Blue Ridge
Hiking near Blowing Rock
Hiking near Blowing Rock, North Carolina: public trails and parks, plus the checks still open.
Last updated October 15, 2026.
The kind walks are next to town: Cone carriage trails and Price Lake. Rough Ridge and the Grandfather trails are still a drive, and they are more exposed. The Blowing Rock attraction is a short visit with a view, not a hike.
Moses Cone carriage trails
Wide former carriage roads through the park beside town. The National Park Service puts the network at about 25 miles. This is the walk for mixed ages and mixed fitness, as long as you're honest about distance. The grade is polite. Pick a loop on the map at the park.
Price Lake
A 2.7-mile lakeside loop close to town, around 47-acre Price Lake. Kinder than the ridge trails, and close enough that you can be back in the village for a slow afternoon. Swimming is not allowed.
Rough Ridge
A popular Parkway climb on boardwalk and open rock, with views toward Grandfather Mountain. Lots fill. Skip it in ice or lightning. The rock does not get less slick because you drove a long way.
Beacon Heights
A shorter Parkway trail to a rocky view. Still a drive from downtown, still weather-dependent, still worth it when the sky is clear.
Grandfather Mountain, two gates
Grandfather Mountain State Park is the free public hiking side. The Profile Trail is 3.6 miles one way and strenuous. The Mile High Swinging Bridge is inside the separate attraction and charges admission. They are not interchangeable errands. Pick the gate that matches the plan. The attraction posts the current fee.