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of the arboretum on scenic trails and dirt roads. The highlight of the expedition comes near the end of the trek, when the path arrives at the stunning gardens and sculptures that surround the Visitor Education Center and Baker Exhibit Center.

       Route Details

      Even with all the free trails that surround Asheville, the parking fee to access the trails and exhibits at the North Carolina Arboretum is well worth it. And after one visit, you will most likely want to upgrade to an affordable yearly pass that allows you to access the property year-round. This route not only showcases some of the best hiking trails in the arboretum, but it also passes directly beside some of the arboretum’s most popular gardens and attractions.

      To begin the hike from the gatehouse trailhead, locate the wooden information kiosk at the west end of the parking lot, and then turn south and hike on the smooth, wide dirt path known as Hardtimes Road. This roadbed will take you gradually uphill through a hardwood forest that is usually filled with noisy squirrels and native birds such as the white-breasted nuthatch or wood thrush.

      After 0.8 mile you will come to a wooden bench and a trail intersection. Turn right (southwest) onto Owl Ridge Trail. Owl Ridge Trail offers a moderately rolling journey along the southern boundary of the arboretum. At 1.7 miles you will pass a gated dirt road on your right; in another 200 yards you will pass an additional gated maintenance road on your left. Continue past both roads on Owl Ridge Trail to where it dead-ends at Rocky Cove Road. Turn right on Rocky Cove Road and enjoy a gentle downhill that leads to Bent Creek.

      When you arrive at Bent Creek, turn left (southwest) to briefly hike on Bent Creek Gap Road. Pass Wolf Branch Road on your left and then take a right onto the Carolina Mountain Trail. The narrow dirt path now leads you through a rhododendron thicket and beside a small stream. After crossing the stream, the trail intersects Wolf Branch Road and continues amid a hardwood forest of beech, hickory, and sourwood trees.

      At 2.8 miles you will notice a spur trail on your left. This path leads to the nearby Production Greenhouse. If you are interested in seeing the seedlings that will one day be a part of the expansive outdoor gardens at the arboretum—or perhaps checking out a collection of tropical bonsai trees—then you may want to consider making the short side trip.

      Regardless of whether or not you detour to the greenhouse, you will not be able to miss the next attraction. After hiking a cumulative 3.3 miles, the Carolina Mountain Trail terminates at the back side of the Visitor Education Center. Travel around to the right of the building. From there you can access the crafts, exhibits, and café inside the education center or you can tour the outdoor gardens and sculptures.

      The next 0.3 mile of the hike takes place in an outdoor museum. From the Visitor Education Center, travel east beside the Bonsai Garden entrance and then along the grand promenade that connects the Visitor Education Center with the Baker Exhibit Center. On your journey you will pass the Stream Garden, Quilt Garden, and Heritage Garden to your left. All three gardens share both an aesthetic and educational purpose: the Stream Garden shows native plants that grow near water, the Quilt Garden highlights the area’s Appalachian craft heritage with flowerbeds that represent quilts, and the Heritage Garden uses medicinal herbs to adorn rock ruins. Take your time exploring the gardens; at the end of the paved walkway, consider turning left to explore the traveling exhibits at the Baker Exhibit Center.

      When you are ready to return to the beauty of the natural forest, take the dirt path at the east end of the promenade and follow it into the woods. At 3.6 miles you will arrive at a four-way intersection. Continue straight on Wesley Branch Trail through several patches of dense mountain laurel to its terminus at Bent Creek Road. Take a right on Bent Creek Road and then an immediate left onto Old Mill Trail. Follow Old Mill Trail 0.3 mile back to the start of Hardtimes Road at the gatehouse parking lot and trailhead.

       Directions

      From downtown Asheville, travel I-26 south to Exit 33. Turn left off the exit onto NC 191. Travel 2.1 miles on NC 191 to a traffic light. At the traffic light turn right toward the North Carolina Arboretum and Blue Ridge Parkway, and then take another right onto Frederick Law Olmsted Way. After passing through the gatehouse, the trailhead and parking lot will be on your left.

      From Asheville, take the Blue Ridge Parkway to mile marker 393 and exit right toward the North Carolina Arboretum. Take your first left onto Frederick Law Olmsted Way. After passing through the gatehouse, the trailhead and parking lot will be on your left.

      2 Destination Center Track Trail

       THE TRAIL TRAVELS UNDERNEATH THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY.

      SCENERY:

      TRAIL CONDITION:

      CHILDREN:

      DIFFICULTY:

      SOLITUDE:

      GPS TRAILHEAD COORDINATES: N35° 33.940' W82° 29.193'

      DISTANCE & CONFIGURATION: 1.4-mile loop

      HIKING TIME: 1 hour

      HIGHLIGHTS: The Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center

      ELEVATION: 2,264' at the trailhead, 2,121' south of the parkway

      ACCESS: Free and always open, but vehicle access to this hike is unavailable when the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed. Check nps.gov/blri for real-time road closures.

      MAPS: USGS Oteen

      WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Yes, at the Destination Center

      COMMENTS: The Destination Center is open daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Days.

      CONTACTS: 828-298-5330, nps.gov/blri

       Overview

      This hike is especially well suited for those with children—like me—and for those who are children at heart. Start at the Destination Center to learn about the Blue Ridge Parkway through educational exhibits and interactive technology. When it is time to move on to the trailhead, you will see a child-friendly sign that describes the hike and provides information and activity brochures that correspond with the ensuing 1.6-mile loop.

       Route Details

      The state-of-the-art, LEED-certified Destination Center offers an enjoyable beginning to this hike. Kids and adults will lose track of time among the visually appealing exhibits and interactive games. One highlight is the large, sliding LED screen that allows you to virtually travel the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

      After exploring the family-oriented Destination Center, walk to the opposite side of the parking lot to the Track Trail. There you will find an attractive sign mounted on a stone arch. The animated dog on the sign offers several tips and suggestions for children to make the most of the hike. Pamphlets available beneath the sign are designed to help younger hikers identify plants and insects along the trail.

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