Check out the second listed hike at: http://www.romanticasheville.com/hiking.html

It's just past the Craggy Gardens visitor center and is a pretty short (maybe 20-minutes each way) hike/stroll up to the pinnacle. Absolutely stunning views at the top. One of my favorite easy hikes anywhere. Just be sure to follow the directions on the site to get to the exact trail. Have fun.

Molly and cmfong, I will be on look out for your waves. We can have a mini GTG!

Molly, are you staying on Tunnel Road near Asheville Mall or on Ashland Av. and Patton? I am arriving in AVL on March 30th from BTV via Newark

Litespeed_Chick, it is sad this happened in this beautiful setting. I guess you learned your lesson a hard way. Need to tell my sister who parks there often. We too enjoyed Coon Tree trail but found it not too difficult if y hike clockwise in order to avoid one very steep section. There are many small cascades and waterfalls along this trail but not many vistas. Can you give me an idea how to get to Slate Rock Cove/Loop off Yellow Gap Road in the North Mills River? Would love to hike this trail on our next trip to the area. After all we recently purchased 3 acres in Mills River.

Hi, All! We just returned (yesterday) from our 3 1/2 week trip south. We had a great time in general, but we loved,loved,loved the Asheville area! So much so, that we're planning on revisiting withn the year.

A lady from the visitor's center talked us into Chimney Rock, and I must say, for those who plan on hiking there this time of year, if you have the option, wait! A trail that supposedly has spectacular overlooks (the one that has the movie scenes) was closed, and no real colors on the trees yet. I did wave my buff, but I doubt that any of you guys were hiking here! Just got a few strange looks!

We stayed at the Days Inn on Tunnel Road (only $44 plus tax, very nice and clean, huge free breakfast). The first day we arrived early enough to explore downtown Asheville. It was a bit rainy and overcast, so we decided to save hiking for the next day. Parking, even with kayaks on our van, so low clearance, was relatively easy and inexpensive. There are lots here and there that allow you to pay by the hour. After enjoying the historic buildings and craft shops, we ate at the wonderful Early Girl eatery. My husband and I agreed that this was the most imaginative cooking we'd experienced on our trip. And quite reasonable.

As I said, though we enjoyed Chimney Rock, we should have saved this for another trip. Also, it was quite crowded. We did have a couple of hours to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway - it's spectacular! We were oohing and ahhing at every pull-off! That evening we ate at Sorrento's, a hole-in-the-wall type reaturant that someone on Fodor's suggested. It's on Tunnel Road, just down the road from our hotel. From the outside, it doesn't look like much, but it's beautiful and romantic inside, with a gurgling fountain, low lights, and roses on the table. We arrived rather grubby from hiking, but were graciously recieved by the lovely Italian woman who owns the place and a very personable waiter. The food was reasonable and delicious. The chef is the woman's 23 year-old son! They even brought out a large, free glass of wine after I managed to break a carafe of wine they had on the table to sample! I was horrified, but they were so nice, the woman fussing over me with band-aids! Next time we vist, I intend to dress up a bit - it's so romantic!

I am already planning our trip back - perhaps in the Fall. If any of you are returning, let's retry our "Fodor's Wave"! i'm dying to try all of the suggested hikes! And thanks for the warning about parking. I guess no place is immune from crime.

Pat and cmcfong, how were your trips?

ttt

Oh, Molly, so glad you had a great visit. So sorry I wasn't there to return the wave. Do start planning your return. Follow the wonderful counsel on this board and have a great visit.

Thanks, cmcfong - I already am! I'll keep that buff handy...

Pat - sorry I missed your question about Pilot Cove/Slate Rock earlier.

If you don't already have one, get the big waterproof/tearproof Pisgah map. Then head straight up Yellow Gap Road from Mills River Parking lot, go past the Laurel Mtn Trailhead (although that's a beautiful hike when the mountain laurel is in bloom). And park at the next trailhead to your right. Hike a couple of miles and you will see a place where you have to cross a creek on a log or rocks. There is a bootleg trail to the left that does not cross the creek. Don't take it or you will hit Laurel mountain after a very steep slog.

Instead cross the creek. Not long after that, you come to the top of a rise where there is a 90 degree right turn and the trail you are on goes straight. Take the right, and after a few more miles you will come to the amazing rocky lookout. That trail continues back down and intersects with the trail you had turned off of. You go left at that point and it takes you back out to the gravel, turn left again and hike back to your car. This would be a longish hike, now that I think of i think of it. I would guess close to 10 miles. Don't do it without a map, because the trail names are tricky. If you didn't want to do a loop, you could start at the 2nd trailhead to the right after Laurel Mtn. and follow my directions backwards , then double back at the rock.

I hope that's not too confusing.

Hubby and I drove to Max Patch yesterday and hiked up to the top of the bald. It's an easy walk, about a mile from the parking area to the top. It was a pretty day for the drive and the weather was gorgeous. Max Patch is an easy half-day from Asheville, and you could combine visiting Hot Springs / Marshall / Weaverville / points north for a full day of exploring the area.

