Hiking Near Old Fort & Asheville, NC
Lace up your boots and step right onto the trail. Wunderland sits on Curtis Creek Road in Old Fort, at the edge of Pisgah National Forest and about 30 minutes east of Asheville, surrounded by waterfalls, ridgeline overlooks, and quiet forest paths. Hike our private on-site loop and Rhododendron Forest Grounding Hike, walk to the Old Fort Gateway Trails, or drive a short way to Catawba Falls, Black Mountain, Mount Mitchell, Linville Gorge, and South Mountains State Park. Want a guide? We can set you up with a guided hike through Blue Ridge Hiking Tours, led by National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Jennifer Pharr Davis.
Check out...
On and off-site trails
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To go with a guide
Your Trailhead Starts at Wunderland
Some of the best hikes start before you even get in the car. Wake up, pour a coffee, and walk out your door onto trails that wind through the forest above the property.
On-site loop trail: a mile-long loop with views above the property, perfect for a sunrise walk or an evening leg-stretch.
Rhododendron Forest Grounding Hike: an immersive, slow walk through 15 acres of rhododendron canopy, open only to resort guests.
Walk to the Gateway Trails: the Old Fort Gateway Trails trailhead is about a mile from the resort.
Trail Map
Hiking Trails Near Wunderland, Mapped
Wunderland sits at the center of some of the best hiking in Western North Carolina. Use this map to see how close each trail is to the resort, from the Gateway Trails about a mile away to Linville Gorge and South Mountains State Park within a scenic drive.
Close to Home
Day Hikes Within 10 Miles of Wunderland
Old Fort Gateway Trails
About a mile from Wunderland. Easy-to-moderate forest walking on the Gateway, Foundation, Jarrett's Run, and Bernard Mountain trails, plus the 3-mile Lower Heartbreak Ridge Trail. Built by the G5 Trail Collective with the U.S. Forest Service.
Curtis Creek: Snooks Nose & Hickory Branch
About 3 miles up the road in Pisgah National Forest. Hickory Branch is a 3.2-mile round trip past several waterfalls. Snooks Nose is a strenuous 8-mile climb with views toward Linville Gorge.
Point Lookout & Kitsuma Peak
About 6 miles west near Ridgecrest. The paved Point Lookout Trail climbs 3.6 miles along an old highway grade with mountain and railroad views, while Kitsuma Peak rewards a steep switchback climb with big Blue Ridge views. Both are shared with cyclists.
Montreat & Black Mountain Trails
About 7 miles west. Climb the Lookout Trail in Montreat to a rocky summit view, or go longer on Graybeard Trail to Walker's Knob and Big Piney Ridge to Rattlesnake Rock. Then grab lunch in downtown Black Mountain.
10 Minutes from Wunderland: Catawba Falls is Western NC's Signature Waterfall Hike
Just 5 miles from Wunderland, Catawba Falls is the hike everyone asks about. An easy walk follows the young Catawba River through rhododendron and past old stone ruins to the lower falls. Ready for more? About 580 stairs and a 60-foot observation tower climb to the upper falls, and the Ridge Trail turns it into a roughly 3.5-mile loop. Hurricane Helene repair work is still underway on some platforms and side trails, so check current conditions with the Forest Service before you go.
Worth the Drive
Destination Hikes Within an Hour of Wunderland
Mount Mitchell State Park
About an hour up the Blue Ridge Parkway, stand on the highest peak east of the Mississippi (6,684 ft). Easy summit walk for families, or longer climbs through cool spruce-fir forest on the Old Mitchell and Deep Gap trails.
Linville Gorge Wilderness
Less than an hour north, the "Grand Canyon of the East" plunges toward the Linville River. Climb Hawksbill or Table Rock for huge views, or take the short walk to Wiseman's View. Trails are steep and rugged, and some are still recovering from Helene.
South Mountains State Park
About an hour east near Morganton, these quiet foothills hide rushing creeks and long ridge hikes. The High Shoals Falls Trail is still closed from Helene damage, but most trails from the Jacob Fork access are open again.
Lake James State Park
About 30 minutes east, easy lakeside trails in the Paddy's Creek area look back toward Shortoff Mountain and the rim of Linville Gorge. A great family hike, and in summer you can finish with a swim at the Paddy's Creek beach.
Plan Your Hike
Wunderland is an easy hiking basecamp: coffee on the porch, a short drive to the trailhead, and back by the fire for dinner.
Check trail status first. Hurricane Helene changed many trails around Old Fort, and the G5 Trail Collective and U.S. Forest Service post current openings and closures.
Share the trail. Many Old Fort trails are multi-use, so keep an ear out for mountain bikers on the descents.
Pack for the mountains: plenty of water, layers, a rain shell, and a downloaded map. Cell service is spotty in Pisgah National Forest.
Hiking Through the Seasons
Spring brings wildflowers and waterfalls running full at Catawba Falls and along Curtis Creek.
Summer is for shady creekside trails, or head up to Mount Mitchell, where the summit runs far cooler than town.
Fall color usually peaks in October, starting high on the Blue Ridge Parkway and rolling down toward Old Fort.
Winter opens up long views through bare trees, and lower trails stay hikeable most of the season. Check Parkway closures before heading up high.
Hiking Near Old Fort: Frequently Asked Questions
What hiking trails are closest to Wunderland Resort?
The Old Fort Gateway Trails trailhead is about a mile from the resort, and the Curtis Creek area of Pisgah National Forest, home to Snooks Nose and Hickory Branch, starts about 3 miles up our road. Resort guests can also walk our private 15-acre rhododendron forest.
Is there a waterfall hike near Old Fort, NC?
Yes. Catawba Falls is about 5 miles from Wunderland and is the area's best-known waterfall hike. The Curtis Creek trails also pass several smaller cascades along Hickory Branch.
How long is the Catawba Falls hike?
The walk to the lower falls is short and family friendly. Add the roughly 580 stairs and observation tower to reach the upper falls, or the Ridge Trail for a loop of about 3.5 miles.
Are trails near Old Fort open after Hurricane Helene?
Many have reopened, but some trails, platforms and waterfall areas are still under repair. Before you go, check the G5 Trail Collective, the U.S. Forest Service and NC State Parks for current status.
How far is Wunderland from Mount Mitchell and Linville Gorge?
Each is roughly an hour's drive. Lake James State Park is about 30 minutes away, and Montreat and Black Mountain trails are about 20 minutes west.
Where should I stay for hiking near Old Fort and Asheville?
Wunderland Resort at 448 Curtis Creek Rd in Old Fort puts you minutes from the trailheads, about 30 minutes from Asheville, with lodging and on-site camping for solo hikers, families and groups. Book online or call 828.419.4632.
OTHER ADVENTURES AT WUNDERLAND RESORT
Check out these other activities during your stay
Foraging
Foraging is a deeply grounding way to reconnect with the land, engage your senses, and return to nature's rhythms.
Water Activities
A variety of rivers and lakes ideal for paddling and water adventures of all kinds surround our resort.
Mountain Biking
Just five minutes by bike from the Gateway Trails system, we have direct access to scenic and historic riding areas.
Fly Fishing
Wunderland sits on Curtis Creek Road, home to one of WNC’s top rivers for rainbow, brook, and brown trout.