Avoid the crowds at nearby Craggy Gardens and Craggy Pinnacle and take the more difficult trail to the amazing views from Hawkbill Rock along the Snowball Trail. Steep elevation and rocky terrain keep things interesting on this short hike that will still get you sweating. Just 30 minutes north of Asheville along the Blue Ridge Parkway, this hike makes an excellent quick adventure. If you want a slightly longer hike, try Hawksbill Rock via Craggy Gardens Picnic Area to add a mile and almost 400 feet of elevation gain.
Begin this hike at the 3-way intersection on the road up to Craggy Gardens Picnic Area. Parking is just along the road and on the divider. The trail begins next to the metal gate. Hike up the steps and pass a small field on the left.
At a tenth of a mile in, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail splits off to the left. Stay straight, following the yellow blaze. For the next half-mile, you'll ascend over 400 feet to the summit of Snowball Mountain. Other than a minor view on a side trail at .3 miles, there's nothing to see here. While there are several side trails, they are easy to ignore. The only notable exception is on the way down Snowball Mountain a side trail splits to the left. Look for the yellow blaze and stay right.
Once you begin to ascend again, you're almost there. This is the steepest section of trail, gaining at a rate of over 1800 feet per mile. Luckily, it's short. On the way up, a couple views open to the left on short trails. Soon you'll come to an almost vertical rock face. It looks menacing, but the rock is very rough providing good grip and small ledges to climb up. If wet, be very careful. At the top of this obstacle, look to the left for a side trail to Hawkbill Rock. You can see if from the trail.
Climbing down to the lower ledge of Hawkbill Rock, you'll get over 180-degree views to the south towards the Blue Ridge Parkway. The most prominent mountain in your view is Snowball Mountain that you just summited. Try not to think about hiking back up it. Soak up the sun then make your way back the same way you came.