62 trails · 448 trail miles · Best season: March – November
North Carolina hosts the highest peaks east of the Mississippi and the most-visited national park (Great Smokies). The Blue Ridge Parkway connects spectacular ridgeline hiking throughout western NC.
Best Season
March – November
Terrain
Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian peaks, coastal plains
Top Trail: Bluff Trail (Nantahala NF)
North Carolina has 62 hiking trails covering 448 trail miles across 0 national parks and 5 state parks.
The best hiking season in North Carolina is March – November. The terrain includes blue ridge mountains, appalachian peaks, coastal plains.
The top hiking destinations in North Carolina include Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah National Forest, Nantahala National Forest.
Notable long-distance and iconic trails in North Carolina include Appalachian Trail (NC section, 96 mi), Art Loeb Trail (30 mi), Mountains-to-Sea Trail (1,175 mi).
The highest-rated trail in North Carolina is Bluff Trail (Nantahala NF). The average trail difficulty across the state is Moderate.