Find the top rated trails in Asheville, whether you're looking an easy walking path or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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The Doodle Rail Trail connects the towns of Easley and Pickens in the northwestern corner of South Carolina. The paved trail follows the former Doodle Line railroad for just over 7 miles and includes...
The paved, 3.62-mile Point Lookout Trail follows the Old NC 10/Highway 70 route through the Royal Gorge, once known at the Central Highway, through the Pisgah National Forest. The trail ascends more...
The Brevard Bike Path is a relatively flat trail, nearly 5 miles long. About 1 mile (northwest end) follows the old Carr Lumber Company railway corridor and extends into the Pisgah National Forest up...
The first phase of this rail trail opened in April 2017 and provides safe and convenient pedestrian access to Lyman’s commercial center. While it is new, it is already fairly well-used. The trail...
For lovers of outdoors, the Oklawaha Greenway presents a natural escape in an otherwise suburban setting. The greenway trails Mud Creek for a big part of its length, beginning its northwesterly...
The Erwin Linear Trail (a.k.a. the Erwin Greenway) parallels I-26 along North Indian Creek and Nolichucky waterways for 4 miles. The trail is paved and mostly flat, coursing through the Cherokee...
The French Broad River Greenway links three of Asheville's parks: Hominy Creek, Carrier, and French Broad River. The trail follows the river, coursing through a wooded strip of land, through the parks...
The Forrest Hunt Greenway connects Forrest Hunt Elementary School with the Alexander Mills section of Forest City, North Carolina. For more information, contact: Town of Forest City, Recreation...
The nearly 20-mile Greenville Health System (GHS) Swamp Rabbit Trail links the cities of Travelers Rest and Greenville in upstate South Carolina via a former railroad corridor. The Greenville Health...
The Catawba River Greenway meanders, along with its river namesake, through the historic town of Morganton, North Carolina. The trail encompasses wooded areas, open meadows and the quaint commercial...
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The Peavine Trail runs for 1.5 miles from State Street in downtown Marion, North Carolina to just south of the First Christian Church on Rutherford Road. Construction of the crushed gravel and grass...
The nearly 20-mile Greenville Health System (GHS) Swamp Rabbit Trail links the cities of Travelers Rest and Greenville in upstate South Carolina via a former railroad corridor. The Greenville Health...
The paved, 3.62-mile Point Lookout Trail follows the Old NC 10/Highway 70 route through the Royal Gorge, once known at the Central Highway, through the Pisgah National Forest. The trail ascends more...
If you enjoy rail-trails that flaunt their railroading past, you're sure to love the Thermal Belt Rail-Trail. This well-maintained route runs 8 miles from Spindale north to Gilkey, passing through the...
The Forrest Hunt Greenway connects Forrest Hunt Elementary School with the Alexander Mills section of Forest City, North Carolina. For more information, contact: Town of Forest City, Recreation...
Shelby's rail-trail winds through the western edge of the city between West Grover Street and Dixon Boulevard. Following the former right-of-way of Norfolk Southern Railroad, the unpaved pathway...
For lovers of outdoors, the Oklawaha Greenway presents a natural escape in an otherwise suburban setting. The greenway trails Mud Creek for a big part of its length, beginning its northwesterly...
The French Broad River Greenway links three of Asheville's parks: Hominy Creek, Carrier, and French Broad River. The trail follows the river, coursing through a wooded strip of land, through the parks...
The Brevard Bike Path is a relatively flat trail, nearly 5 miles long. About 1 mile (northwest end) follows the old Carr Lumber Company railway corridor and extends into the Pisgah National Forest up...
The first phase of this rail trail opened in April 2017 and provides safe and convenient pedestrian access to Lyman’s commercial center. While it is new, it is already fairly well-used. The trail...
The Doodle Rail Trail connects the towns of Easley and Pickens in the northwestern corner of South Carolina. The paved trail follows the former Doodle Line railroad for just over 7 miles and includes...
The Peavine Trail runs for 1.5 miles from State Street in downtown Marion, North Carolina to just south of the First Christian Church on Rutherford Road. Construction of the crushed gravel and grass...
