Lake Powhatan--  Take a pleasant stroll around the lake  only 1.75 miles   Easy hiking trail right by the Arboretum. Lake Powhatan sits in the woods, surrounded by the mountains. The peaceful lake can be found in Bent Creek, a national forest area so close to Asheville that residents treat it like their local park.

From early May through late October, the Forest Service charges a $5 entrance fee to the Lake Powhatan Recreation Area within Bent Creek. By walking a couple hundred yards from the nearby Hard Times Trailhead, however, you can avoid paying the fee.

On summer weekends, you can expect to see quite a few people sunbathing on the beach or splashing in the swimming area. A few benches and a new dock offer a nice place to sit and enjoy the pleasant setting. Anglers cast for stocked trout and birders look for woodland songbirds and the occasional migrating waterfowl.

On the trail: From the Hard Times Trailhead, walk past the gate and down the gravel road to an intersection with another gravel road. Take a right and begin walking around the lake. Soon, a wooden bridge crosses Bent Creek, which feeds the lake. Follow the trail to the beach, then cross the beach to meet the trail again. The trail loops around to the gravel

Mount Mitchell -Walk about five minutes from the parking lot and you're there! Climb the stairs to the top of the observation tower, and you're rewarded with 360-degree vistas.  

If that sounds too easy, get in some more exercise and a brief education on the high-altitude forests. The Balsam Nature Trail veers off the summit path and travels through rare boreal forests that established themselves during the last Ice Age.

Of course, this forest type can only exist because of the cooler temperatures way up high. Bring a jacket to fend off the chilly winds that sometimes blow.

On the trail: From the parking lot, simply follow the signs to the summit. On the way back, take a right on the Balsam Nature Trail, which loops back to the parking lot. 

Big East Fork -Swimming holes and trout fishing   6.8 miles   Moderate

If you like water, this is your trail. The East Fork of the Pigeon River is a wide mountain stream with deep swimming holes and many small waterfalls. Hikers can dictate their own distance on this out-and-back path. Parties often just hike one mile to some popular bathing spots. The farther in you hike, the fewer people you will see and the more beautiful the river valley becomes.

The Big East Fork Trail travels for 3.4 miles to the Bridges Camp Gap and Greasy Cove trails. The first mile follows easy, flat terrain.

On the trail: From the trailhead, follow the gravel path for about 100 yards to a junction. Take a left for the Big East Fork Trail. Return the same way.

John Rock - 4 miles   Moderate -Hike to the top of John Rock, just across the valley of Looking glass rock. It's a little steep in sections, but fairly short. John Rock and Looking Glass are both "exfoliation domes," huge pieces of rock shaped by several interacting forces. About 390 million years ago, magma deep within the earth cooled and crystallized. This rock was thrust upward and weathering and erosion stripped the earth above it. Without the weight bearing down on it, the rock expands outward, helping to create the dome-like shape as weathering and erosion continue. pet friendly.

Cold Mountain - The movie-star mountain   10.6 miles   Difficult

This hike has always been a locals' favorite, but has become even more popular thanks to the best-selling book and popular movie of the same name. The rocky, exposed summit offers great views, making the trip even more rewarding.

Be advised, however: this trip is for experienced hikers in good physical condition. The shorter route from the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp gains 2,800 vertical feet in 5.3 miles. Two alternate routes cover less steep terrain: The Art Loeb Trail via the Ivestor Gap Trail covers 13.6 total miles and the Art Loeb Trail from Forest Service Road 816 measures 16.8 miles round trip. Both alternate routes allow hikers to see the Shining Rock Ledge, with its rock outcroppings, and offer outstanding views along the way. The Ivestor Gap Trail version skips a small portion of the Art Loeb Trail to cut some distance, sacrificing some great views from Black Balsam and Tennent Mountain.

On the trail: From the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp, take the Art Loeb Trail up the switchbacks all the way to Deep Gap. At Deep Gap, take a left on the Cold Mountain Trail. From the Ivestor Gap Trailhead, take the Ivestor Gap Trail to Ivestor Gap. Take a right at the junction to join the Art Loeb Trail, then take a left on the Art Loeb Trail to reach Deep Gap and the Cold Mountain Trail. To include the Black Balsam and Tennent, follow the Art Loeb Trail all the way from Forest Service Road 816 to Deep Gap.