This post is sponsored by RewardStyle and Backcountry. The opinions and text are all mine.
There is nothing like fall to motivate me to get out of Charlotte to enjoy the outdoor beauty and adventure that the Blue Ridge Mountains have to offer. Here in the Charlotte area, we are fortunate to be able to drive to many amazing mountain destinations in around two hours.
I will always choose hiking as my favorite mountain activity, and it doesn’t get better than this time of year. The combination of the weather with the fall foliage makes for a great day on the trails.
I’ve put together a list of five of my favorite mountain spots that are easily accessible from Charlotte for a day trip or weekend getaway. And if you live a little further away or want to make a special trip to visit North Carolina, I still 10/10 recommend all of these spots.
In this post you will also find some of my top hiking apparel picks from Backcountry. You can use code PBRUNNER15 for 15% off of your first purchase at Backcountry. It is the best place to shop for outdoor gear for your fall and winter adventures!
5 OF MY FAVORITE MOUNTAIN/HIKING DESTINATIONS 2 HOURS OR LESS FROM CHARLOTTE
1. BLACK MOUNTAIN
I adore the town of Black Mountain. It’s located right off of I-40 about 15 miles before you get into downtown Asheville if you are coming from Charlotte. It’s much smaller and easier to navigate than Asheville, and there’s a hike I love right in Black Mountain. You can read the details on the Graybeard Mountain hike in this post.
Pro tip: whatever you do, do NOT (and I repeat, do not!) miss a visit to The Dripolator. It is one of my favorite coffee shops of all time and I’ve been visiting it for over 20 years now. They have excellent coffee and lots of yummy pastries and goodies. I love this place so much that I’ve considered driving up from Charlotte just to spend a day in the mountains working at The Dripolator and hanging out.
2. THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
The photos in this post are from my most recent drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I gave myself extra time to get to Tennessee for teacher training last week because I knew I wanted to spend some time in the mountains and on the trails. You cannot go wrong with a drive down the Blueridge Parkway. There’s a huge chunk of the Parkway accessible within two hours of Charlotte with abundant options for hiking, camping and scenic overlooks. Check out this helpful resource for suggested itineraries. I hopped on the Parkway in Fancy Gap, Virginia, FYI.
Pro tip: pack a picnic!
3. PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST, LINVILLE GORGE
There are tons of hikes in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area that are easy to get to from Charlotte (and some right off the Blueridge Parkway). Speaking of traveling to Tennessee, I often opt for the scenic route to/from Charlotte that take me through the Pisgah National Forest on Highway 181. You can access the Upper Creek Falls trail right from 181. I also like the Table Rock hike and Hawksbill Mountain trail is a pretty easy hike with great views. Explore the top hikes in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area here.
Pro tip: if you want to see a waterfall, don’t miss the very easy and family friendly Linville Falls Trail.
4. GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN, PROFILE TRAIL
The Profile Trail at Grandfather Mountain is just a tad over two hours from Charlotte but 10/10 worth the drive. This is a more athletic hike that clocks in at around 6.5 miles and took 5 hours with a lunch break. Note, Grandfather Mountain does offer some much tamer hikes but I love a challenging hike sometimes! I wrote a super detailed recap of/guide to this hike in this post.
Pro tip: the mile high swinging bridge at Grandfather Mountain is America’s highest suspension footbridge and something to see!
5. BLOWING ROCK
Blowing Rock is just the sweetest mountain town with similar charm to Black Mountain. It’s the perfect place to spend a day or weekend wandering around exploring the shops and great restaurants. There are a lot of hiking options in the area but I always like to hit the Glen Burney trail because it’s accessible from downtown Blowing Rock. You don’t get mountain views but you do get to walk in the woods and a waterfall. It’s a relaxing hike..
Pro tip: Storie Street Grille is a great spot to grab lunch and Twigs is a must for a fine dining experience if you stay overnight.
WHERE TO GEAR UP FOR YOUR ACTIVE FALL + WINTER
Everything I am wearing in this post is from Backcountry. If you’re not familiar with this online site, they’re a specialty retailer offering everything you need for your next adventure. Whether you’re thing is hiking, camping, biking, climbing, winter sports, fly fishing, kayaking, trail running…Backcountry has you covered. I like that they offer gear and clothing ranging from big brands to small and undiscovered.
GET 15% OFF WITH CODE PBRUNNER15
Don’t forget that you can get 15% off your first Backcountry order with code PBRUNNER15. Here are some of my favorite fall hiking apparel picks!
In these photos, I am wearing The North Face Paramount Hybrid High-Rise Tight. I guarantee you that I will wear these tights all fall and winter long. They are the perfect weight to keep me warm but not too hot and I really like the fit with the zippered pockets. I also just love the way they look. I could hike in the Paramount Tights and then grab a food or a drink after with zero hesitation.
They are available in three colors and I would say they run true to size. I ordered and XS and they fit but I could have also done a small. You can see that they are a little longer on me than the model but I have short legs.
Here are a few other The North Face faves:
- Campshire 2.0 Fleece Pullover Hoodie
- Aconcagua II Down Vest (love, love a good vest!)
- Logo Cuffed Beanie
On top, I am wearing the Sweaty Betty Harmonise Luxe Sweatshirt. It’s the perfect cozy sweatshirt to throw on for a casual hike or your post-workout errands. I love the high neck that feels scarf-like and the overall relaxed feel with thumbholes. Just like the tights above, it’s warm without being too hot and just really comfortable! The Harmonise Luxe Sweatshirt is the kind of casual piece I could see myself living in all fall/winter long. I also love this similar Restful Pullover Sweatshirt and the big kangaroo pocket in front and more sweater-like style.
Here are a few more Sweaty Betty pieces that I love:
- After Class Sweatshirt
- Gary Yoga Pant (these pants looks soooo comfy for a chill post-hike stretch session)
- Stamina Long Line Sports Bra
If you’re looking for a waterproof casual shoe for everyday wear, look no further than Sorel’s Out N About Plus shoe to keep your feel dry while still feeling comfortable and stylish.
If you are looking for a shoe geared towards moderate to difficult hikes, give these a look!
- Hoka One One Challenger Low Profile
- Keen Terradora Hiking Shoe
- Merrell Bravada Hiking Shoe (really like the style and color options for this shoe!)
SHOP THE POST
QUESTIONS
What’s your favorite outdoor activity? Hiking, skiing, trail running, climbing…?
Do you have any mountain destinations within driving distance to where you live?
Do you have fun hiking trails within driving distance to where you live?
