Shut-In Trail

Made possible by

Photos

Image for Shut-In Trail
Image for Shut-In Trail

About

Summary

The Shut-In Trail is an historic trail located along the Blue Ridge Parkway that takes visitors through lush tunnels of mountain laurel and rhododendron.

Recommended by

Written by

Sarah Merrell

Destination Distance From Downtown

5.3 miles

Difficulty

4 of 5 diamonds

4

Time To Complete

18 miles, 4-7 hours

Seasonality

All Seasons

Dog Friendly

Yes

Fees Permits

None

Land Website

Link to Website

Review

The Shut-In Trail is an historic route that dates back to the late 19th century when it was created by George Vanderbilt as a connector trail to two of his estates. With its close proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway, this roughly 16-mile trail has many access points and is frequented by day hikers and trail runners. These numerous access points come in quite handy because few people complete the entire route in one day, as it's quite strenuous. Not only is it rather long, but there's a lot of elevation gain and loss. 
It's name comes from the somewhat enclosed, "shut-in" nature of some of the mountain laurel and rhododendron tunnels. Along this route, there are some long stretches of thick green tunnel that make for a really serene and scenic hiking/running experience. 
There are also many spots along the route that offer great views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, so in terms of accessibility, scenery, and popularity, this trail is a must-do.  It's no wonder then that every November, trail runners enjoy the 18-mile Shut-in Ridge Run, which is a local favorite among Ashevillian athletes.   

Similar Local Trail Running Spots

See all
Dawn at the Bad Fork overlook near the trailhead.

Big Creek (Pisgah)-Trail Running

More Asheville Activities

View Asheville

More Shut-In Trail Activities

Local Asheville Stories

Location

Shut-In Trail

100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way
Asheville, NC, 28806
35.501997, -82.594772

Get Directions