Hiking

Local Hidden Gems: The Christmount Trails

Nestled in 600 acres of protected land right here in Black Mountain.

Maintained by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, Christmount features nine distinct trails. Note: Please register at the Front Office before hiking. Dogs must remain on a leash at all times.

Easy & Family-Friendly

• Old Cemetery Trail (Yellow) | 1/3 mile: A cool, shaded loop featuring a historical 19th-century cemetery with a dozen preserved gravestones.
• Merry Lane Trail (Purple) | Short loop: An easy walk following an old stone trench that historically carried water to the famous Guastavino washhouse.
• Azalea Trail (Green) | 0.75 mile: Mostly gentle rolling terrain with one steep downhill stretch crossing a peaceful mountain stream.

Moderate & Scenic

• Lee Moore Trail (Red) | 0.5 mile: Includes a wooden bridge stream crossing and a brief ridge climb before dropping down to Sourwood Road.
• Blue Ridge Trail (Blue) | Moderate to Steep: Follows an old settler roadbed past an original historic stone chimney up to Big Deep Gap (3,220 feet elevation).
• Wildflower Cove Trail (Gold) | 0.75 mile: Steep at the start, tracking a dry creek bed up to a dramatic cliff face. Spectacular for Trillium blooms in late April/early May.

Rugged & Steep

• Cascade Glen Trail (White) | 0.5 mile: Tracks a rushing stream before climbing a steep zig-zag path to the face of a cliff where a wet-weather waterfall cascades down.
• Glade Mountain Trail (Pink) | 2/3 mile: A steep 1,000-foot vertical climb over Oval Mountain and Glade Mountain, ending at the microwave tower ridge.
• Rocky Knob Trail (Orange) | 1.5 miles: Climbs past a meditation garden to a ridge line boasting panoramic winter vistas of Black Mountain and the Craggy Mountain Range.

Iconic Waterfalls & State Parks

Catawba Falls (Old Fort, NC)

• Distance: 4 miles Round Trip | Difficulty: Moderate

• Why go: Located just down the mountain in Old Fort, this trail traces the scenic Catawba River to a jaw-dropping 100-foot cascading waterfall. Keep an eye out for the ruins of a 1920s hydropower dam. Features excellent footbridges and boardwalk upgrades for safer stream crossings.

DuPont State Recreational Forest

• Distance: 3-mile loop | Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

• Why go: See three massive waterfalls (Hooker Falls, Triple Falls, and High Falls) in one efficient hike. Movie buffs will recognize these roaring waters from the 2012 film The Hunger Games.

Mount Mitchell State Park

• Distance: Varies from 0.7-mile loops to 22-mile thru-hikes | Difficulty: Easy to Strenuous

• Why go: Standing at 6,684 feet, this is the highest point east of the Mississippi River. The observation deck offers 360-degree views.

• Top Trails: Balsam Nature Loop (0.7 mi, easy for kids), Old Mitchell Trail (2 mi, moderate rugged terrain), or the grueling Black Mountain Crest Trail (11.3 miles of high-altitude ridges).

Chimney Rock State Park

• Distance: 3.9 miles (Out & Back) | Difficulty: Strenuous

• Why go: Located on the edge of the dramatic Hickory Nut Gorge. The main climb to the top of the monolith is steep and narrow (not stroller friendly), but rewards you with unparalleled valley views. Families with small kids can opt for the Great Woodland Adventure Trail (0.6 miles, flat, interactive elements).

Sightseeing from the Blue Ridge Parkway

Don’t want to hike? Enjoy the mountains from the comfort of your car. Black Mountain offers instant access to America’s Favorite Drive.

• Craggy Gardens(Milepost 364.4): Breathtaking high-altitude fields at 5,640 feet. Features a visitor center, great short trails, and massive summer rhododendron blooms.

• Folk Art Center(Milepost 382): The perfect cultural stop to view and purchase authentic, masterfully handmade Appalachian arts and crafts.

• Graveyard Fields(Milepost 417): A unique, wild landscape named for its wind-sculpted tree trunks. Offers an incredibly popular, relatively flat trail down to two multi-tiered waterfalls.

• Devil’s Courthouse (Milepost 422.4): A short, steep, paved 0.5-mile walk to a sheer rock summit at 5,720 feet. Cherokee lore holds that this giant rock structure is the ancient, mystical dwelling place of the giant Judaculla.

Learn more about the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Share Your Adventure!

What are your all-time favorite hikes in the valley? We want to see your trail photos! Share them with us at thecarolinamountainlife@gmail.com to be featured in our community spotlight.