Covering nearly 12,000 acres of jagged peaks and rugged cliffs in the Pisgah National Forest, 60 miles northeast of Asheville, N.C., the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area looks a lot like a Blue Ridge Grand Canyon.
The Hawksbill Mountain Trail, a moderate, two-mile out-and-back trip leads to commanding views of the gorge and — on clear days — the Charlotte, N.C., skyline, 90 miles away.
Wisemans View, reached via a quarter-mile, wheelchair-accessible path, offers a panorama of the gorge and surrounding mountains. Stay past sunset for a chance to witness the Brown Mountain Lights, mysterious floating orbs that many locals have claimed to see.
Free; open year-round.
Alaska