Overnight & Multi-Day Routes
Backpacking Near Asheville NC
This page is for hikers who've already decided they want to spend a night (or two) on trail near Asheville, and now need to figure out which route actually fits their fitness level, time off, and idea of a good view. Maybe you've done day hikes in Pisgah and want to step up to your first overnight. Maybe you're an experienced backpacker looking for something more remote than the usual Sunday crowd trails. Either way, the goal here is the same: give you enough real detail to pick one trailhead with confidence.
By the end of this guide, you'll know how the region's verified backpacking routes stack up against each other, which ones suit a first overnight versus a multi-day push, and what to actually check before you drive out. Everything below is built from confirmed trail data — no invented mileage, no guessed amenities.
Western North Carolina backpacking splits into a few distinct pockets: Pisgah National Forest closer to Asheville, the high peaks around Mount Mitchell and Burnsville, the rugged Linville Gorge, and the Great Smoky Mountains to the west. Each has its own character, and the right pick depends less on which is "best" and more on what kind of weekend you're after.
Compare the Routes
Trail
Distance
Difficulty
Highlight
About 9 mi, primitive
Strenuous
Follows the Linville River into the gorge; permit required weekends/holidays May–October
Mountains-to-Sea Trail (Black Mountains section)
22.9 mi one way
Strenuous
Long-distance route through the Black Mountains
4 mi round trip
Moderate
Historic CCC camp ruins and Kephart Shelter, ~830 ft elevation gain
Mount Le Conte (via Alum Cave Trail)
10 mi round trip
Strenuous
Summit views at Cliff Top and Myrtle Point, passes Alum Cave Bluffs at 2.3 mi
Top Picks by What You Want
Best for a first overnight
Kephart Prong Trail is the shortest route in this set at 4 miles round trip with modest elevation gain, and it ends at an actual shelter — Kephart Shelter — making logistics simple for a first trip out. It's a reasonable choice if you want to test your gear without committing to a full weekend of strenuous mileage.
Best for a big view at the summit
Mount Le Conte via Alum Cave Trail delivers two distinct overlooks, Cliff Top and Myrtle Point, plus the striking Alum Cave Bluffs formation along the way at 2.3 miles in. At 10 miles round trip and strenuous, it rewards the effort with some of the most photographed views in the Smokies.
Best for a true high-elevation crossing
Black Mountain Crest Trail runs 11.3 miles one way and stays above 6,000 feet across multiple peaks, which is a different experience than a single summit push — expect exposed ridgeline and rapidly changing weather even in warmer months.
Best for solitude and a wilder feel
Linville Gorge Trail (#231) follows the Linville River into one of the most rugged gorges in the East. The primitive tread and permit requirement on weekends and holidays from May through October keep crowds down compared to more accessible routes.
Route Details
Art Loeb Trail — Section 1 runs 12.3 miles through Pisgah National Forest and is rated strenuous. The route passes Butter Gap Shelter, and hikers report a spring nearby, which is worth locating early since water sources on ridge sections can be inconsistent. Plan on a full day of climbing with a loaded pack, and treat this as a two-day trip unless you're already comfortable with long strenuous miles.
Black Mountain Trail covers 9.8 miles, also in Pisgah National Forest, and is similarly rated strenuous. It passes Buckhorn Gap shelter, which has a spring nearby — a useful water resupply point if you're stretching this into an overnight rather than pushing straight through.
Linville Gorge Trail (#231) is roughly 9 miles of primitive trail following the Linville River down into the gorge. Because the terrain is unmaintained in the way most graded trails are, footing is uneven and route-finding takes more attention. A backcountry camping permit is required on weekends and holidays from May through October, so check that requirement before you go if your trip falls in that window.
Mount Mitchell Trail climbs 5.6 miles one way to the summit of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi. The trail is strenuous for its length because of sustained elevation gain rather than technical terrain, and it's a common choice for hikers who want a single dramatic destination rather than a long traverse.
