TOP 5 HIKES in NORTH CAROLINA | Short Hikes with Amazing Views

[@Explorcation]

Hey everyone, thanks so much for watching! What was your favorite hike on the list? If you have hiked in North Carolina and have trails to add to this list let us know in the comments! If you are interested in any of these hikes be sure to check out our additional hike videos linked in the video description 😊

[@NickandRachel]

Awesome video guys! Beautiful locations

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much for watching, guys. Western NC really is a beautiful area.

[@NickandRachel]

@@Explorcation we love North Carolina definitely one of our favorite states to film in so far!

[@Explorcation]

@@NickandRachel you and us both!

[@NickandRachel]

@@Explorcation 🙂

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

Nice! Beautiful video. New follower here. Great hikes in NC. Crow✌️

[@Explorcation]

Thank you so much for the sub. It really is an amazingly beautiful area, and we can't wait to get back there soon!

[@minifoodies9448]

Wonderful ur video pop up on my screen and I so entertained❤️ 😃 Happy to see u friend and want to see ur videos more & more👍

[@Explorcation]

So happy to hear that you enjoyed the video! Thanks so much for your support.

[@jinavl]

chimney rock 17$ just to hike the trails

[@Explorcation]

Yeah, it's a bit hard justifying that price when there are so many other beautiful hikes that cost nothing (or next to nothing). With the buses and the elevator, it's really more of a non-hiker's hiking destination.

[@chrisbranham1608]

Loved your video!! Thanks so much for taking the time to make the video and then for sharing it. I do have a question though. Are dogs allowed on any of the trails you highlighted?

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much, Chris. I do believe that dogs are allowed on both the Hawksbill and Chimneys trails in the Linville Gorge. I'm not sure about the other three. We didn't see any dogs on those trails, but can't say for certain that they aren't allowed.

[@StreetN1ckel]

Thank you! Long drive from Iowa to Florida and I wanted a hike in between

[@Explorcation]

Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment. Skylar is actually from Iowa as well. We drove through eastern Tennessee when we moved down to Florida, which was what first made us look into hiking in the smokeys/Appalachians.

[@JudgeD-hc9vw]

Great video. Im just back home to NC after living abroad for 20 years. In just a few weeks ive been back, i have done the Stone Mountain loop trail, which has been upgraded to huge steps. 😢. This weekend will do Crowders, heatwave permitting. For the fall leaf turning, ill get to Pisgah.

[@Explorcation]

Thank you! We're glad to hear you hit the ground running after moving back to the states! Sorry to hear about the steps at the Stone Mountain loop trail. That was one we've been wanting to do for a while, but not as excited about it now.

[@jasonmears4393]

Great video. Really enjoyed it. Max Patch would be a good one to add. But it might be closed not sure.

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much, Jason. Max Patch was on our list but we ended up running out of daylight on the day we were hoping to do it. It will 100% be on our list next time we make it to NC, and hopefully we can make a good video on it!

[@TheAverageTourist]

All of these hikes look awesome! I would love to do any of them and I really like the changing colours of the trees. So many beautiful views! I don't know that I'd want to do the rock scrambling though...

[@Explorcation]

We really got lucky with the changing of the leaves, as we really hadn't even thought about it when we planned the trip. The rock scrambling has turned into one of our favorite things to do. I feel like we had a healthy fear of heights at the beginning of this trip, but by the end, it was pretty much gone 😅

[@groundbreakerexplore]

Such great adventures you guys have been through, do keep on exploring new places! Stay safe, stay connected

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much for the kind words! We certainly will keep exploring!

[@BeingBedingfield]

Great idea for a video! The nice thing about long and tough hikes are when you get rewarded with beautiful views, which makes the short hikes with beautiful views feel a bit like cheating 😂 The area looks stunning, the views from the top are great, but it’s also nice to have the option to hike at the bottom.

[@Explorcation]

Yeah we know what you mean. We loved every minute of the views on these hikes, but they do seem to be a little sweeter when you have to really bust your ass to get there! I think that's why to this date our St. Lucia hike is still my favorite. That one was TOUGH!

[@RichardinNC1]

Nice video. I've done a few of them but not the last 2. Another short hike with a rewarding view is Craggy Pinnacle, along the BRP. About 1 mile round trip, there's a 360 degree walled summit with views clear to Tennessee. Nearby is the Craggy Gardens hike as well. The Linville Falls trails are relatively short with several great viewpoints or do them all for an all day experience. There are great trails in Crowders Mtn State Park just west of Charlotte. My favorite being the 4 mile loop to Kings Pinnacle and back. Great views to the north and to the east seeing the Charlotte skyline. The Crowders Mtn side had popular rock climbing areas as well.

