This roundup will help you find the best kid-friendly trails near Asheville, NC. It includes over ten tried-and-true hikes our kids love.
As parents of two young explorers, we understand the importance of finding outdoor activities that are both enjoyable and suitable for the whole family. That’s why we’ve curated a list of kid-friendly hikes near Asheville.
Our kids have conquered each trail on this guide and we can confirm through experience that they are kid-friendly (and kid-approved!)
Getting on the trail is one of our favorite things to do with kids in Asheville, and we are excited to share all the details to help make your next adventure unforgettable.
Whether you’re looking for a gentle stroll or a more challenging adventure, these trails offer stunning scenery, engaging experiences, and a family-friendly way to connect with nature.
This roundup shares the best kid-friendly hikes near Asheville and all the details about how to get to them. Check out our guide to Asheville with kids for more family-friendly ideas!
Locations of Kid-Friendly Hikes Near Asheville
The map below will give you an overview of where to find kid-friendly hikes in the Asheville area.
Kid-Friendly Hikes Near Asheville
The mountains of Western North Carolina are home to spectacular hiking, with waterfalls and views abounding. Not all trails are created equal though. With some long and strenuous and other short easy hikes, we’ve compiled a list of hikes that are well-suited for children.
These hikes are easy enough for kids to conquer and interesting enough to keep their attention!
Pisgah National Forest | 2 mile out and back | Easy
Rhododendron tunnels and mountaintop meadows with long-range mountain views.
Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville, Craggy Gardens feels like a wonderland with breathtaking views. The short scrub vegetation makes it feel like walking through a maze at times, finding spots with long-range mountain views along the way.
Park at the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway for the easiest hike with kids. While the trail is 2 miles out and back, it is only 0.5 miles to the Craggy Gardens Bald from the Visitor Center
Along the hike, you will pass through rhododendron tunnels, a covered pavilion and walk through mountaintop meadows abundant with wildflowers in late spring/early summer.
Best of all, you can make it as short as you or your kiddos want and head back to the Visitor Center.
Pisgah National Forest | 1.2 mile out and back | Easy
Walk behind a 50-foot freefalling waterfall
Moore Cove Falls is a 50-foot waterfall located at the end of the Moore Cove Falls Trail.
This trail is great for kids since it is relatively short — the waterfall is only .6 miles from the trailhead. The Moore Cove Falls Trail is well-traveled and in good condition. It’s relatively easy, though it has a few moderate inclines.
The picturesque waterfall is free-falling and spills over from an undercut cliff above. You can even walk behind or under the waterfall, but you may want to bring an umbrella!
Pisgah National Forest | out and back | Easy
60-foot waterfall with no hiking required
If your kids love nature and waterfalls but are not fond of a long hike, Looking Glass Falls is for you. It’s located directly next to US 276 in Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, NC.
There are roadside parking spaces along the falls and stairs that you follow to get to the base of the falls.
Looking Glass Falls has a formidable 60-foot drop with heavy flow rates, especially after a rain!
Pisgah National Forest | 1.8 mile out and back | Moderate
Secluded waterfall near Brevard with a cave behind the falls
Speaking of waterfalls accessible with little hiking, Slick Rock Falls is another that falls in that category. Although the trail is 1.8 miles long, the waterfall is at the beginning of the trail with the end of the trail culminating at the base of Looking Glass Rock.
Slick Rock Falls is a modest waterfall but its surroundings make up for its size. The area downstream of the falls is a rock scrambler’s paradise with boulders scattered about. There is also a cave behind the waterfall that kids love venturing into.
Note: the trailhead is accessed by a gravel Forest Service Road.
Pisgah National Forest | 1.5 mile loop | Easy
Waterfall, swimming hole and berry picking on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Graveyard Field Loop is a magical hike for kids. They’ll love exploring the spur down to Lower Falls where you’ll find a picturesque waterfall flowing into a crystal-clear swimming hole.
The loop trail is a relatively easy hike with berries in late summer (think: August) and creek river crossings along the way.
It’s easily accessible with a parking lot on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
DuPont State Forest | 2 mile out and back | Moderate
Awe-inspiring waterfall in the heart of DuPont State Forest
From the DuPont State Recreational Forest Visitor Center you’ll find a relatively easy hike for kids to the spectacular High Falls. This 150-foot waterfall is one of Western North Carolina’s most impressive waterfalls.
