A Local’s Guide to the Best Hikes Around Black Mountain
There’s a shift that happens the second you drive into the Swannanoa Valley. The air smells a little crisper, the trees look greener, and the ridgelines of the Seven Sisters mountains are right there, basically daring you to lace up your boots and get outside.
Whether you’re looking to scramble up steep, rocky peaks or you want a flat, quiet path where you can push a stroller and clear your head, you don’t have to drive far. Black Mountain is the perfect basecamp.
Grab your shoes and some water—here are the trails locals actually recommend.
The Classic Mountain Views
Lookout Mountain (Montreat)
Distance: 1.4 miles round trip | Difficulty: Short but steep
The Vibe: If you only have time for one hike while you’re in town, make it this one. It’s located just five minutes up the road in Montreat. Don’t let the short distance fool you—it’s a steady, heart-pumping climb that turns into a fun, hands-on rock scramble right at the very end.
The View: Once you get to the top, you’re standing on an open rock summit with a massive 360-degree view of the Montreat valley and the Seven Sisters peaks.
Christmount Trails: Rocky Knob Trail
Distance: 1.5-mile loop | Difficulty: Moderate
The Vibe: This is a fantastic hidden gem hidden away on 600 acres of protected land right here in Black Mountain. The Rocky Knob trail takes you past a peaceful meditation garden and follows a ridge line up into the woods.
The View: It gives you beautiful, framed views of downtown Black Mountain and the neighboring Craggy Mountains.
Quick Tip: Stop by the Christmount front office to register before you head out, and make sure your dog stays on a leash.
Easy, Flat Walks in Town
You don’t have to climb a literal mountain to enjoy being outside here. If you want a smooth, level path that’s easy on the knees, stick to these town favorites.
Lake Tomahawk Loop
Distance: 0.55-mile loop | Difficulty: Very easy | Surface: Packed gravel
The Vibe: This path loops entirely around the water at Lake Tomahawk. It’s completely flat, making it perfect for an easy morning dog walk, a casual stroll after dinner, or pushing a stroller.
The View: When you walk across the old stone dam built back in the 1930s, you get a postcard-perfect view of the Seven Sisters mountains reflecting off the water.
Veteran’s Park River Loop
Distance: About a mile total | Difficulty: Easy
The Vibe: Tucked into Black Mountain Veterans Park, this spot features a great community garden, a butterfly meadow, and a ton of fruit trees. A quick pedestrian bridge takes you across to an unpaved path that follows right along the edge of the Swannanoa River.
Waterfalls & Deep Woods
Catawba Falls (Old Fort)
Distance: 4 miles round trip | Difficulty: Moderate
The Vibe: Located just down the ridge in Old Fort, this trail follows the Catawba River into the woods. Thanks to some awesome recent trail upgrades, there is an amazing network of boardwalks and footbridges that make crossing the streams easy and safe.
The View: You’ll pass old stone ruins from an early 1900s power dam before reaching the main attraction: a roaring, 100-foot waterfall cascading down the rocks.
Quick Tips Before You Head Out
Download maps ahead of time: Cell service can be non-existent once you dip into mountain gaps or climb high onto the ridges. Save your trail maps offline before leaving your room.
Pack a jacket: Mountain weather is unpredictable. It can be a sunny 75°F in downtown Black Mountain but a windy, damp 55°F if you drive up to the Blue Ridge Parkway or Mount Mitchell.
Leave it like you found it: Help us keep our local woods and streams clean. If you pack it in, please pack it out!
Time to Refuel
When you dust off your boots, head into downtown Black Mountain to grab a local bite, a cold drink, or check out some live music.
Some of Our Favorite Places for Day Trips Are:
DuPont State Forest Waterfalls
Enjoy three waterfalls on a three-mile hike in DuPont State Recreational Forest, with Hooker, Triple and High Falls. There are 6 waterfalls and 3 lakes in total. You may see some familiar sites from the Hunger Games movie release in 2012 while you are at Hooker and Triple Falls.
Moderate hike along the scenic Catawba River for a 4 mile round trip hike to the beautiful 100ft cascading waterfall! You will see a few historic buildings scattered along the trail, remnants of the 1920’s hydropower dam that provided power for the town of Old Fort. This hike does require several stream crossings, so come prepared with solid foot gear to prevent from slipping and getting wet!
Mount Mitchell State Park was the genesis of North Carolina’s state parks system in 1915. At 6,684 feet, Mount Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi River, and an observation deck provides breathtaking mountain views on a clear day. Mount Mitchell State Park is home to several trails from easy to strenuous and from .5 mile to over 22 miles (one way).
Most favorited are:
- Mountains-to-Sea State Trail in the Black Mountains 22.9 miles one way
- Black Mountain Crest Trail 11.3 miles one way
- Mount Mitchell Trail 5.6 miles one way
- Old Mitchell Trail 2 miles one way
- Balsam Nature Loop / K.I.P. Track Trail .7-mile loop
- Camp Alice Trail .5-mile one way
Located on the edge of the Hickory Nut Gorge, around the monolithic rock formation which gives the area its name. The hike to the top of Chimney Rock is 3.9 miles round trip and provides amazing views of the surrounding mountains. This loop is the most strenuous trail in the park as the trail is steep, narrow it does not accommodate strollers. There are other trails in the park and the 0.6 mi Great Woodland Adventure trail has a natural surface with gentle climbs and is also perfect for kids.
Think mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls, and heavily forested slopes. Comprised of over 500,000 acres, the Pisgah is primarily a hardwood forest with whitewater rivers, waterfalls, and hundreds of miles of trails. This national forest is home of the first tract of land purchased under the Weeks Act of 1911 which led to the creation of the national forests in the eastern United States.
Check out our local events happening in and around Black Mountain, Swannanoa & Old Fort!