Max Patch is 10-ish miles from Hot Springs, but is only accessible by gravel roads. The Appalachian Trail runs across the top of the bald. We stopped at the Pisgah Forest ranger station in Hot Springs and picked up directions to Max Patch from the box outside the office, otherwise, we'd never have found it (some turns are well-marked, others aren't).

If you have kids, take a couple kites with you -- that seems to be a popular activity atop the mountain. Take a blanket and a picnic lunch with you, sunscreen, binoculars, a hat and even a good book. It's probably a pretty good stargazing spot, too, but I'm not brave enough to drive up there in the dark. I put some photos up at get-glowing.blogspot.com.

Nice blog, Rae. I am sorry about your kitty.

Yes, Rae - enjoyed your blog.I am a fellow kittie-lover! Thanks for the additional Ashland area ideas.

Thanks you guys. We lost Vlad last year ... he was such a special kitty! He had anemia. Blood transfusions and all kinds of stuff ....

BUT BACK TO THE TOPIC -- The Cataloochie Valley would be another good day trip from Asheville. My guess is that it's an hour and a half to two hours from Asheville given the distance and then the gravel roads to get there. But if you get to see the elk, it's totally worth it! Cataloochie Valley is part of the GSMNP.

Oops! Meant to say "Asheville", not "Ashland", which you all know is in Oregon. I'm tempted to turn our van right around and return. We're thinking September might be a good month in terms of weather and avoiding foliage crowds. I can totally see why so many move to the Asheville area. Those elk would be fun to see!

lol Molly -- there is also Ashland in Kentucky, so I was putting on my Ashland / Huntington thinking cap. My brother-in-law is a monk in an Orthodox monastery not too far from Huntingon.

Litespeed_Chick, thanks. I have the map and I'll be checking out your detail directions sometime today.

Molly2, happy to hear you had such a nice time in Asheville. Of course, you didn't have enough time. Hopefully your next visit is going to be longer. Maybe we all can get together on your next visit. I'm still here in Cedar Mountain to the end of this week. We are interviewing builders and working on designing our house. Went hiking in the Arboretum yesterday, on Saturday to John Rock and tomorrow planning on hiking in the Shining Rock area if the parkway is open. Too bad you did not get a full benefit of the Chimney Rock. We drove there last October or November and asked how many school buses were visiting that day. After we heard there were already seven buses we turned around and went hiking to Craggy Gardens. Chimney Rock Park is a private park and very small. We didn't want to hike on crowded trails. After paying $14.00 (?)admission we wanted to spend there all day without too many kids running around.
We hiked in Pisgah Forest, DuPont Forest, the Arboretum, Biltmore Estate, the Green River area near Saluda in October and found a number of trails without any people on them. We tried to avoid weekends and that is when trails get crowded but any time of the year is a great time to visit this area. I would say the end of October is even better time for visiting after all leaves are gone in Vermont.

rae, that's interesting! I didn't know that there is an Ashland in Kentucky. I'm sorry you lossed Vlad. My husband and I pet-sit and work with several animal organizations. Cats are probably my favorite creatures!

Pat, if you are building, you must really like Asheville! We're already talking about moving!

So, is late October still warmish and is there foliage on the trees? Yes, it would be such fun to get together! Our next visit will be for 1-2 weeks, getting longer the more I read the hiking tips you all have!

You hit the nail on the head, Pat. It's the crowds that most lessen the enjoyment of exploring Chimney Rock. We must have hit it on school vacation, because there were tons of families.

Yes, late October is normally still mild fall weather, possibly even Indian Summer. Nothing is guaranteed, though. You could definately get morning temps below freezing if there is a cold snap.

The leaves are considered peak color on the 3rd weekend of Oct., but this can vary widely. They won't be completely off the trees until late Nov or so.

Molly, check this link out for more ideas
www.hikingthecarolinas.com

Yup, no guarantees when it comes to weather! Litespeed chic, is it terribly crowded mid-late October? I'm kind of aiming for a less-touristy fring-season, with still potentially nice weather (like March?)!

Pat, thanks for the great link!

We hiked in the end of October last year and on some of the trails there were maybe 3-4 couples and two groups of 4-5 hikers. Only on trails in the Shining Rock Wilderness area and Graveyard Fields there were more hikers on weekend but it was never crowded. We passed them, they passed us, we often exchanged comments about trails or sunrise or weather and then we were alone again. We loved seeing wild flowers, especially prolific gentian along those trails and so late in the season. There were a couple trails in the area where we did not see another soul all day long. You need to keep in mind that most of tourists who come during this popular season drive along the parkway, stop in overlooks, take a short walk to Devil's Courthouse or the falls in the Graveyard Fields and continue to Looking Glass Waterfalls. These are places were you find many cars on weekends, otherwise you won't definitely have crowds on hiking trails that are longer and more challenging. The area of Pisgah national Forest is huge and has endless hiking trails with enough breathing space and solitude for those who hike. I remember wearing t-shirt and shorts. Molly, I hope this helps.

It does help, thanks! Lol - it sounds just like Vt.! Or anywhere for that matter - I think I read somewhere that most people don't walk beyond a certain distance of their car...

Wildflowers in late October? Now that would never happen in Vt.!

It must be so exciting to be designing your house!