

GSMNP - Deep Creek Trail

Reviewed By seekingpeace - Ohio, United States

This is an easy hike if you just want to go to Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls. They are fairly close together with a short walk in between. Our favorite was Tom Branch Falls because you have a bench and a couple places you can just sit and enjoy the falls. The Indian Creek Falls is a little further up the trail with a slight incline to walk up. The path is made up of dirt and gravel but it is very easy to walk on. The Indian River Falls has steps you have to walk down to get to them and you have to stand on a small flat ledge that could possibly hold perhaps 7 to 8 people at a time. This water fall was our second favorite. The Juney Whank Falls are a much steeper and harder path to hike to get to them and it is mostly uphill. My husband has bad knees and he struggled to make it up the steep incline. In our opinion these falls were not worth the climb but we were able to say we made it to all three falls!

3. Three Waterfalls Hike

W Deep Creek Rd, Bryson City, NC 28713, Bryson City, NC http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/juney-whank-falls.htm
Excellent
78%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 41 reviews

Three Waterfalls Hike

Reviewed By 512angelak - Fort Myers, United States

I don't know how anyone would rate this under a 5. It is so beautiful here and the hike is awesome. We saw all three waterfalls and did the loop trail. We took our time, taking in all of the beauty and taking pictures. It was about 2.5 hours. It was moderately difficult in parts of the loop trail but not for long just the way up had some places that really got your heart going. But the trail was plenty wide and plenty of spots to catch your breath and take a swig of water. I am not in anyway in great shape so I would say just about anyone could do this so long as they can walk 4-5 miles. I am 46 with 9 knee operations and could afford to lose 30 pounds and I did just fine. We tubed here years ago in the summer and it was a lot of fun but in October it was a little too cold for anyone it appears nobody was doing it. Looking forward to coming back in better shape and doing the more difficult trails. Also note: it says no pets allowed on the trails but I saw people with dogs. I like to take my dog on hikes with me but left him at the camper because of we knew it said no pets. It does no appear that the rule in enforced at least not when we were there. Also, we had to wait to get out of the park as the park rangers had to come and clear the road of a very big tree that had fallen and blocked the road. Thank goodness it did not fall on top of a car traveling down the road. It would have been really bad!

4. Rocky Broad Riverwalk

Main St., Chimney Rock, NC 28720- http://www.visitnc.com/listing/rocky-broad-riverwalk
Excellent
57%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 141 reviews

Rocky Broad Riverwalk

Reviewed By trishac2016 - Vidor, United States

This was one of our favorite places! The kids loved getting out on the rocks to take photos and put their toes in the freezing cold water.

5. Airing of the Quilts

Downtown Franklin, NC, Franklin, NC +1 828-524-2516 http://www.discoverfranklinnc.com/airing-the-quilts/
Excellent
50%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6 reviews

Airing of the Quilts

6. Charles D Owen Park

875 Warren Wilson Rd, Swannanoa, NC 28778-2039 +1 828-250-4260
Excellent
71%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 14 reviews

Charles D Owen Park

7. Laurel River Trail

Junction of US-25 N/US-70 W and NC208, Hot Springs, NC
Excellent
63%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 24 reviews

Laurel River Trail

Reviewed By W3867VBlauras - Murfreesboro, United States

My husband, my pup and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit. In late October we found the trail absolutely beautiful. Almost flat, it runs along the river through private property (so stay on the allowed access trail) for about a mile before entering the Pisgah National Forest. There are plenty of spots to step down off the trail and access the river for a picnic.

8. Upper Bearwallow Falls

Grassy Ridge Road, Lake Toxaway, NC 28747 http://www.ncparks.gov/gorges-state-park/trail/bearwallow-falls-trail
Excellent
67%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3 reviews

Upper Bearwallow Falls

Reviewed By LeslieinTN - Jonesborough, United States

In Gorges State Park, Upper Bearwallow Falls is a moderate, one mile roundtrip hike. There are benches along the way in the steep areas to stop and rest (for the way back). Go past the Gorges State Park Visitor Center and take the next left. Follow the road 0.9 miles to the second picnic area on the right for the Upper Bearwallow trailhead. It's at the bottom of the parking lot not up by the picnic pavilion and restrooms. This trail is accessible from the Bearwallow and White Pines Picnic areas, and via the Visitor Center Connector trail. Follow the BLUE triangle for this trail.

9. Riverbend Campground

1476 Blue Ridge Road, Lake Toxaway, NC 28747 +1 828-966-4214 http://www.riverbendrvresortnc.com
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1 reviews

10. Annie Cannon Gardens

243 Laurel Ln, Blowing Rock, NC 28605-6129 +1 828-295-5200 http://townofblowingrocknc.gov
Excellent
0%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
100%
Overall Ratings

1.0 based on 1 reviews

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