Shining Rock Wilderness
As you drive south out of Asheville and climb past Mt. Pisgah, the Shining Rock Wilderness can’t help but catch your attention. The horizon peels back on an almost Western scale, and meadow-covered mountaintops march off to meet summits cloaked in evergreens and accented by milk-white crags of quartz—the area’s namesake “shining rocks.” Shining Rock—like the Craggy Mountains and Mt. Mitchell just north of Asheville—is where the Parkway delivers some of the Southern Appalachians’ most stunning scenery. Shining Rock Wilderness is the perfect place for trail enthusiasts on a Parkway tour to do an overnighter or a major day hike. You really shouldn’t miss Shining Rock. This eTrail includes three hike options, Shining Rock Wilderness Circuits from the East Side, Bald Summit Circuits on the Art Loeb Trail from the South Side, and West Side Circuit and Cold Mountain.
Driving Directions
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Directions to: Shining Rock Wilderness
print directionsTrail Statistics & Information
| Activity | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Nearby City | Brevard |
| Length | 8.8 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 1,674 ft |
| Skill Level | Three hike options from moderate to strenuous |
| Duration | Varies by option chosen |
| Season | Best spring through fall |
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