How to find hiking partners in Asheville
Asheville is surrounded by some of the best hiking in the East, and plenty of people here still end up hiking alone. Here's how to find people to hike with, plus trails that are open and good for a first hike with someone new.
Updated November 2026
Why it’s hard to find hiking partners in Asheville
It sounds like it shouldn’t be. Asheville is surrounded by national forest, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian Trail. But a lot of people here moved for the mountains and don’t know many people yet, and the friends they do have work weekends in restaurants, breweries and hospitals. The result is a lot of solo hiking, even by people who’d rather have company.
The mountains also raise the stakes. Weather turns quickly, cell service drops out, and longer hikes like the Art Loeb or anything off the Parkway feel better with someone else. The groups below hike several times a week, and Ridgemate helps when you want a partner for one specific trail.
Hiking groups in Asheville
These groups are run by locals and are free or low cost. Check each group's page for its next hike, since schedules change.
The Asheville Hiking Group
A 13,000+ member Meetup group with thousands of past events. Volunteer organizers lead everything from 3 to 4 hour hikes to full days in the mountains, several times a week, and beginners are welcome.
Carolina Mountain Club
Western North Carolina's member-run hiking club since 1923. It leads 200+ hikes a year for every level, including weekday, weekend and half-day hikes, and its volunteers maintain sections of the Appalachian Trail and Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
Trail maintenance workdays
Clubs and trail groups have needed a lot of volunteer help since Hurricane Helene. Workdays are a good way to meet serious local hikers while giving back to the trails.
Good trails for hiking with someone new near Asheville
Busy, well marked trails with clear parking are the easiest place to meet a new hiking partner for the first time.
Craggy Pinnacle Trail
Open again, with 360-degree views from the top. Short enough for any pace, which makes it an easy first hike with someone new.
Black Balsam Knob via the Art Loeb Trail
Open again after Helene. Grassy balds with big views for not much effort. Often much colder and windier than town, with little shade.
Graveyard Fields
A loop with waterfalls and options to add the upper falls. Very popular, so the parking lot makes an easy meeting spot if you go early.
Bent Creek Experimental Forest
Miles of trails 15 minutes from downtown, including the Hard Times loop. Good for a quick after-work hike. Dogs must be leashed.
Mount Mitchell State Park
The highest peak east of the Mississippi. The Parkway from Asheville to Mount Mitchell reopened in September 2025.
Some Western North Carolina trails and Parkway sections are still recovering from Hurricane Helene, and the Parkway also closes in sections for winter weather. Check the Blue Ridge Parkway road status and the land manager's site before you go.
How to find a hiking partner in Asheville with Ridgemate
- Post the hike you want to do. Pick a trail (or paste an AllTrails link) and a day, or mark it as anytime.
- Go about your week. When someone nearby wants to hike the same trail around the same time, you both get a ping.
- Plan it in the group chat. Sort out the meetup spot and the carpool, then go.
Ridgemate is free on iPhone. Women and non-binary hikers can choose to match only with each other. It's new in Asheville, so the more people post the hikes they actually want to do, the faster matches happen.
Meeting a hiking partner for the first time
- Pick a popular trail for the first hike and meet at the trailhead rather than carpooling.
- Tell a friend where you're going, who you're meeting, and when you expect to be back.
- Agree on pace, distance, and a turnaround time before you start.
- Carry your own water, food, layers, and a charged phone, even on a short hike.
- If the vibe is off at the trailhead, it's fine to call it. A good partner will understand.
Asheville hiking FAQ
What's the biggest hiking group in Asheville?
The Asheville Hiking Group on Meetup has more than 13,000 members and posts hikes several times a week. Carolina Mountain Club, founded in 1923, leads more than 200 hikes a year.
Are Asheville trails open after Hurricane Helene?
Many are. Craggy Pinnacle, Black Balsam, Graveyard Fields and Bent Creek reopened, and the Parkway from Asheville to Mount Mitchell reopened in September 2025. Some sections are still closed, so check current status before you go.
How do I find a hiking partner in Asheville for a specific trail?
Post the trail and day in Ridgemate. When someone nearby wants to hike the same trail around the same time, you both get a ping and a group chat opens to plan it.
Is it safe to hike alone around Asheville?
Lots of people do, but conditions in the mountains change fast and cell service is spotty. Hiking with a partner, telling someone your plan, and checking trail status first all make it safer.
Find someone to hike with in Asheville
Post the trail you've been wanting to do. We'll ping you when someone nearby wants in.
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