Tag: Blue Ridge Parkway

Distance: 2.5 mile one way

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: gain = 656 ft; loss = 1202 ft

My Hike: 7.2 miles (round trip) Out-and-back plus trip to summit of Waterrock Knob

source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

I solo hiked this trail early on a Friday morning in April. I arrived at the Waterrock Knob Overlook parking area about 9am and I was the only one in the parking lot. I basically had the trail to myself for several hours.

Distance: 4.5 mile one way (for Challenge Hike) 9.7 Miles for this hike

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change (for Challenge Hike): gain = 1116 ft; loss = 1956 ft

My Hike: 9.7 miles (Pisgah Inn to Bent Creek Gap)

source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

Hike #5 of the 40 Hike Challenge begins at the north end of the Pisgah Inn parking lot and continues down a moderate trail for 4.5 miles to the Mills River Valley Overlook. On a typical day, this hike has wonderful views to the east.

Distance: 2.3 mile one way

Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult

Elevation Change: gain = 1046 ft; loss = 632 ft

My Hike: 4.7 miles (round trip) Out-and-Back

source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

I have hiked most of the MST from Pisgah Inn to Mt Mitchell and this hike by far is one of my favorites. I hiked this one out-and-back, so it ended up being just short of 5.0 miles.

Distance: 4.4 mile one way

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: gain = 1596 ft; loss = 1433 ft

My Hike: 7.7 miles (round trip) out-and-back

source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

This hike is a very popular day hike for the Asheville area. There are several access points for this trail, but for the 40 Hike Challenge, I used the Craven Gap trailhead. This is just off the BRP at MP 377.4.