If you are in the Asheville area then not only should you get out and drive the Blue Ridge Parkway but I recommend doing a hike or two as well! These are 5 hikes we did that were all dog friendly and most offer stunning views of the surrounding area. So grab your pup and lets go on some dog friendly hikes near Asheville.
After about 7 years of living in Utah (on and off) I had really developed a love of hiking. So when we moved to Florida where the highest point of elevation is only 345 ft above sea level, I really started to miss it. When we planned our baby moon it had two requirements: hiking and fall leaves! I found out about the fall colors in Asheville, North Carolina and it was perfect. Asheville is only a 10 hour drive from Tampa so we could bring Copper, our siberian husky, plus it checked all the other boxes.
We spent 2 and a half of our 5 day visit hiking these trails. I was 31 weeks pregnant so none of the trails are overly difficult or strenuous, plus we did them slowly and took long lunch breaks between hikes! If you’re an avid hiker or simply need less breaks then these hikes could be done in much less time.
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Devil’s Courthouse
Length & Rating: 0.8 miles, Moderate
Devil’s Courthouse is by far the shortest hike but it still pays off with some amazing views! We went to try and catch the sunset, but as we waited for the sun to go down the fog rolled in and blocked the sunset. The fog here moves quickly and seems pretty unpredictable as to when it will occur.
The hike starts on a paved path before it turns into a rocky path. Even though it is short the whole trail is fairly steep the whole way up. It is a very shaded path and smelled like pines, my favorite, kind of reminding me of Washington. The trail is a pretty busy one, especially around sunset.
The area is protected land with hefty fines if you veer off the path because it is a nesting ground for endangered hawks. Apparently in the spring you have a good chance of seeing them. Despite this the trail is dog friendly as long as they are kept on leash!
Black Balsam
Length & Rating: 1.5 miles, Easy
This was the last hike we did the morning before we drove home to Florida. Hiking was such a great way to start the day and get moving before we were stuck sitting all day.
The Black Balsam trail was not difficult at all and you had amazing view the whole hike up because there were no trees or brush to block your view! It gets a tiny bit steep just before the summit and I do think the rocky parts of the trail would get slick if you tried to do this hike on a rainy day.
We had a great time walking around the peak and taking in the 360 degree views before heading back. The trail wasn’t too crowded when we started but it was definitely getting busier when we headed down around noon. Dogs are allowed on this trail and Copper had a blast!
Parking at the trailhead is limited, we parked on the side of the road. Or there is a parking lot further down the road but you will have to walk up to the trail head.
Craggy Gardens
Length & Rating: 1.9 miles, Moderate
We tried hiking the Craggy Gardens Trail for sunset but it is a horrible trail for sunset! At the top there are so many trees and brush that you cannot see the surrounding view at all. After looking at it later I think we actually wanted the Craggy Pinnacle hike which is nearby and also dog friendly. So maybe try that one if you are going for sunrise/sunset or awesome views.
Other than that mix up the hike was fairly short and very easy. It was a little steep at some parts and it is definitely a rocky trail but nothing out of the ordinary. At the top there is a large wooden structure, take a right and there is a large grassy are to explore. There are some really cool old knobby trees and fun paths to wander.
The hike was mildly busy and a very popular spot with photographers! There were several photoshoots happening at the top. This hike is dog friendly of course and could be a good place to come for a picnic.
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Crabtree Waterfall
Length & Rating: 2.6 miles, Moderate
I had no idea there were so many waterfalls in the area, but we definitely couldn’t leave without doing at least one waterfall hike. It was actually our first hike in the area and it is a good one! You hike out going downhill and then hike back going uphill which wasn’t my favorite but the waterfall is very worth it!
The whole trail is pretty rocky (I tripped like two seconds in lol) but it is also really wet in some places. It might be because we were there during rainy season but there are small streams of water that run across the path in places. Just be careful because the rocks can get slick and your shoes will most likely get wet unless you have waterproof hiking shoes.
The trail is definitely a popular one and can get pretty crowded. But it is easy enough that we saw several families with kids hiking it and the waterfall really is spectacular. I bet it would feel nice to cool off in the creek in the summer! The trail is dog friendly and the water helps keep the pups cool too.
This was probably my favorite hike of the trip!
Other Helpful Asheville Posts:
- Dog Friendly Places to Eat in Asheville, North Carolina
- Lake Watauga Day Trip from Asheville (Dog Friendly)
Mt. Pisgah Trail
Length & Rating: 5.3 miles, Moderate
Last trail up of these dog friendly hikes near Asheville is Mt. Pisgah. The Mt. Pisgah trail was the most difficult hike we did of the trip. It is a rocky, fairly steep trail that left this pregnant mama very out of breath! However, it was a really beautiful trail that I enjoyed hiking.
You will be in the trees, which in the fall were changing gorgeous orange colors, and it is shaded almost the whole way up. Some parts were a little wet and slippery because it had rained the day before so be careful if you are heading up after rain.
It was a popular trail that I imagine gets really crowded on the weekends, we hiked it on a Monday morning and still saw quite a few people.
At the top there is a large cell tower, an observation stand, and a lot of rocks. It can get a little crowded since there isn’t a lot of open space. However, the views from the top are gorgeous. We could only see half the view due to fog but it was still worth it.
The trail is dog friendly and your pup will love it if they enjoy climbing over rocks!
Other Recommended Hikes
These are other hikes that were recommended to us that we considered doing but ultimately chose the ones we did instead:
- Mile High Suspension Bridge ($22 fee for the state park)
- Grandfather Mountain Trail (Same $22 entrance fee for the state park)
- Linville Falls Trail
- Linville Gorge (Permit Required)
- DuPont State Forest Triple Falls
Alltrails
I use the free app “Alltrails” to find hikes as well as to plan my hiking trips. The app allows you to search an area, apply filters (like dog friendly trails) and save hikes to folders for later!
For each individual trail it tells you length of the hike, average time it takes to hike the trail plus it shows pictures and reviews from people who have done the hike recently. Make sure you check it out if you are planing any hiking trips soon or even just looking for hikes in your local area!
Shop Our Hiking Essentials
Practical Information For Asheville, NC
Find accommodation, sign up for a local tour, or buy your North Carolina Travel Guide.
Dog Friendly Hikes Near Asheville
There are actually a lot of dog friendly hikes near Asheville which I love seeing. I always enjoying being able to bring my pup on adventures whenever possible.
The Asheville area was so fun to visit and explore, especially during fall! I loved getting to see the leaves change, plus the cool weather was perfect for being outside.
If you are looking for other possible vacations in the south-eastern U.S. then I highly recommend New Orleans, LA. The food is out of this world good plus the history is incredibly unique. Another great spot is Charleston in South Carolina, such a charming southern city!
