Park · Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina

Best hikes in Nantahala National Forest

The 30 best of 144 trails in Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina, ranked by route quality.

Trails
144
Easy
78
Moderate
21
Hard
22
Expert
23

By activity

Common features

Top trails

  1. Rainbow Falls Trail Moderate · 3.9 mi (6.3 km) · Elevation Gain 738 ft (225 m) · 1 hr 40 min
  2. Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Segment 2 Expert · 58 mi (93.3 km) · Elevation Gain 9,724 ft (2,964 m) · 23 hr 35 min
  3. Jackrabbit Mountain Trail Moderate · 4.1 mi (6.6 km) · Elevation Gain 607 ft (185 m) · 1 hr 40 min
  4. Wauchecha Bald Trail Expert · 14.9 mi (23.9 km) · Elevation Gain 3,681 ft (1,122 m) · 6 hr 40 min
  5. Yellow Mountain Trail Expert · 12.5 mi (20.1 km) · Elevation Gain 2,874 ft (876 m) · 5 hr 30 min
  6. Old Fontana Forest Road Hard · 7.1 mi (11.5 km) · Elevation Gain 991 ft (302 m) · 2 hr 50 min
  7. Lookout Rock Trail Moderate · 2.4 mi (3.9 km) · Elevation Gain 1,017 ft (310 m) · 1 hr 20 min
  8. Homesite Road Easy · 1.4 mi (2.2 km) · Elevation Gain 269 ft (82 m) · 35 min
  9. Tsali Right Loop Hard · 10.8 mi (17.3 km) · Elevation Gain 876 ft (267 m) · 3 hr 55 min
  10. Rabbit Ridge Trail Hard · 8.7 mi (14 km) · Elevation Gain 1,007 ft (307 m) · 3 hr 20 min
  11. Tsali Left Loop Hard · 11.9 mi (19.2 km) · Elevation Gain 584 ft (178 m) · 4 hr 10 min
  12. Church Cove Connector Easy · 1.9 mi (3.1 km) · Elevation Gain 59 ft (18 m) · 40 min
  13. Lewellyn Cove Trail Easy · 2.7 mi (4.4 km) · Elevation Gain 387 ft (118 m) · 1 hr 5 min
  14. Central Loop Easy · 3.1 mi (4.9 km) · Elevation Gain 144 ft (44 m) · 1 hr 5 min
  15. Huckleberry Trail Easy · 1.8 mi (2.9 km) · Elevation Gain 331 ft (101 m) · 45 min
  16. Elmer Hollow Trail Easy · 2.2 mi (3.5 km) · Elevation Gain 210 ft (64 m) · 50 min
  17. Mysterious Cabin Loop Hard · 9 mi (14.5 km) · Elevation Gain 1,181 ft (360 m) · 3 hr 30 min
  18. Ramsey Bend South A Trail Easy · 1.7 mi (2.7 km) · Elevation Gain 167 ft (51 m) · 40 min
  19. High Point Trail Easy · 2 mi (3.2 km) · Elevation Gain 262 ft (80 m) · 45 min
  20. Dave Thompson Loop Hard · 13.4 mi (21.5 km) · Elevation Gain 1,129 ft (344 m) · 4 hr 55 min
  21. Appalachian Trail Expert · 159.7 mi (257 km) · Elevation Gain 34,606 ft (10,548 m) · 69 hr
  22. Bartram Nrt - Nantahala Road Expert · 68.8 mi (110.7 km) · Elevation Gain 13,360 ft (4,072 m) · 28 hr 55 min
  23. Bartram Trail Expert · 67.1 mi (108 km) · Elevation Gain 16,106 ft (4,909 m) · 29 hr 45 min
  24. Cheoah Trail Easy · 2.3 mi (3.8 km) · Elevation Gain 417 ft (127 m) · 1 hr
  25. Pickens Nose Trail Easy · 1.4 mi (2.3 km) · Elevation Gain 236 ft (72 m) · 35 min
  26. Round Mountain Gap Trail Moderate · 2.5 mi (4.1 km) · Elevation Gain 528 ft (161 m) · 1 hr 5 min
  27. Big Scaley Trail Easy · 1.6 mi (2.6 km) · Elevation Gain 325 ft (99 m) · 40 min
  28. Rim Trail Expert · 17.7 mi (28.5 km) · Elevation Gain 5,669 ft (1,728 m) · 8 hr 35 min
  29. Mouse Branch Overlook Trail Moderate · 4.2 mi (6.7 km) · Elevation Gain 453 ft (138 m) · 1 hr 35 min
  30. Clifftop Vista Trail Moderate · 3.5 mi (5.6 km) · Elevation Gain 1,024 ft (312 m) · 1 hr 40 min

See all trails near Nantahala National Forest

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GoTrails · Route data: © OpenStreetMap