Option 01
Charlie's Bunion
Great Smoky Mountains National Park · ~3 hrs from Atlanta · ~1.5 hrs from Asheville
Distance
8.0 mi
Elevation
1,880 ft
Time
4–6 hrs
Do this one in the fall. The trees along the ridge put on a full show — gold, copper, ruby-red. The rocky outcrop at the end gives you wide open views across the Smokies that are hard to beat in the whole park.
Best time to go: Fall, without question. The color along the AT section of this hike is some of the best in the Smokies.
Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. No permit required for day hikes.
Option 02
Max Patch
Pisgah National Forest · ~3.5 hrs from Atlanta · ~1 hr from Asheville
Distance
1.5 mi
Elevation
430 ft
Time
1–2 hrs
Bring a tent. It's a bald — meaning no trees at the top — so you get a full 360° of the Blue Ridge in every direction. Arrive in the afternoon, watch the sunset, wake up to the sunrise. Short hike, massive experience.
Pro tip: Get there in the afternoon and set up camp. The evening light on these ridges is something else.
Location: Pisgah National Forest, NC. Camping is allowed at the summit.
Option 03
Hawksbill Ridge
Pisgah National Forest · ~4.5 hrs from Atlanta · ~1.5 hrs from Asheville
Distance
2.4 mi
Elevation
695 ft
Time
1.5–2.5 hrs
Short hike, big reward. Another 360° view at the top, this time looking straight down into the Linville Gorge — one of the deepest gorges in the eastern US. Easy enough for almost anyone, impressive enough to remember.
Location: Pisgah National Forest, NC — about 1.5 hours from Asheville.
Note: The trail gets rocky near the top. Decent shoes recommended.