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much. We'll definitely check out Craggy Pinnacle next time we are up in NC. Sounds like our type of hike!

[@jessklay8594]

Which hike would you say is the most romantic? For honeymoon

[@Explorcation]

Oh wow that's tough. If you like waterfalls, then Chimney Rock may be the best as there is a really nice waterfall at the end of the Skyline trail. There's A LOT of stairs to climb, but once you get to the top of those, the last 20 minutes or so of the hike is really relaxing. If you are just looking for the best views without too much effort, I'd go with Hawksbill or the Chimneys. We could easily just relax and enjoy the views at either for ours.

[@teddyfla]

which of these would be best for the winter? i’m headed up jan 1st to 4th?

[@Explorcation]

I think we read once that the access road to Hawksbill and the Chimneys may be closed in the winter. As far as the other three, we're not sure if they are accessible in the winter or not as we've never attempted to hike any of these trails in the winter. I wish we could be more help!

[@dr2legit]

Rough Ridge!

[@Explorcation]

Yeah, that one easily could have (probably should have) made the list. Great hike!

[@cathygraham8005]

Yes Rough Ridge is easily accessible with great sunrises and gorge views. An even easier hike is Beacon Heights at BRP and 221. Great views and sunrises too. Grandfather Mountain has awesome hiking in varying difficulty. You can hike up from Boone Fork parking area on the BRP or Profile Trailhead off 105 if you don't want to pay to get into Grandfather Mountain. That dirt/gravel road to Hawksbill is REALLY rough and potholed!!

[@jinavl]

another gem is called eagle rock near lake lure..1/2 mile hike to the top and the best views in the area with lake lure below you..i live 20 mins from it as we mountain bike it as well

[@Explorcation]

We've heard a lot of good things about that hike, but haven't gotten to experience it yet for ourselves. It will definitely be at the top of our list next time we make it to the area!

[@sjcproductionsandmedia]

I just came back from Estes State Park in Colorado and although they are a sight everyone should see at least once ...NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS CANNOT BE BEAT! They are so beautiful 😍

[@Explorcation]

We've been wanting to get a Rockies hike planned forever, but don't even know where to begin! Plus as you said, the NC mountains can't be beat (and are so much closer to us here in FL).

[@mtnbums2000]

@@Explorcation plan a trip to the High Sierra’s instead. Do as much of the JMT as your heart desires, some of the most beautiful terrain in our country. I lived in Mammoth Lakes, Ca for 15 years and I’ve lived in Western NC for about 12 years.

[@Explorcation]

@@mtnbums2000 I just googled the JMT trail and the views are stunning 😍 thank you for the recommendation.

[@shawnaustin8957]

👍👍

[@Explorcation]

Thanks for watching, Shawn!

[@romanandfizah]

Such great video guys, awesome footage and trendy !

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much for watching. It was fun to go back through the footage from a year ago and put this compilation video together!

[@brown55061]

Anyone know if you can get into the Linville areas during winter? I am gonna be passing through in February and would like to hike a little but it seems some of the roads are closed down. I know snow and ice could make those trails sketchy but if it's not frozen it looks like a great area to hike.

[@Explorcation]

We've never visited the gorge curing the winter but do know that the main access road to complete the Chimneys and Hawksbill hikes does close down for the winter. We do hope you are able to find a way to hike there in February though!

[@MarkEdelstein]

Snow in the NC mountains can be highly variable from year to year. Many years ago I did a hike by Grandfather Mountain (located in the more snowy northwest part of the state) in February and the only snow I saw was the artificial kind on the nearby ski slopes. The gravel road that runs along the western edge of the Gorge (The Kistler Memorial Highway/aka Old NC-105) would probably be open and if there is no snow, can be traversed in a non-4 wheel drive vehicle. There are a variety of trails that leave off this road into the Gorge.

[@Adaisy45]

Just beautiful!! Thank you for this! Wonderful video!!

[@Explorcation]

We're so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@erinfagan405]

Such a great video!

[@Explorcation]

Thank you so much, for the kind comment, Erin. We hope to do a lot more hiking this year and hopefully make hiking videos as well!

[@ScullyPop]

Simply gorgeous.

