Bent Creek is Asheville's playground: hiking, biking, running and dog walking.

This hike goes up to the Mountains-to-Trail and down along the Creek.

From the trailhead, walk down the road. At the first intersection, turn right. Pick up Hard Times Road and follow it up to the MST.

Continue on Hard Times Road down to the back of the North Carolina Arboretum. From there, you can follow Bent Creek through the back of the Arboretum, until you have completed the loop.

Length: 6 miles
Altitude gain: 600 feet.

Map: Bent Creek Trail map, available at the information kiosk on the way to the Hard Times Parking area.

Trailhead: Take I-26 to exit 33, NC 191. Turn left onto NC 191 South and drive two miles. Turn right at the stoplight onto Bent Creek Ranch Road and follow the brown signs to the Lake Powhatan Recreation Area. After 0.2 miles, bear left onto Wesley Branch Road. The Hard Times Trailhead parking area is just over 2 miles down this road on the left.