Hiking North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains

Western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains are some of the oldest on earth, boasting old-growth forests, pristine streams, and ancient heath balds with stunning views. This guide includes 72 great day hikes ranging from 1 to 13 miles, with destinations like the stone tower of Hanging Rock State Park, Max Patch on the Appalachian Trail, the ＂Opera Box＂ at Chimney Rock State Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Craggy Gardens, the waterfalls of Linville Gorge, and Gregory Bald in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Each entry includes complete driving and hiking directions, maps, trailhead GPS coordinates, elevation gain, trail highlights, and related historical anecdotes, plus books and movies set in each locale.

DANNY BERNSTEIN has been hiking all of her adult life. An Appalachian Trail end-to-ender, she has completed the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and the 800 miles of trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Bernstein writes about the outdoors from her home in Asheville, North Carolina.