Carrie Mann

The shortest, easiest route to Daffodil Flats is 5 miles round-trip, but it’ll feel like 10 miles. If you want a longer, more challenging, but less crowded Daffodil Flats hike, or if your car isn’t suited for gravel roads, this 6-mile route is a good option. If you want to try Unnamed, your best bet is to descend from Old NC 105, go to the Daffodil Flats, then go up either Pinchin or MTS and road-walk or hitch a ride back to your car. If you can’t hike 20+ miles elsewhere in the Carolina mountains, and if you’ve never done a chest-deep river crossing, I wouldn’t recommend attempting this route.

However, if you’re trying to plan the best time to go to Asheville, you’ll want to take into account the weather. The best time to visit Asheville depends on why you’re going Before deciding on the best time of year to visit Asheville, ask yourself what the priorities for your trip are. Spring: Best time of year to visit Asheville for wildflowers and waterfalls April-June brings springtime to the Carolina mountains. You have a good chance of dry weather, you’ll be able to get into all the best restaurants without a wait, and the leaves will be starting to change above 5,000 feet.

If you’re looking for difficult, long, steep hikes where you might only see one or two other people all day, these 10 Great Smoky Mountains hikes are worth a shot! But if you’re in good shape, it’s one of the best Great Smoky Mountains National Park trails for views without the crowds. You’ll need to hike over 18 miles of steep trail to reach the Smokies’ most beloved summit. responsibly — don’t park in the mud outside of designated areas, don’t steal parking spaces meant for horseback riders at their trailheads, and if you must park on a road, make sure you’re fully in the shoulder.

A few practicalities for waterfall hikes in Asheville, NC Before we dive in to the waterfalls themselves, let’s talk about safety. The waterfall is 0.2 miles from the road if you don’t want to hike. You can still access the falls in winter by parking at the upper entrance, from where it’s an 8-mile round-trip hike if you skip Slick Rock Falls. Park at the Flat Laurel Creek Trailhead (or, actually, don’t — details below in the Parking section) and follow the Flat Laurel Creek Trail for 0.75 miles.