Thanks to the diverse terrain, great trail infrastructure, and huge hiking communities, our region has some of the best hikes that there are to offer. Whether you're a new hiker or an experienced pro, if you want to get outside more this upcoming year, we've got plenty of hiking suggestions!
Here's our list of 12 hikes for the New Year, complete with lots of details about each one, if you need inspiration (or information!) to get your year of hiking started off right!
Hikes in Virginia:
Shenandoah National Park, Riprap Area
This classic hike in Shenandoah National Park has it all: stunning views, waterfalls, streams, rocky terrain. It's a strenuous, ~10-mile hike that will be perfect for experienced hikers, and it's accessible off of the scenic Skyline Drive, which cuts through the area and offers great views before you even get on trail. There are also camping opportunities, like the Loft Mountain Campground, available close by, so if you're not feeling ready to head home just yet, you don't have to!
Find out more information about Shenandoah National Park's Riprap Area here!
Dolly Sods Wilderness, North Loop Hike
Okay, so this one's technically in West Virginia. But Dolly Sods is so different from a lot of the other mountainous terrain offered in the southern Appalachians that we had to include it here. A roughly 3-hour drive from Charlottesville, the Wilderness provides sweeping views, high-elevation meadows, rocky trails, and species and landscapes similar to areas much further north. While it can be a bit of a hassle to get there (thank the notoriously rocky gravel roads) there are countless opportunities for (free) backpacking and hikes. It's a unique area that you don't want to overlook!
Find out more information about the Dolly Sods Wilderness's North Loop Hike here!
Crabtree Falls Trail
A short, moderately difficult trail located in the Washington & Jefferson National Forest, the aptly named Crabtree Falls Trail gives visitors plenty of looks at the 60-foot waterfall that it's named after. A great option for newer hikers or those that don't have the time to hike 5+ miles, the trail meanders up to the falls and has two descent options, allowing visitors to see even more of the surrounding area. The trail is also close to the Appalachian Trail, if you're interested in extending your day of hiking!
Find out more information about the Crabtree Falls Trail here!
Hikes in NC:
Latta Nature Preserve
This nature preserve, located close to Charlotte, provides a glimpse of pre-colonization North Carolina. Prairie, which used to cover a large amount of the Piedmont Area, is on full display here, with native flowers, grasses, and animals galore. While there's a four-mile stretch that we recommended hiking, the preserve offers 14 more miles of trail! The preserve also has a nature center if you want to learn more! With easy to moderate hiking options, this preserve is great for hikers who don't want an overly strenuous hike or need a quick break from the bustle of the city.
Find out more information about the Latta Nature Preserve here!
Middle Prong Wilderness, Green Knob Hike
The sparsely hiked Middle Prong Wilderness is a great, rustic getaway from any crowds in the Shining Rock Wilderness and Pisgah National Forest. Despite the remoteness that smaller size and smaller crowds might imply, the area is easily accessible due to the MST, NC 215, and Blue Ridge Parkway! The hike up to Green Knob takes you through flower-filled meadows, beautiful balds, and provides stunning views of the surrounding valley. This hike (and the Middle Prong Wilderness area!) make a perfect adventure for experienced hikers who want to see new terrain without going somewhere too far-flung.
Find out more information about the Middle Prong Wilderness's Green Knob here!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Deep Creek Loop
The nation's most visited National Park, the GSMNP is a must-see destination for outdoors enthusiasts in the southeast. This trail takes you down Deep Creek, a phenomenal backpacking area and a popular area for hikers and sight-seers. Offering easier terrain than some parts of the park, this hike goes through three waterfalls and follows Deep Creek as it winds through the mountains. There are plenty of options to extend your hike if the moderate 4 miles isn't enough for you- you can easily continue up the Deep Creek or Sunkota Ridge Trail. If you want to make it a weekend trip, both an established campground and plentiful backpacking sites are available.
Find out more information about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Deep Creek Loop here!
Uwharrie National Forest, Jumping Off Rock to King Mountain
A forest in Southern NC whose ancient mountains are part of the isolated Uwharrie range, the Uwharrie National Forest offers great opportunities for hiking some hilly wilderness a reasonable distance from Charlotte and the Triangle. The famous Uwharrie National Recreation Trail cuts through the park, and it is on that trail that the hike that we've recommended takes place. It's a ~5 mile out-and-back trip to King Mountain, and on the way you can find creek crossings, differing terrain, great views, and well-marked trails. And if you're feeling like a longer trip, it's always possible to extend your hike down the trail- or better, stay the night at one of the backpacking sites close by!
Find out more information about the Uwharrie National Forest and Uwharrie National Recreation Trail here!
Umstead State Park, Sycamore Trail
Arguably the best state park close to Raleigh, Umstead offers 30+ miles of hiking trails that wind through and around Piedmont forest, creeks, and lakes. One of the best trails in the park, Sycamore, is a well-kept secret - located off of the much-less-busy Glenwood entrance, the 7+ mile loop trail is beautiful and well-maintained. Perfect for a quick escape from the city!
Find out more information about Umstead State Park's Sycamore Trail here!
Linville Gorge Area, Mountains-to-Sea Trail to Table Rock Mountain
One of the most famous hiking areas in NC, if not the entire Southeast, Linville Gorge provides plenty of strenuous (but stunning!) hiking. The 15.7 mile hike we've chosen takes place on the MST and takes you through both the Chimneys and Table Rock Mountain, two trademark views of the area. The gorge's stunning views, which are most incredible at sunrise and sunset, are on full display here! While this hike is long, there are plenty of options to break it up by making it a multi-day trip - primitive campsites are plentiful in the area.
Find out more information about the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in the Linville Gorge Area here!
Mount Mitchell State Park, Mount Mitchell Loop
This strenuous 6-mile hike takes you up one of the most famous mountains in North Carolina - Mount Mitchell, the 6,684 foot peak that is the highest point east of the Mississippi. But that's not all! You'll also get to see another summit, an evergreen forest, and multiple waterfalls on your trek through Mount Mitchell State Park, which is located in Pisgah National Forest. Difficult? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
Find out more information about Mount Mitchell State Park and its Mount Mitchell Loop here!
Goose Creek State Park Hiking
Goose Creek State Park is a hiking gem. A coastal state park featuring a cyprus swamp, moss-draped oaks, historical sites, and river views, Goose Creek has countless short trails that wind through it, each leading you to a new discovery. Choose your own adventure- make the day as easy or strenuous as you like. But no which trails (or boardwalks!) you choose to hike, making the trip will always be worth it.
Find out more information about the hiking at Goose Creek State Park here!
Hikes in SC:
Kings Mountain State Park & Crowders Mountain State Park, Ridgeline Trail
While this strenuous hike technically starts in North Carolina, it ends in South Carolina at Kings Mountain State Park- and also ends at a campsite, which means that there's a great opportunity to turn a day hike into a weekend trip! The hike travels on a ridgeline and later descends, meaning that you can see all different types of terrain on your 12-mile trip, from mountain views to piedmont forest to lowlands.
Find out more information about the Kings Mountain + Crowders Mountain State Parks here!