My family and I stopped in here at Bent Creek experimental for us this weekend while we were in Asheville North Carolina. We stopped in to go hiking because Asheville is known for their hike so we went hiking through the woods looking at the animals seeing the trees it is exploring a big fan of exploring trying to get my family to enjoy it as much as I can but it's tough at times. My kids get tired of walking and they get over it pretty quickly but we still enjoyed it overall quick little fun experimental forest walk that we had. Took some fun pictures had a good time I recommend it for sure read more

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Great for mountains biking and hiking. Trails are very well maintained and clearly marked. Several options for parking and an abundance of fun to be had. Get outside and play! read more

This is a great place to go if you're in Asheville and don't have all day to spend driving to a location and doing a hike. It's located just off Brevard Road in South West Asheville. There are a bunch of different hiking and biking trails that twist and turn through this area. There is also a campground located here and a small lake to walk around, or swim in during the warm month. The hiking trails are well maintained and easy to navigate. You could definitely get lost in here if you weren't paying attention, but trails are blazed and marked well. You can park at any of the little parking lots and just jump on a trail and start walking. Trails are marked for hiking or biking so if you prefer to hike on a trail with no bikers, look for one marked as so. These trails can get pretty busy on weekends and summer but for good reason. They are easily accessible from Asheville and are a nice getaway. I love spending a day here just wandering the trails. The only reason I give Bent Creek 4 stars instead of 5 is because there are no big views or waterfalls. That's OK though, still a great place! read more

Had a great day mountain biking at Bent Creek. We'll maintained trails for all levels. Kinda easy to get turned around or to take a wrong turn off the trail you're wanting to stay on. But it seemed like it was fairly easy to recover and get back on track. You share the trails with hikers and joggers, but everyone seems ok with it. Some of the mountain trails are pretty steep. We had to rest and walk our bikes a few times. Good workout and nice trails for all levels. Highly recommend if you're in the Asheville area. read more

Three stars, and a certain phrase that I know that you know is going through my mind right now. You will read why in a minute. O.K., Bent's big brother is the Pisgah National Forest. There are over forty-four miles of trails for the masses. You can hike, bike, like (just kidding), seek prey on land and water, and ride on an equine's back at Bent. There is swimming and camping, too. There are three main trails for you to choose from. The signs at trailheads will let you know what you can expect ahead or behind. Pay attention to them. You can plan ahead by getting a map at their website. Speaking of signs, they should have one that says: "Watch out for bears, itchy hunters, bike pedalers, nature 'lovers', poop, feces, scat, and bowel movements." Bent is a bear sanctuary and, as the title of the forest denotes, an experimental area for the rangers. Some studies are more than eighty years old. Which means that if you unleash your dog within an unallowed time frame, you are harassing the bears and skewing data. White is not suggested as a main color choice on your person at Bent. Not personal- this was posted. You will look deerlike. Sorry, Nantucket. The scoop on the poop: Oh, you will step in it. It's everywhere. Throw any sense of cleanliness out the window. I stepped in poop and let everyone know. I was outraged. If you can invest in "North Face" and canines, well, you can invest in poop disposal bags. Mountain bikers are here. I do not suggest walking on paths that allow bikes with kids. Be aware of them. Most bikers are going at a standard pace, but downhill and midtwenty is a different story. The bathroom is a permanent Porta-Potty. No sink or sanitizer. Bring extra water for hand washing. When you are not worrying about poop or collisions, this place is sweet on the soul. Greenery and creekery surround you and take your cares away. It is peaceful on mini side trails and hard to get lost. Tours and programs can be arranged if you call ahead. If you want less poop or wide bike paths, the arboretum is right next door. If you want asphalt, the parkway is right there, too. If you want five stars, I am not there- yet. I believe in the power of truth, but I also strive for happiness in the form of additional visits. How to get there: If you entered the area with little cabins, turn around. The road to the park will be to your left upon leaving this area. It is a residential road with normal houses. It is easy to find. Just keep going until you see the sign. read more

Bent Creek Experimental Forest - www.ashevilleguidebook.com - Hiking Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Gorgeous area to walk a variety of trails. Everything is well-kept, well-marked, and it's definitely dog-friendly. It's also hard to get lost not only because of clear signage, but because of the creek itself. Really enjoyed spending a couple of hours wandering the Bent Creek Trail, National Azalea Trail, and Carolina Mountain Trail with my friend and my dog. It's helpful that most trails end at the Education Center which has a cafe, bathrooms, and even a water bowl outside for dogs. read more

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We wanted a quick hike near Asheville and found this place off the exit near the Asheville outlets (hint hint take a moment to shop!) If you don't want to go too far away from the city, this is your place. We brought our nephews here and they had a great time running around. We didn't walk too far to see any sort of view but it was nice to be weaving through the forest under the shade! Something to be mindful of is that there are quite a few mountain bikers coming through the trails so make sure to get out of their way! They are usually going pretty fast. Also, there are a bunch of dogs that are hanging out with their owners. However, unlike the signs posted, many of them are on no leash. Otherwise, enjoy your hike as long and as short as you would like! read more

Lots of great trails. Some areas a bit crowded but down the road there are less busy places.

We spent the day hiking here. The hiking was very nice. Beautiful views and nicely maintained trails. Not too busy. The creek views were beautiful! read more

Nice area for bike riding. Miles and miles of trails to follow. We had a great time out here on our mountain bikes.

Lovely trails, peaceful with a handful of cyclists also out enjoying the trail. Lovely space.