Wildcat Rock TrailTemporarily closed
Still closed from Helene damage, with no reopening date yet. A longtime local favorite.
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Hikes & Nature
Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower
Locals’ pickClimb the old steel fire tower near Mount Pisgah for a full 360 panorama that's hard to beat. Parkway access reopened in 2025, so it's back on the table. Winter weather is the only thing that closes it now, check before you drive up.
Legend
Hikes & Nature
Sightseeing
Your home base
We keep this guidebook for our guests. It’s written and kept current by Asheville Good Times, our city guide next door — that’s where Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower lives in full.
More hikes & nature
Strawberry Gap Trailhead Locals’ pick
Steady climb, real lookout at the top, and you'll likely have the view mostly to yourself. Leave the dog at home, it's not dog-friendly.
Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center
An easy, dog-friendly loop, about as low-stress as trails get. Good when you want fresh air without committing to a real climb. Pop into the center for maps and Parkway intel.