Plenty of the waterfalls and views around Asheville are an hour or less from downtown and cost nothing to visit. This guide covers the waterfall hikes and summit trails we keep going back to, from short walks on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the waterfalls of DuPont State Recreational Forest and Pisgah National Forest.
Two years after Hurricane Helene, most trails are back open, but some stairs, platforms and side trails are still closed. We link each official status page below, so check it before you drive. Parking at popular trailheads fills early on weekends and in October, so start early or go on a weekday. Updated October 2026.
Blue Ridge Parkway, south of Asheville
The Blue Ridge Parkway road status page is the first thing to check. Sections close for ice and snow in winter. The park service says hikers should use caution on Parkway trails after Hurricane Helene, because unseen hazards may be present.
- Graveyard Fields, Graveyard Fields Overlook, Parkway milepost 418.8. A grassy valley with two waterfalls on Yellowstone Prong. Second Falls is 0.3 miles from the trailhead, down a 60-step wooden stairway. Upper Falls is 1.6 miles in, on a rougher, steeper spur, so seeing both falls is about 3.2 miles round trip. Blueberries are thick in the fall. Forest Service trail page
- Black Balsam Knob, end of Black Balsam Road (FS 816) at milepost 420. The Art Loeb Spur is a short, steep 0.6 miles up a grassy bald with long views. Stay on the switchbacks, because the bald is fragile.
- Sam Knob Trail, from the same Black Balsam area. The Forest Service rates this 1.07-mile trail easy, and it's foot traffic only. Forest Service trail page
- Devil's Courthouse, milepost 422.4. A 0.4-mile climb, rated moderate to strenuous, to a rocky summit with a panoramic view. Bring binoculars.
Brevard and Pisgah National Forest
- Looking Glass Falls, US 276, about 6 miles north of the Pisgah Ranger Station. You can see this one from the roadside, and there's no fee. Swimming is allowed, but there's no lifeguard. Parking is limited, so don't park in the road. Forest Service page
- Sliding Rock, 7851 Pisgah Highway, north of Brevard. A 60-foot natural water slide into a pool 8 to 10 feet deep. Lifeguards are on duty Memorial Day through Labor Day, and you have to be able to swim to slide. There's a $6 daily fee per person, and kids 5 and under are free. The parking lot fills on summer weekends and closes until spaces open. Forest Service page
- Looking Glass Rock, paved trailhead lot off US 276 in the Pisgah Ranger District. A 3.1-mile climb that barely lets up, and the last mile is the steepest. It gets very busy in summer and fall color season, so bring plenty of water and a picnic for the top. Forest Service trail page
DuPont State Recreational Forest
DuPont has no entrance fee, but donations help keep the trails up. Dogs are welcome on a leash. There are no trash cans, so pack everything out. Wading or climbing above any waterfall is prohibited. Several older trails are closed for good, and the Triple Falls stairs are closed after Helene damage. Check the DuPont Forest alerts page before you go.
- High Falls Loop, High Falls Access Area. An easy 0.5-mile walk from the Visitor Center to High Falls. Grab a paper map at the Visitor Center.
- Triple Falls, from the Hooker Falls or High Falls Access Areas. View the three drops from the overlook, since the stairs to the base are closed. The trail up from Hooker Falls has a steep section.
- Hooker Falls, Hooker Falls Access Area. A short walk from the lot to a wide falls and pool that's a popular summer swimming hole. Non-swimmers should be very careful in the moving water.
- Bridal Veil Falls, reached from the High Falls, Fawn Lake or Corn Mill Shoals Access Areas. A longer walk to a broad, sloping falls.
- Wintergreen Falls, Guion Farm Access Area. An easy 1.25-mile hike to one of the smallest falls in the forest, on the Hendersonville side.
Photos: National Park Service / A. Armstrong.