The Erwin Linear Trail (a.k.a. the Erwin Greenway) parallels I-26 along North Indian Creek and Nolichucky waterways for 4 miles. The trail is paved and mostly flat, coursing through the Cherokee...
The Catawba River Greenway meanders, along with its river namesake, through the historic town of Morganton, North Carolina. The trail encompasses wooded areas, open meadows and the quaint commercial...
The paved, 3.62-mile Point Lookout Trail follows the Old NC 10/Highway 70 route through the Royal Gorge, once known at the Central Highway, through the Pisgah National Forest. The trail ascends more...
The nearly 20-mile Greenville Health System (GHS) Swamp Rabbit Trail links the cities of Travelers Rest and Greenville in upstate South Carolina via a former railroad corridor. The Greenville Health...
The Brevard Bike Path is a relatively flat trail, nearly 5 miles long. About 1 mile (northwest end) follows the old Carr Lumber Company railway corridor and extends into the Pisgah National Forest up...
The Doodle Rail Trail connects the towns of Easley and Pickens in the northwestern corner of South Carolina. The paved trail follows the former Doodle Line railroad for just over 7 miles and includes...
The first phase of this rail trail opened in April 2017 and provides safe and convenient pedestrian access to Lyman’s commercial center. While it is new, it is already fairly well-used. The trail...
The Forrest Hunt Greenway connects Forrest Hunt Elementary School with the Alexander Mills section of Forest City, North Carolina. For more information, contact: Town of Forest City, Recreation...
If you enjoy rail-trails that flaunt their railroading past, you're sure to love the Thermal Belt Rail-Trail. This well-maintained route runs 8 miles from Spindale north to Gilkey, passing through the...
Shelby's rail-trail winds through the western edge of the city between West Grover Street and Dixon Boulevard. Following the former right-of-way of Norfolk Southern Railroad, the unpaved pathway...
The Erwin Linear Trail (a.k.a. the Erwin Greenway) parallels I-26 along North Indian Creek and Nolichucky waterways for 4 miles. The trail is paved and mostly flat, coursing through the Cherokee...
For lovers of outdoors, the Oklawaha Greenway presents a natural escape in an otherwise suburban setting. The greenway trails Mud Creek for a big part of its length, beginning its northwesterly...
The French Broad River Greenway links three of Asheville's parks: Hominy Creek, Carrier, and French Broad River. The trail follows the river, coursing through a wooded strip of land, through the parks...
The Peavine Trail runs for 1.5 miles from State Street in downtown Marion, North Carolina to just south of the First Christian Church on Rutherford Road. Construction of the crushed gravel and grass...
The Catawba River Greenway meanders, along with its river namesake, through the historic town of Morganton, North Carolina. The trail encompasses wooded areas, open meadows and the quaint commercial...
Made the trip while vacationing nearby to ride the Brevard Bike Path. Was disappointed that only 3 miles were asphalt. Also found the path along some of the roadways were littered with gravel. I had to check with a local bike shop to find where to park to start the ride. Still a nice ride.
While vacationing in nearby North Carolina, I looked up nearby railtrails and found the Doodle trail about an hour away. We were well please with great trail with great asphalt, a lot of split rail fences, benches, air pump station about midway along the trail, and a port-a-john @ the beginning. Once outside the city limits, the trail became rolling thru fields and forest. I believe the trail has been extended about a half a mile through the cemetery in Easley. Nice ride!
The detour was inconvenient, but that should be fixed soon. The tons of people were fine. Only about half of this is Railtrail.
