Discover the Top 10 Senior-Friendly Walking Trails in North Carolina

North Carolina has some of the best scenic views, including the Outer Banks and the Great Smoky Mountains. As you get older, you want to continue exploring these spectacular areas. Staying active keeps your brain and your body healthy, even if requires some help. If you’re a senior looking for accessible or moderately challenging trails in the Tar Heel state, you’ve come to the right place. Below are the top 10 senior-friendly walking trails in North Carolina.  

1. Oconaluftee River Trail – Great Smoky Mountains National Park

You can find one of the top senior-friendly walking trails in North Carolina in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Oconaluftee River Trail is a popular 1.5-mile out-and-back trail that goes from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to the outskirts of Cherokee. The easy path is primarily flat, with a few small hills. It’s also wheelchair accessible with a partially paved and partially hard-packed dirt walkway. Keep in mind the Oconaluftee River Trail is open to leashed dogs and bicycles. The short trail runs through the forest along the Oconaluftee River. Expect to see elk on your walk.   

2. Currituck Banks Boardwalk and Maritime Forest Trail – Corolla 

If you’re in the Outer Banks area, visit the Currituck Banks Reserve in Corolla to complete the 1.9-mile out-and-back trail. The easy route is popular for hiking and birding and features a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk. The trail is flat but requires all-terrain tires or motorized equipment for unpaved segments. It’s shady, and visitors have the chance to spot wild horses. Go for a peaceful stroll along the maritime forest to see lizards, snakes, and birds between the water and bright greenery. Be sure to check out the Historic Corolla Park for a colorful sunset and the 150-year-old Currituck Beach Light nearby.   

3. Triple Falls Trail – DuPont State Forest

The 2.7-mile loop in DuPont State Forest is a popular and moderately challenging trail for hiking and running. Some areas of the short gravel road are steep, but the effort to see the falls is worth it. The waterfalls are the main attraction within the 10,000-acre recreational forest. However, hikers can also enjoy the trail following the Little River, sandwiched by lush trees and rocky ledges. Rhododendrons also line the path leading to the tumbling waterfalls. 

There are a few paths leading to different portions of the falls. And keep an eye out for snakes. The path leading to the base is smoother, while hikers will need to walk up a series of wooden stairs and landings and make it across rock outcroppings to reach the overlook of the picturesque falls. There is a covered picnic area at the falls, making it the perfect spot for a lunch break. Overall, it’s one of the top senior-friendly walking trails in North Carolina for those who can handle a more challenging hike.  

4. Moore Cove Falls Trail – Brevard

Considered a family-friendly hike is the Moore Cove Falls Trail in the Pisgah National Forest. The 1.2-mile out-and-back trail is a popular and relatively easy route. Therefore, it’s one of the top senior-friendly walking trails in North Carolina. The main feature of the hike is the 50-foot-high Moore Cove Falls, which cascades over a rock overhang. In fact, you can walk behind the waterfall. Some sections are typically muddy, and you must cross Moore Creek to reach the waterfall. Those who require mobility aids may want to bring walking sticks or trekking poles for stability while walking uphill. In fall, the water flow is lower, but the beautiful autumn foliage makes up for it. As a result, the best time to visit is from March through November. Watch for bees, yellow jackets, and the occasional snake.

5. Hemlock Nature Trail – South Mountains State Park

The Hemlock Nature Trail is an easy walk along the beautiful Jacob Fork River. The 0.3-mile wheelchair-accessible loop takes visitors through the forest of the South Mountains State Park in Connelly Springs. There are almost a dozen displays and interpretive signs on the route describing the native geology, flora, and fauna. The path’s surface is hard-packed gravel with few obstacles and gentle climbs. Along the way, you’ll pass by the amphitheater that hosts educational programs for all ages.    

6. Lake Junaluska  

One of the top senior-friendly walking trails in North Carolina is the Lake Junaluska walking trail. Located near Asheville at the Conference and Retreat Center is a 2.3-mile loop that passes by many natural features. The wheelchair-accessible paved hiking trail goes around the beautiful blue lake and can be extended into a 3.8-mile trek. The pathway is primarily flat, with only one hilly, wooded section. 

If you need a place to stop and smell the roses, stop by the Rose Walk. Here, you can enjoy over 200 fragrant rose bushes. There is also a chapel from 1949 and other historic buildings along the trail. However, the highlight of the Lake Junaluska walking trail is the Turbeville footbridge. The longer trail will take you through the Corneille Bryan Native Garden, where over 500 native plant species and birdlife reside.     

7. Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary Boardwalk – Asheville

One of the top senior-friendly walking trails in North Carolina is the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary Boardwalk. The easy trail is a .04-mile loop through the popular bird sanctuary in Asheville. The boardwalk is wheelchair accessible with a few overlooks across the beautiful lake. Along the boardwalk, visitors can watch birds in various habitats as well as turtles, fish, rabbits, different species of butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies. It’s the perfect place to go for a peaceful stroll and birdwatch. 

For a longer walk, continue your hike on the Beaver Lake Perimeter Trail Loop. The larger, 1.9-mile loop takes you through the surrounding historic neighborhood and canopied and gravel roads. Watch your step because this route includes multiple terrain and elevation changes, but the lake and mountain views are incredible.  

8. Bend Creek Trail to Lake Powhatan – Asheville 

There are several hiking trails near the perimeter of the North Carolina Arboretum. However, the Bent Creek Trail along Lake Powhatan is one of the most popular. The 5.5-mile out-and-back trail also runs adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Animals you can expect to encounter are eastern box turtles, black rat snakes, pileated woodpeckers, and monarch butterflies. There is also an abundance of seasonal plants to stop and admire along the way. The nearby Lake Powhatan Recreation Area and Campground is also an excellent place for camping near the lake, swimming on the banks of a mountain beach, or fishing for trout. 

9. Lake Johnson Trail – Raleigh 

The Lake Johnson Trail in Lake Johnson Park is a 4.5-mile multipurpose loop. It’s moderately challenging, with a mix of paved and dirt trails. There are also plenty of benches to rest on the popular path for birding, fishing, and hiking. Almost 3 miles of the paved greenway loop around the east side of the lake is part of the Walnut Creek Greenway Trail, whereas 1.5 miles of unpaved trail loop around the opposite end of the lake take you closer to native wildlife. If you complete the entire trail, it makes a figure-eight by crossing the boardwalk over the picturesque lake.  

10. Little Tennessee River Greenway – Franklin 

The multipurpose Little Tennessee River Greenway in Franklin is perfect for hiking and biking. The greenway is almost 5 miles long, with wheelchair-accessible paved and gravel trails. It follows the Little Tennessee River and Cartoogechaye Creek. Along the greenway, you can see an abundance of wildflowers and wildlife. Stroll through wetlands, railroad cuts from the Tallulah Falls Railroad, and the upland woods of Macon County. You can stick to the trailhead or explore other sections of the greenway. There is a butterfly garden, conservation areas, benches, picnic areas, and educational signage. The Little Tennesee Greenway is one of the top senior-friendly walking trails in North Carolina for those looking for a longer but peaceful route.

Summary of the Top 10 Senior-Friendly Walking Trails in North Carolina