The Southeast's Top Five Hiking Trails

Picking the "top five" trails in the Southeast is a bit like choosing a favorite child—it depends on whether you want a dramatic summit, a lush forest, or a bit of history. Based on popularity, scenic pay-off, and regional variety, here are five iconic trails that capture the best of the Southeast.

1. Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte

Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

Distance: 11 miles (round trip) | Difficulty: Strenuous

This is widely considered the crown jewel of the Smokies. It’s not just about the summit; the journey includes walking through Arch Rock (a natural stone bridge), passing the massive Alum Cave Bluffs, and taking in views from Cliff Top. If you're lucky, you can snag a reservation to stay at the LeConte Lodge—the only permanent lodge in the park—at the top.

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2. Old Rag Mountain

Location: Shenandoah National Park, VA

Distance: 9.4 miles (loop) | Difficulty: Strenuous

Old Rag is the most popular hike in Virginia for a reason. It features a legendary rock scramble where you’ll need both hands and feet to navigate tight crevices and boulders. The reward is a 360-degree panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley that makes the physical exertion worth every drop of sweat.

Note: Due to its popularity, a day-use reservation is required from March through November.

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3. The Roan Highlands (Carvers Gap to 19E)

Location: Pisgah & Cherokee National Forests, NC/TN

Distance: 13.4 miles (point-to-point) | Difficulty: Moderate

This section of the Appalachian Trail offers an "ethereal" experience. Instead of dense forests, you’ll spend miles walking across grassy balds—wide-open mountain ridges with unobstructed views. In June, the area is famous for its vibrant Catawba rhododendron blooms.

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4. Mount Mitchell Trail

Location: Mount Mitchell State Park, NC

Distance: 12 miles (round trip) | Difficulty: Very Strenuous

If you want bragging rights, hike to the highest point east of the Mississippi River ($6,684$ ft). While many people drive to the summit, hiking from the Black Mountain Campground provides a true sense of the mountain's scale. You’ll transition from hardwood forests to a spruce-fir forest that feels more like Canada than North Carolina.

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5. Providence Canyon (Perimeter Loop)

Location: Providence Canyon State Park, GA

Distance: 7 miles (loop) | Difficulty: Moderate

Known as "Georgia's Little Grand Canyon," this trail offers a completely different landscape from the Appalachian peaks. The massive canyons were actually caused by poor farming practices in the 1800s, but today they reveal stunning layers of orange, pink, and white soil. It is one of the most unique geological sites in the Southeast.

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