Hiking Trails & Parks in North Carolina
15,068 mapped hiking and walking trails, plus 358 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds across North Carolina. Free trail maps for every listing — browse by county or city, or jump straight to the full list.
About Hiking in North Carolina
North Carolina has 15,068 mapped hiking trails and 358 federally managed parks and recreation areas spread across 159 counties. Trail data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors; parks and campgrounds from Recreation.gov.
Trying to narrow down? Browse all trails, all parks, all 159 counties, or pick a county below to see only its options.
Where to Go in North Carolina
A spatially-sampled view of 636 trail and park locations across North Carolina’s counties.
North Carolina Counties
Top 24 counties shown — 159 total indexed.
Trails by Difficulty in North Carolina
Parks & Campgrounds in North Carolina
Longest Trails in North Carolina
Curated Guides for North Carolina
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in North Carolina?
Yes — we have 15,068 mapped hiking and walking trails in North Carolina, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in North Carolina?
Appalachian Trail near Hampton is rated hard — the toughest classification among North Carolina's mapped trails.
What is the best hiking trail in North Carolina for families?
CT - Red Ash Bridge Trail near Jacksboro is one of the best family picks in North Carolina — easy difficulty and 0.800000011921 miles round trip, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for North Carolina?
Each of the 15,068 trails in North Carolina has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in North Carolina?
North Carolina has 358 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (30 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in North Carolina?
Yes — 52 of North Carolina's parks have mapped campsites, from first-come sites to Recreation.gov reservations. The largest is Oregon Inlet Campground with 245 sites. See the full campgrounds guide below for the ranked list.
Hiking guides & rankings for North Carolina
In-depth articles drawing on the trail and park data above.
Photo: Joshua EarleThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in North Carolina, Ranked
North Carolina's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Sergei AkulichNorth Carolina's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten North Carolina trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Joshua EarleThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in North Carolina
Ten gentle, well-marked North Carolina trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Sergei AkulichThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in North Carolina
North Carolina's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Joshua EarleThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in North Carolina
Federal parks and recreation areas in North Carolina ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Joshua EarleBest Waterfall Hikes in North Carolina: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
North Carolina's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.