High Country Spring Hiking Update

High Country Spring Hiking Update
UPDATED 4/14/25

Nothing beats a High Country Spring Hiking trip! See rare wildflowers, listen to the birds and take in the views before the leaves are fully out.  While the area is fully open following Hurricane Helene, there are a few trails that will be closed this spring.  Take a look below for a list of the best places to hike, and what trails will be closed this spring.

HIGH COUNTRY WATERFALL TRAILS
Here are the top 3 waterfall trails to explore this spring:

• Crab Orchard Falls, 1.5 Miles
  Valle Crucis Conference Center, Valle Crucis
  
  
• Glen Burney Falls, 2.4-3.2 Miles
  Annie Cannon Gardens, Downtown Blowing Rock
  
  
• Amadahy Waterfalls, 4.25 Miles
  Rendezvous Mountain State Park, Purlear

WATERFALL TRAILS CURRENTLY CLOSED

• Linville Falls, Blue Ridge Parkway
• Boone Fork Trail Falls, Blue Ridge Parkway
• The Cascades, Blue Ridge Parkway
• Otter Falls, Seven Devils *Partially Open-- Red Trail Section Closed

NORTH CAROLINA STATE PARK TRAILS
Almost all of the High Country NC State Park trails have reopened! Here are the top 3 trails to explore this spring:

• Summit Trail, 3.9 Miles
  Elk Knob State Park, Todd
  See the beautiful Fringed Phacelia wildflower along the trail May-June and take in 5 mountain ranges from the summit view
  
  
• Lost Province Trail, .75 Mile Loop
  Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, West Jefferson
  See False Lily of the Valley, Mountain Laurel, Flame Azalea and many other wildflowers are you take in the views
  
  
• River Run Trail, 2.8 Miles
  New River State Park 221 Access, Laurel Springs
  One of the few trails open along the New River, The moist, fertile soil along the banks of the river along this trail make it a great place to go birding and view rare plant life. 

NC STATE PARK TRAILS CURRENTLY CLOSED

• Profile Trail and Profile Parking Area, Grandfather Mountain State Park
• Kings Creek Access, New River State Park

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY TRAILS
The Blue Ridge Parkway is open in the Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk area; mileposts 285.5-305.1.  The main access point is the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance off Hwy 321S between Boone and Blowing Rock.  Here is a list of trails currently open on the Blue Ridge Parkway:

• MP 294.0: Rich Mountain Trail, 3.0 Miles
• MP 294.0: Flat Top Mountain Trail, 3.0 Miles
• MP 294.0: Bass Lake Trail, 1.7 Miles
• MP 294.0: Maze Trail, 2.3 Miles
• MP 294.1: Figure 8 Trail, .7 Miles
• MP 294.6: Trout Lake, 1 Mile
• MP 295.9: Green Knob Trail, 2.3 Miles
  
• MP 296.5: Boone Fork Trail, 4.9 Miles *Falls Closed
• MP 297.0: Price Lake Loop, 2.3 Miles
• MP 302.9: Rough Ridge Trail, 1.45 Miles
• MP 304.4: Linn Cove Viaduct Access Trail, .16 Miles
• MP 305: Exit to Grandfather Mountain,  All Trails & Exhibits Open *Admission charged

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY HIGH COUNTRY TRAILS CLOSED

• All trails north of 285.5, including Cascades Falls
• All trails south of MP 305, including Linville Falls
• Boone Fork Trail
• Green Knob Parking Area

HIGH COUNTRY TOWN TRAILS
Greenways and hiking trails are open and accessible in the region!  Some of our favorites include:

• Beech Mountain Hiking Trails 
  Offer less crowds and plenty of opportunity to go birding and wildflower hunting
• Boone Greenway
  Always a popular spot to see the local deer, sit on a bench by the water and have a picnic

HIGH COUNTRY TOWN TRAILS CLOSED

• Upper & Lower Pond Creek Trails, Beech Mountain
• Howards Knob, Boone

Looking for volunteer opportunities to help with trail clean up?  Find them HERE