[@Explorcation]

Western NC really is an amazingly beautiful place.

[@jessklay8594]

Enjoyed this video, thanks for sharing :)

[@Explorcation]

We're glad you enjoyed it, Jess. Thanks for watching!

[@romanm9718]

Beautiful video. Great views and very informative.

[@Explorcation]

Thanks, Roman. It's hard to beath the views on those North Carolina Hikes!

[@renohiker]

Nice work, headed that direction for a week of hiking early March. Sounds like we may not be able to hit some due to seasonal closures but we’ll figure it out. Thanks for sharing. Subbed and checking out some more. Cheers 🍻

[@Explorcation]

Thanks! We've been dying to get back there ourselves. We've been getting a lot of beach time in this winter but sure are missing those hills!

[@LucasWorldTravel]

Wow such great views in under an hour! Sign us up! We loved that one shot of you walking to the edge of the mountain so inspiringly beautiful!

[@Explorcation]

Oh thanks so much guys! We really hope you do get the opportunity to check out western North Carolina sometime. Especially this time of year, when the weather is beautiful and the leaves are starting to change!

[@BobCarlson]

After some of the worst times in my life I escaped to Chimney Rock and Linville Falls. I returned completely refreshed with a new direction in my life. But that one cliff you were so casually sitting on…. I remember crawling up to and clamping my fingers so tight on the edge I had to be pried off. Lol. I have long since lost my paralyzing fear of heights. Can’t wait to get back to the mountains.

[@Explorcation]

I (Skylar) had not fear of heights as a child. Then at age 6 I fell out of a tree and broke my ankle. I've had a bit of a fear of heights ever since. But it's a fear that I strangely enjoy. We're glad to hear that you have overcome your fear of heights and are able to enjoy beautiful hikes like these! Thanks for watching, as always, Bob.

[@pawlah1]

Stone Mountain State Park is my favorite with a mountain, waterfall and a homestead all in one 4.5 mile hike!!

[@Explorcation]

Thank you so much for sharing, it sounds like a hike we need to check out!

[@TravelInteresante]

Amazing video, we are not hikers but are always inspired by those who are doing it! All the trails and mountain views are impressive. Love how there are elevators too! Unsure how you get so close to the cliffs, be very careful!

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much, guys. Yeah the elevator at Chimney Rock is really nice. It's great that people who are disabled or unable to hike can still get up there and see the view!

[@Hollowsmith]

One short hike that has a BEAUTIFUL payoff is the Rainbow Falls Trail down by Sapphire, NC. That trail has such an epic waterfall, it's in a remote area so there's not too many tourists, and yet it's a really short easy hike, but not so short that there's any roads nearby. Such an awesome hike.

[@Explorcation]

Awesome, thanks for sharing. I had to look Sapphire up on the map to see exactly where it is, and we've definitely been close to that area before (when visiting Whiteside and Cashiers). Hopefully we'll get to experience this hike first hand someday soon!

[@Hollowsmith]

@@Explorcation Go after a big rain. The volume of water on that fall after a big rain is possibly the best in western NC.

[@Explorcation]

@@Hollowsmith that definitely sounds like something we would want to see, thank you for sharing :)

[@TideKnotTravellers]

Those autumnal colours look beautiful! It’s my favourite time of year to go hiking. You guys have some great places to head out to. We actually met a couple in Croatia the other day who were from North Carolina, only now have I just realised how beautiful their home is!

[@Explorcation]

Wow that's so cool that you met some North Carolina people. Yeah, North Carolina is probably the most beautiful state in the eastern half of the US, as it has beautiful mountains and beaches. We go for the mountains, obviously, as we get plenty of beaches here in Florida!

[@marvinwenger5035]

Great job!! Y’all How did you find such nice blue sky days to hike!!?? 😃😂

[@Explorcation]

There's no doubt we've gotten some great weather for our hiking days. We've had it rain over night and while we're driving, but every time we get out on the trail the sun seems to be shining!

[@exploreaswego]

Fun video you guys! It's so nice to see this from you as it's so different from your other more recent videos though I know you guys did a lot of EXPLORING during your VACATION days :). Always love you calming voiceover experience and the time-lapse of walking the trails! Hope you guys are well!

[@Explorcation]

It was definitely a nice change of pace to make this hikes compilation video. Going through all of this footage from last fall definitely makes us eager to get back in the mountains! Thanks for watching and for the kind comments!