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Craven Gap Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 393 Google reviews · Running trail in Asheville, North Carolina · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Craven Gap Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Easy, intermediate trail with mountain vistas and wildflowers along the way.
What runners say about Craven Gap Trail
“No view points with beautiful vistas but still a great hike.”
“Entrance not well marked but right next to parking area.”
This is a beautiful trail through the woods. Lots of elevation changes to get a light workout in. I would say this is easy to moderate. Keep in mind that the mountain views are mostly limited except for a few partially visible overlooks. It's more just beautiful nature. We went about 2-3 miles in and returned.
Really nice moderate hike. The trails are well maintained and parking is easy. No view points with beautiful vistas but still a great hike. There and back is about 4 miles. So roughly 1.5-2 hours of hiking. Park on the dirt road or along the grass off of Town Mountain Rd. before you get to the Blue Ridge Pkwy.
Plenty of parking. If you are hiking the section of the MST toward Haw Creek overlook don't expect a sweeping view of anything until you get to the overlook. You can see Haw Creek and Pisagh in the very far distance. Hard packed trail makes for an easy hike. Some elevation.
Craven Gap is the crest of the Great Craggy Mountains. There's a small parking area located near the intersection of Town Mountain Road and the Blue Ridge Parkway. There's no sign but there is access to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail from this lot.
Trail conditions & character
“If you are hiking the section of the MST toward Haw Creek overlook don't expect a sweeping view of anything until you get to the overlook.”
“There are some switchbacks and changes in terrain and elevation which keeps it interesting!”
“There's a small parking area located near the intersection of Town Mountain Road and the Blue Ridge Parkway.”
“Small parking area, muddy spots, ladders, and rock scramble included.”
Plan your run at Craven Gap Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Asheville
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
381 Trailhead
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Reed Creek Greenway
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Urban Trail
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