The Best Hikes to Historic Sites

Hikes By Features: Waterfalls | Views | Historic Sites | Kids and Families

Western North Carolina is dotted with interesting and varied historic sites, many of which lie on public lands.

Here are the best hikes take you to areas of particular historic interest.

You may find artifacts, ruins, historic markers, or other signs to indicate areas with a notable connection to their past.

Each hike has its own printable guide page with all the information and links, including (where available):

Here are the hikes, organized roughly from easiest to hardest.

Mount Pisgah

Moderate Hike
  • A classic Blue Ridge Parkway hike, this trail continues onto National Forest land to climb to the summit of one …
  • 3 mi, Climbs Moderately
  • Tread Condition: Moderately Rough

Stone Mountain Loop

More Difficult Hike
  • Passing three of the most sought-out points in the park - the summit of Stone Mountain, the Hutchinson Homestead, and …
  • 4.5 mi, Hilly
  • Tread Condition: Moderately Rough

Mount Mitchell

Most Difficult Hike
  • Starting at the Black Mountain Campground on the Toe River, this hike gains 3600 ft in elevation over 5 1/2 …
  • 11.4 mi, Climbs Steeply
  • Tread Condition: Moderately Rough

Pink Beds Loop

Moderate Hike
  • This relatively flat loop hike - which features a shortcut option - is all about water. You'll see rare mountain …
  • 5.1 mi, Few Hills
  • Tread Condition: Some Obstacles

Whiteside Mountain

Moderate Hike
  • This excellent loop, designated a National Recreation Trail, climbs to the top of Whiteside Mountain, with its spectacular 700 ft …
  • 2.5 mi, Hilly
  • Tread Condition: Moderately Rough

Rattlesnake Lodge

Moderate Hike
  • This pleasant hike takes you to the ruins of a historic private lodge along a section of the Mountains to …
  • 2.8 mi, Climbs Moderately
  • Tread Condition: Some Obstacles

Old Mitchell

More Difficult Hike
  • Don't be like the rest of the tourists and drive to the top: take a real hike to the summit …
  • 4 mi, Hilly
  • Tread Condition: Moderately Rough

Camp Alice/Commissary

Easy Hike
  • This is a high-elevation hike that, while providing the same storied Black Mountains scenery, is both easier and less often …
  • 2.0 - 3.6 mi, Climbs Gently
  • Tread Condition: Few Obstacles