Parks and the outdoors in Asheville

20 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Asheville.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

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Battery Park Hotel
A 14-story building faced with brick, limestone and terra cotta trim with a Mission Revival style roof, erected in 1924.
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Grove Arcade
Commissioned by Dr. E. W. Grove, the Grove Arcade is an elaborate Tudoresque building occupying an entire city block. It is particularly worth noting, as it was, when it was built in 1927 by architect Charles N. Parker, one of the nation's most unique and interesting buildings. On each side of this city landmark, four giant arches allow entrance into the building. On the main side facing the equally impressive Victorian Battery Park Hotel, are two monumental gryphons, guarding the entrance into the expansive interior, which features oak shopfronts, spiral staircases, and opulence around every corner. Today, it serves as an influential public market with several restaurants, vendors, and mountain craft shops.
Mon-Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun noon-5PM
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Grove Park Inn
Completed in 1913, this historic resort hotel is an important example of the Arts and Crafts style.
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The Biltmore Estate
A French Renaissance-inspired chateau; with over 250 rooms, it is the largest single family home in the U.S. and the largest privately-owned house in the world, just a few minutes outside the city and should be on any visitor's itinerary. Basic admission includes access to the fabulous gardens, stables, expansive hiking trails, winery and self-guided house tour.
Adults $76-96, youth price half-admission, children 9 and under are free
Drink Not mapped
Bier Garden
Over 200 beers from around the world and a full liquor bar. For the sports fans, they have 16 televisions including a 15-foot screen.
Daily 11AM-2AM
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Biltmore Estate Carriage & Trail Ride Barns
Lessons, guided trail rides, shows, clinics, and camps. Must pay entrance fee to Biltmore estate.
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Blue Ridge Parkway
Some of the most beautiful (and abundant) waterfalls can be reached via the Blue Ridge Parkway. Park your car on any Parkway overlook and there will most likely be a trail nearby. Popular spots include Mount Pisgah (15 miles south on the Parkway), Graveyard Fields (25 miles south on the Parkway), Craggy Gardens (24 miles north on the Parkway), and Mount Mitchell, the eastern United States highest mountain (35 miles/1 hour drive north on the Parkway). The Parkway intersects Asheville at US 25, US 70, US 74A & NC 191.
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Botanical Gardens at Asheville
A half-mile loop across streams, through meadows, and over a woodland ridge to a wildflower cove with an authentic log cabin. Just three miles north of downtown beside the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
Open from dawn to duskFree
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Electro Bike Tours
Pedal with ease to the Basilica of St. Lawrence, Botanical Gardens, Grove Park Inn, Pack Square, and more on this guided two-hour electric bike tour of Asheville. Also, check out the Bike n Brew Ride!
$45 per person
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Historic Trolley Tours
Sightsee Asheville aboard a vintage Trolley. Fully narrated, covers all major points of interest in Asheville including: the Grove Park Inn, Biltmore Village, the Grove Arcade, the Montford Historic District, the downtown shopping and restaurants district, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, the Asheville Museum and Art Gallery district, the Asheville Chamber and Visitors Center.
Adults $19, children $12, special group rates available
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Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF)
Twice each year, multicultural music and arts non-profit event held at scenic Camp Rockmont, in nearby Black Mountain.
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Mast General Store
Has an old-fashioned to modern day assortment of products. Old-time candy in barrels to hiking and camping equipment and apparel.
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Montford Park Players
Free Shakespeare and other classic plays held at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre in Montford.
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North Carolina Arboretum
A 434-acre facility with a Visitor Education Center, state-of-the-art greenhouses, beautiful gardens, and walking trails.
April to October: 8AM-9PM, November to March: 8AM-7PMParking is $8 per personal motor vehicle
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Pisgah National Forest
Much of Western North Carolina is covered by national forest, making it a hiker’s paradise. For maps or information on great places to hike, call the National Forest Service.
Buy Not mapped
The Grove Arcade
A restored and exquisite building built by E.W. Grove, who also designed the Grove Park Inn in the 1920s. It is filled with specialty food markets, restaurants, and local mountain craft stores.
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Urban Trail
A self-guided walking tour in downtown Asheville, tracing the footsteps of Asheville’s historic past. Twenty-seven "stations" are highlighted in this continuous 1.6-mile loop, from churches and buildings to streets and landmarks. Guided tours are available April through November on Saturdays at 3PM. Tours leave from the front desk inside Pack Place. Headsets and maps are available for self-guided tours.
$5
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Woolworth Walk
More than 150 exhibiting artists and artisans selling and making jewelry, fine art, decorative art and crafts in nearly 20,000 square feet of air-conditioned, quality display and studio space.
Mon-Thu 11AM–6PM, Fri Sat 11AM-8PM, Sun 11AM–5PM
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Food Lion Skate Park
An outdoor skateboarding park in downtown Asheville.
Mon-Fri noon-dark, Sat 10AM-dark, Sun 1PM-darkWeekdays $2 for city residents, $4 for non-residents. Weekend/Holiday $3 for city residents, $5 for non-residents
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Lake Julian
off of Long Shoals Road in South Asheville
Paddleboat and canoe rentals $5/hour, fishing boats $7.50/four hours, kayaking programs $5/half hour, $10/hour, $15/two hours, windsurfing lessons available by appointment only

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Asheville (CC BY-SA 4.0).