Outdoor & RecreationBest Hikes Near Asheville (and What Is Still Closed After Helene)
· 2 min read
Day Trips
Chimney Rock State Park
A famous granite monolith and 404-foot waterfall near Lake Lure, reopened with changes as it recovers from Helene.
Chimney RockVisit Website
A Classic Day Trip
Chimney Rock State Park is about 25 miles southeast of Asheville near Lake Lure. Its granite monolith, the Chimney, rises above the Hickory Nut Gorge, and the park is known for wide views, the Skyline Trail, and 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls.
Recovery After Helene
The park's own site says it is open daily and describes reopening "with new and important changes as we work through storm recovery efforts," with the elevator listed as operational. Because trails, access, and entry rules have been changing, do not rely on old guidebooks: read the park's current visit page and call ahead for trail status.
Make the Day
Combine it with Lake Lure, and see our best hikes near Asheville guide for other places to stretch your legs.
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From the Guides
Articles about day trips in Asheville
Outdoor & RecreationDay Trips
More Day Trips
Other day trips activities in Asheville
01
Pisgah National Forest
Waterfalls, trails, and the Cradle of Forestry southwest of Asheville, with some Helene-damaged areas still closed or rerouted.
Pisgah National Forest
02Sierra Nevada Taproom and Restaurant
Sierra Nevada's East Coast brewery in Mills River, with a big taproom, restaurant, and gardens south of Asheville.
Mills River
03DuPont State Recreational Forest
A free 10,000-plus-acre state forest south of Asheville with waterfalls including Triple Falls and High Falls, popular with hikers and mountain bikers.
Cedar Mountain
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Explore all things to do in Asheville
From outdoor adventures to local restaurants and family fun - there's always something happening in the Land of the Sky.