Black Mountain Crest Trail stretches 11.3 miles one way and stays above 6,000 feet as it crosses several peaks in the Black Mountains. This is a ridgeline trail in the truest sense — exposed in places, with weather that can shift fast even when the forecast looks calm at the trailhead.
Mountains-to-Sea Trail (Black Mountains section) runs 22.9 miles one way through the Black Mountains and is the longest route in this comparison. It's best approached as a multi-day trip with a shuttle plan, since it's a one-way traverse rather than a loop.
Kephart Prong Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains is a 4-mile round trip with about 830 feet of elevation gain, passing historic CCC camp ruins on the way to Kephart Shelter. It's a manageable half-day hike that can double as a short backpacking trip for those new to carrying overnight gear.
Mount Le Conte via Alum Cave Trail is a 10-mile round trip rated strenuous, passing Alum Cave Bluffs at 2.3 miles before climbing to the summit area, where Cliff Top and Myrtle Point offer two separate viewpoints. Many backpackers split this into an overnight to catch sunrise or sunset from one of the overlooks.
Parking, Fees, and What to Know Before You Go
Trailhead parking in this region ranges from small gravel pull-offs to more established lots, and popular access points can fill on weekends and holidays regardless of the trail's overall difficulty. Arriving earlier in the day gives you more flexibility if a lot is already full when you get there.
Cell service is unreliable to nonexistent on most of these routes once you're away from ridgelines with direct line of sight to towers, so download maps and let someone know your plan before you lose signal. Forest Service roads leading to trailheads can also be affected by seasonal closures, fallen trees, or washouts after heavy rain, so it's worth checking current road status rather than assuming last season's access still applies.
Where a specific requirement exists — like the backcountry permit needed for Linville Gorge Trail on weekends and holidays from May through October — treat it as a hard requirement rather than a suggestion, since enforcement in high-traffic wilderness areas has increased in recent years. For trails without a stated permit requirement here, that simply reflects the data available; always verify current backcountry camping rules for the specific national forest or park unit you're entering, since policies can be updated by the managing agency.
Best Season
Late spring through fall is generally the most reliable window for backpacking at these elevations, though each season brings tradeoffs. Summer offers the most stable weather at lower elevations but can bring afternoon thunderstorms on exposed ridgelines like the Black Mountain Crest Trail, so an early start matters more than usual.
Fall tends to bring clearer air and cooler hiking temperatures, which suits longer strenuous routes like the Mountains-to-Sea Trail section or Art Loeb Trail Section 1, but daylight hours shrink quickly, so plan mileage with an earlier finish in mind. Winter is workable on lower-elevation routes but the Parkway and high-elevation roads in this region close sections during icy weather, and summit trails like Mount Mitchell Trail or Mount Le Conte can hold snow and ice well after it's melted in Asheville itself. Spring brings runoff and higher water at stream crossings, which matters most on river-adjacent routes like Linville Gorge Trail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these routes is best for a first backpacking trip near Asheville? Kephart Prong Trail is the most approachable option in this comparison at 4 miles round trip with about 830 feet of elevation gain, ending at Kephart Shelter, which makes it a low-risk way to test your gear and pacing before attempting longer strenuous routes.
Do I need a permit to backpack in Linville Gorge? Yes, on Linville Gorge Trail (#231) a backcountry camping permit is required on weekends and holidays from May through October; outside that window and those days, requirements can differ, so confirm current rules before your trip.
Which trail has the best summit views? Mount Le Conte via Alum Cave Trail is the strongest pick for views in this set, with two named overlooks — Cliff Top and Myrtle Point — plus the Alum Cave Bluffs formation along the approach.
Are there reliable water sources on these trails? Some do: Art Loeb Trail Section 1 passes Butter Gap Shelter with a nearby spring, and Black Mountain Trail passes Buckhorn Gap shelter, which also has a spring nearby. Springs can vary seasonally, so treat all water regardless of source.
What's the longest backpacking route near Asheville in this list? The Mountains-to-Sea Trail's Black Mountains section is the longest at 22.9 miles one way, making it a multi-day commitment best planned with a shuttle rather than attempted as a there-and-back trip.