Blue Ridge Parkway & Waterfall Hike from Asheville

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.97 (666 reviews) 98% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/11

Duration5h 30m

GroupUp to 8

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Three Waterfalls & the Blue Ridge Parkway in One Morning

You get picked up from your hotel, driven to three different waterfalls across Pisgah National Forest and a state forest, walk about 3 miles on easy-to-moderate trails with snacks and drinks included, and return by early afternoon. The guide handles navigation and stories about the area's history, so you just focus on the walking and the views.

5h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Blue Ridge Parkway and Waterfall Hiking

Pick up at hotel or visitor center
Drive along Blue Ridge Parkway
Drive to first waterfall in Pisgah Forest
Visit two waterfalls in state forest
Hike approximately 3 miles on trails
Enjoy included snack and drink
Return to hotel by 1:30 p.m.

The Experience

You're going to spend half the day in a van with someone who actually knows these mountains, and the other half walking to waterfalls you'd probably never find on your own. The Blue Ridge Parkway tour from Asheville picks you up at your hotel (or the visitor center if you're staying farther out) and heads straight into Pisgah National Forest, where the first waterfall is waiting. It's not a long drive, but the scenery starts working on you right away — the kind of view that makes you understand why people have been coming to these hills for generations.

The hiking part is about 3 miles total, spread across roughly two hours with stops built in so you're not just grinding through. You'll hit three waterfalls and pass through two protected forests, and the pace is easy enough that you're not racing. The trails are rated easy to moderate, which means they're walkable but not flat — bring shoes that grip. Your guide carries the drinks and snacks, so you just show up ready to move. If the weather cooperates, you'll also get the scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway itself, which is the whole reason this road exists — the views are the point, and they don't disappoint from the van window either.

The van holds a maximum of eight people, which keeps it from feeling like a bus tour, and you're back in Asheville by around 1:30 p.m., leaving the afternoon open. Hotel pickup is included if you're within three miles of the city center; otherwise, meet your guide at the Asheville Visitor Center. The tour runs in most weather, so bring a jacket if rain is in the forecast — these mountains don't wait for perfect conditions.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off within 3 miles of city center (or meeting your guide at the Asheville Visitor Center), a local guide throughout the tour, drinks and snacks during the hike, and access to the waterfalls and forest trails. The scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway is included when weather and road conditions permit.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Tumblestone Tours & Transportation LLC

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see multiple waterfalls and the Blue Ridge Parkway without renting a car or figuring out which trails to hit — the guide handles the route and the timing, leaving you to walk and look around.