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The North Carolina Arboretum
4.8 ★★★★★ 8,179 Google reviews · Running trail in Asheville, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from The North Carolina Arboretum'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.
Arboretum in a forest with mountain views, gardens & a bonsai exhibit, plus hiking & biking paths.
What runners say about The North Carolina Arboretum
“The grounds are well maintained, peaceful, and perfect for taking pictures—there are so many scenic spots throughout the property.”
“Well marked trails, emergency call boxes, beautiful gardens and bonsai, Christmas train display, lunch cafe, dulcimer music.”
“The different areas were laid out in an easy to navigate sequence that made it easy to flow in and out of the different areas without missing anything.”
“The grounds are well maintained, peaceful, and perfect for taking pictures—there are so many scenic spots throughout the property.”
We decided to take the kids to the trolls exhibit. They are hand made wooden trolls by Thomas Dambo. All of them reside out doors. They will give you a map and make it a scavenger hunt to find them around the grounds. We love being out doors and the place is really beautiful. The trolls look amazing and worth seeing.
Visited this past weekend to see Thomas Dambo Trolls. Beautiful gardens, fun and interesting artwork and signs. Nice gift shop and café. The trails are very well maintained and I will be back to explore more as I bought a season pass.
I recently visited the North Carolina Arboretum, and overall it was a really beautiful experience. The grounds are well maintained, peaceful, and perfect for taking pictures—there are so many scenic spots throughout the property.
If you love nature, Christmas lights, nice people, and plants, this is a must see!! If you are a solo traveler who loves to be outdoors but is concerned about lost or hurt on a trail, this is the best place ever!
Trail conditions & character
“Well marked trails, emergency call boxes, beautiful gardens and bonsai, Christmas train display, lunch cafe, dulcimer music.”
“Parking is now $25 a visit which is quite steep but an annual pass rings you at $60 and it’s per car which is super affordable.”
“And to add to the reasons why we love it; we got engaged during their stunning Winter Lights display, which we will be sure to attend annually as long as we live here!”
“They do a ton of really lovely events and it’s very family/dog friendly.”
“The grounds are well maintained, peaceful, and perfect for taking pictures—there are so many scenic spots throughout the property.”
“Well marked trails, emergency call boxes, beautiful gardens and bonsai, Christmas train display, lunch cafe, dulcimer music.”
Plan your run at The North Carolina Arboretum
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- 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.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitencarboretum.org
- Phone(828) 665-2492
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–9 PM |
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.
Bent Creek trailhead
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Rice Pinnacle Trailhead
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Hiking area with a public restroom that's also popular with mountain bikers.
Hard Times Trailhead
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Kid-friendly hiking area with many trails for mountain biking and walking, plus an arboretum and a lake.
Blue Ridge Parkway
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Scenic mountain drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway featuring many overlooks, hiking trails, and visitor center.