Two years early my oldest son ( software writer n programmer) after a Greenville visit said Dad you need to visit the cleanest and one of the most beautifull cities downtown I've seen. Now in one ear out the other i let it pass, well a month ago i asked my GF when will our daughter be off, of course with Easter holidays coming up i was given the dates. Pondering what and where to go i checked on links trail and found out Greenville has a bike trail called Greenville Swamp Rabbit bike trail which is a little less of 20 miles.well being a crazy cyclist who puts in 120 a week i booked 5 days in Greenville. Afte a full day of trying to figure out Swamp Rabbit trail (where to start etc etc., I had it down! i get up first second day at 7am figuring who would be out and i take off on yhe trail ( great trail point ) back to who wpuld be out, well jogger on top of jogger...Folks i've cycle the N.C.R trail in gun powder park Md. most yhe way up to Pa. , this Swamp Rabbit Trail is the beat incline decline i loved it, up to Travelers Rest the back to Greenvillebe careful be respect and dont be stupid thinking you can get around someone in time, its a busy trail..No forgive the misspells etc 4 beers later...its that good
My son and I got on the trail at the YMCA and headed to downtown Greenville. We never got there. We got lost and wound up on streets four different times, a thing that never happened to me before. The tail is nice and the valley is pretty but the signage was confusing or non existent in many cases. It was also very hilly. This might be a great trail if you know where you are going but it was very difficult for us.
I parked on fleetwood entrance and ran 5 miles on the trail and 5 miles back. The trail was very clean and looks very new. The scenery was okay. Mostly backyards of people's homes or businesses. I went at 7am on a Sunday so it was very peaceful and quiet. there were some slight elevations throughout the trail but manageable
Wide, smooth crushed gravel surface on level trail on old railroad bed. Great for brisk walking! Please do not pave this trail. We have many other paved trails in Marion, but no other resilient surface for 77 year old legs. Cudos to McDowell Trails Association and the City of Marion.
GREAT improvements to this trail, got to commend Rutherford Outdoor Coalition for their oversight & the Committee that helps guide the management for the future of the trail. New mile & 1/2 mile markers are great for those who want to keep up with their fitness goals. There are 4.5 miles of compacted gravel for hikers, runners, bikers & equestrians to be "in the country" and 3.5 miles (but more in the planning) of asphalt that access the more developed areas. Something for everyone and the BEST part is that its a project that the public can have input into & help make into their own!
We started at Judge's and walked to Friend's (both restaurants on the trail).very easy to walk but, you feel completely immersed in Nature!
As an inline-skater, runner and cyclist, I use this trail at least once a week and I love it.
Just focusing on inline-skating. The trail is wider than the Swamp Rabbit and the paving is new and pretty solid. I find that the trail itself is kept pretty clean throughout the year (thank you to the caretakers). For non-skaters, a trail covered in leaves, twigs and stones is almost impossible to use on skates.
The hills are tough. There are long gradual gradients and shorter sharper gradients. The ups are a great workout, and the downs require the ability to control yourself on skates, and to slow and stop yourself safely.
There are road crossings. Some of these roads are busy and for some you don't have visibility until you hit the crossing. Again, knowing how to stop quickly and safely is needed.
Because of these challenging aspects of the trail, I don't go out without my helmet and wrist, elbow and knee guards. I have tumbled twice (slipped and quick stopped) and, thankfully, only have a couple scratches to show for it (knock on wood).
Comparing the three parking lots, Alice's Manufacturing and Easley are slightly off the trail, while Pickens isn't. You may need to put your skates on at the trail if you don't chose Pickens. For me, the easiest full ride starts at Alice's (heading toward Easley initially), followed by Easley end, then Pickens end. This is due to how tired I am when I hit the final hills.
When I started inline-skating last year (2015), I had previously hardly ever tried inline-skating and was not in great shape. It took me about 1 hr 50 min to complete the full 15+ miles (I worked up to the full distance). Now, a year later, it takes me less than 1 hr 20 min at my fastest. What this means to me is, I can probably skate the trail and keep up with my casual cyclist friends as they bike it, making inline skating a viable option for a group outing.
Following the former rail line, the asphalt surface is very comfortable to ride, with some sections in the shade. There are gentle but very noticeable slopes. The endpoints of Pickens and Easley are about the same height, and there is about 400 feet of climb each way. It might be a workout on a single speed bike but easy to ride through on a multi speed bike.
One year on, the trail is still beautiful and well maintained. Also, they have added 3 Dero Fixit bike repair stations with air pumps and tools. So even if you forget a tool, you won't be completely stranded if something goes wrong.
There are some decent restaurants in both Easley and Pickens, with 1 restaurant (Auntie Ann's) not far from the Pickens end.
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