5-mile hike less than three hours from Charlotte boasts 360 mountain views

Ashley Mahoney

Panoramic hillside view: layered green mountains under a clear blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Foreground shrubs and tall grass frame the lower edge. — Views of the North Carolina mountains from Jane Bald. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

Less than three hours from Charlotte is a roughly 5-mile hike with stunning views of the mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee.

Why it matters: If high flight prices have you rethinking your summer travel plans, there's plenty to do in and around North Carolina.

Context: The Roan Highlands trails take you along part of the Appalachian Trail. The A.T. stretches 2,197.9 miles from Georgia to Maine.

96.5 miles of the trail run through North Carolina and 217.8 miles are shared on the North Carolina/Tennessee border.
16.9 million people visited the trail in 2025, according to the nonprofit Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

If you go: The Carvers Gap trailhead is a little over 2 and a half hours from Charlotte. You'll want to park at Carvers Gap (TN-143, Roan Mountain, TN 37687), but keep in mind the parking lot fills up quickly on the weekends.

Parking is free and there is a restroom with a pit toilet at the trailhead. After that, you won't find a bathroom on the trail, and the sign at the trailhead asks visitors to "dig a cat hole at least 200 feet from water, trails and camp" if you need to take care of business on your hike.

Wooden bulletin board displaying a Roan Mountain map and safety signs for Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests, with a "Leave No Trace" banner and a hiker image. — Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

Large rounded roadside sign at Carvers Gap showing elevation 5512 ft, mounted on a stacked stone base; below reads Pisgah-Cherokee National Forest. Blue sky with clouds behind. — Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

Keep in mind, there are several hikes you could choose on this adventure. For the purpose of this day trip, we'll focus on the following trails:

Round Bald

This roughly 1.6-mile roundtrip portion of the A.T. takes you from the parking area at Carvers Gap at 5,512 feet, through the trees, up to Round Bald at 5,826 feet. You're rewarded with views of North Carolina's Mt. Mitchell, which is the highest point east the of Mississippi River, and several other mountains in the area.

A narrow dirt trail winds through a dense forest of tall evergreen trees with bare branches; rocky, mossy ground and fallen logs line the path, with glimpses of blue sky overhead. — Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

Wide hillside landscape with green grasses in the foreground, rolling hills and distant blue mountains under a partly cloudy blue sky. — Making your way out of the trees. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

Panoramic mountain view under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds; in the foreground a large blue-brown sign reading "VIEW INTO NORTH CAROLINA" and "ROUND BALD ELEVATION 5,826 ft". — The North Carolina view from Round Bald. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

Panoramic mountain vista from a grassy overlook. A large sign in the foreground reads "VIEW INTO TENNESSEE" and "ROUND BALD ELEVATION 5,826 ft." Distant blue ridges roll under a clear, partly cloudy sky. — The Tennessee view from Round Bald. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

Jane Bald

If you decide to continue your adventure, you'll make your way to Jane Bald. This roughly 2.7-mile roundtrip hike takes you up and down, while offering breathtaking 360-views.

A rocky dirt trail winds through scrubby bushes on a hillside, leading toward distant green fields and rolling hills beneath a bright blue sky. — The trail is well-maintained and easy to follow. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

Wide landscape of rolling hills under a clear blue sky with few clouds. A dirt path winds through green grass and shrubs toward distant mountains, with scattered trees on the hillside. — Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

Grassy Ridge Bald

If you keep going, you'll reach a point where you go right toward Grassy Ridge Bald or head left to stay on the A.T. Grassy Ridge Bald, which sits at an elevation of 6,189 feet, is a little over 5 miles roundtrip from your car.

A sunlit dirt path winds through a tunnel of twisted trees, their branches forming an arch overhead. Green grass lines the sides as sunlight filters through the leaves. — The journey to the top. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

A weathered wooden trail post with a gray metal sign reading "GRASSY RIDGE" and ELEV. 6019, set in a grassy field under a bright blue sky. — Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

Panoramic mountain view with layered blue ridges, a bright blue sky, and a dense foreground of evergreen trees; a rocky stone path runs along the bottom. — Pause for a picnic at the top. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

Yes, and: If you want to explore more of the A.T., follow the sign to stay on the trail. Now you're on a roughly 10.9-mile roundtrip trail from Carvers Gap to Yellow Mountain Gap and you could keep going on the A.T.

Between the lines: Some sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway remain closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene. This shouldn't impact your journey there from Charlotte, but if you decide to keep exploring the North Carolina mountains, it may determine which route you take.

What's next: If you visit the Roan Highlands in late-June, you may see blooming rhododendrons. The Rhododendron Gardens are open Memorial Day through Sept. 30 and are $3 per vehicle or $1 per person for larger vehicles and buses. The turn for the gardens (State Rd 1348, Bakersville, NC 28705) is a left if you're coming from the North Carolina side at Carvers Gap.

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5-mile hike less than three hours from Charlotte boasts 360 mountain views

Round Bald

Jane Bald

Grassy Ridge Bald

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