You have a chance to view it from above the main trail before following the trail spur down to the riverbank at the base of the falls.
The power of this waterfall is truly amazing and there is plenty to explore along the rocks at the base of the falls.
DuPont State Forest | 0.8 mile out and back | Easy
Picturesque waterfall above crystal clear swimming hole
While not as grand as High Falls, DuPont’s Hooker Falls is another beautiful spot to take kids. The short trail from the Hooker Falls Access Area parking lot leads you to the river just downstream of Hooker Falls.
This area has flat spaces and large rocks to spread out on by the river. Kids love splashing in the shallow water or swimming in the river in the shadow of Hooker Falls.
It’s a great spot to picnic and hang out for a while.
Mount Mitchell State Park | 0.9 mile loop | Easy
Epic views from the highest point east of the Mississippi
What better activity is there to do with kids than to hike to the highest point on the East Coast? And it is surprisingly easy!
The Balsam Nature Trail on Mount Mitchell leads through a magical forest with spruce and fir trees. The trail often smells like Christmas trees!
You’ll walk along rocks covered in moss and ferns carpeting the ground before emerging at the summit of Mount Mitchell where you can see for miles from 6684 feet.
The Parking Lot is near the top of Mount Mitchell so there is very little climb in elevation to reach the observation deck.
There’s an even quicker path to the peak if you are short on time or energy. Just look for the path off of the parking near the Gift Shop.
Hickory Nut Gorge | 2 mile out and back | Easy
Hike to a picturesque mountaintop pasture with grazing cows all around.
Bearwallow Mountain is a wonderful hike for kids where you can take in beautiful views with cows from a mountaintop pasture. It’s maintained by Conserving Carolina.
The trail winds through the forest with several switchbacks before emerging onto the meadow where you will have beautiful long-range views.
North Carolina Arboretum | 1.2 mile loop | Easy
Wooded trail to a creek in The NC Arboretum
The NC Arboretum is a wonderful destination for families with children. While exploring the Arboretum be sure to check out the Carolina Mountain Trail.
This short trail takes you through beautiful forest down to a secluded creek with bridge crossings and areas to explore.
It’s the perfect distance and has the right set of features to make it a great hike with kids. Grab lunch or a snack at the NC Arboretum’s Bent Creek Bistro.
There is a $20 parking fee to enter the NC Arboretum (per car.)
Pisgah National Forest | 1.6 mile loop | Easy
Easy loop hike along a creek and lake just 15 minutes from Asheville
The loop around Lake Powhatan is one of our most recommended kid-friendly trails near Asheville. It’s about 15 minutes from downtown and offers a nice easy stroll through nature.
The loop begins at the Hard Times Trailhead parking area. You will follow the trail along a creek to Lake Powhatan. There are a few opportunities for creek-splashing along the way. You’ll eventually get to a dam and then the lake.
Walk around the lake to the beach. During summer the beach is open for swimming.
Pisgah National Forest | 1.5 mile out and back | Moderate
Scramble along rocks and take in the view on this enjoyable Blue Ridge Parkway trail
The Black Balsam Knob hike is a favorite for kids. The trail leads you through a fairytale-like balsam forest before reaching the mountain top bald.
There are a few ups and downs along the grail with small rock scrambles that kids love. You are rewarded with amazing views of the surrounding Great Balsam Mountain with the starkly contrasting evergreen and deciduous forests.
This area of the Parkway is typically closed during winter, so plan on it for spring through early fall.
Pisgah National Forest | 1.4 mile out and back | Moderate
A short but steep hike with long-range mountain views near Asheville
The Craggy Pinnacle Trail is a short hike with amazing views. It’s great for kids with some experience hiking as it climbs steadily for about 250 feet in elevation gain. It’s short, though, and the views are impressive.
The trail to the top offers a pretty short hike up to 360-degree mountain views. The peak is a rocky outcropping with views available in every direction.
Kids love the challenge of hiking up to the top of this short peak with the reward of amazing long-range mountain views.
Pisgah National Forest | 0.8 mile out and back | Moderate
Short, steep hike to breathtaking views on the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Devil’s Courthouse Trail is another that’s a bit more intense and best for older kids or experienced hikers. It’s uphill the whole way, but the views are magnificent.
Devil’s Courthouse is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway southwest of Asheville. It’s a great stop while exploring Pisgah National Forest.
This short (but steep!) hike to spectacular long-range mountain views is a great hike with kids who love an uphill challenge.
