Where Should You Hike Near Asheville? We Asked a Local AFAR 1 day ago Courtesy of Explore Asheville Mount Mitchell may be the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi but the hikes near the summit are short and easy.Within the valley of the French Broad River and surrounded by the highest peaks in the eastern United States, Asheville offers an overwhelming amount of hiking. Luckily, there are well-informed locals like Trent Thomas to show you where to start. A North Carolina native and owner of Black Dome Mountain Sports, Asheville’s premier full-service outfitter since 1984, Thomas moved to Asheville in 1972 and has been in the outdoors business since 1976, so he knows his stuff. “There are great hikes on both sides of town,” he says. “And you can be in the wilderness in half an hour.”