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North Carolina Arboretum

North Carolina Arboretum

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About

This elegant arboretum is a massive 400-acre park with cultivated gardens, a cool Bonsai tree display, and some hiking trails through forest and mountains. There’s a small cafe that’s handy for a light meal or beverage. Those looking for easy or accessible walks through beautiful gardens and trees should make this stop a priority.

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Bad Fork Valley Overlook

Heading south from Asheville, this is the first overlook after...

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Mills River Valley Overlook

Most overlooks along the Parkway offer a view pointed in...

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Mt. Pisgah Trail

Mt. Pisgah is easily visible from the Asheville area, and...

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Pisgah Inn

A touch of civilization before heading further into the woods....

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Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower

This hike is a little different, following an old gravel...

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Cradle of Forestry Overlook

This overlook stands above the site of an old forestry...

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Cradle of Forestry Museum

Learn about the birth of forestry education at this tidy...

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Sliding Rock

This gently-graded waterfall doubles as a natural waterslide! Don your...

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Looking Glass Falls

This 60-foot, or 18-meter waterfall, is one of the most...

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Coon Tree Picnic Area

Flush toilets and picnic tables are the highlight here, and...

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Skinny Dip Falls Trailhead/Looking Glass Rock Overlook

The trail to Skinny Dip Falls is about a mile...

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Graveyard Fields

Graveyard Fields got its spooky name, and look, from a...

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Black Balsam Knob

Just off the Parkway, this trail is about one and...

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Devil's Courthouse

You can enjoy this impressive cliff from the overlook, or...

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Cowee Mountain Overlook

Our vote for the best overlook on the tour! There’s...

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Richard Balsam Trail/Haywood Jackson Overlook

The view from the overlook is just okay, but the...

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Richard Balsam Overlook

The view from this overlook is mostly concealed by trees,...

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Lone Bald Overlook

There are a series of excellent overlooks in a row...

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Standing Rock Overlook

Near the entrance to this overlook is a large, standalone...

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Waterrock Knob

The view from this large overlook is one of the...

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Thunder Struck Ridge Overlook

This is another splendid overlook of the layered mountains and...

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Soco Falls

Just about a mile off the Parkway, Soco Falls is...

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Bunches Bald Overlook

A lower elevation overlook, compared to the heights up near...

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