Bearwallow Mountain Trail: The Basics
Difficulty: Easy*
Mileage: 2 miles roundtrip
Parking: Park in the gravel along either side of the road near the trailhead
Overall Rating: 5/5
*Disclaimer: Difficulty ratings are based on my personal experience and may not be the same for you. It may be beneficial to check others’ reviews on sites like AllTrails. Please consult your physician before beginning a new exercise program.
A Sunset Hike in September
If you’re looking for a gentle hike that’s easy to access and offers gorgeous sunset views, this is it.
Located between Lake Lure and Asheville, Bearwallow Mountain Trail leads up to a grassy knoll with nearly 360-degree views and flat stones for sitting. While this hike is great for sightseeing at any time of day, I did it with a local hiking group for sunset and highly recommend it.
A big reason I recommend it for sunsets is because there aren’t many trails I would feel confident navigating in the dark. But with this one, you don’t have to: there’s a gravel access road that also runs up to the summit from the trailhead. When we did this hike, we took the trail up and the access road back, so no stumbling over tree roots and rocks in the dark. Whichever route you take, don’t forget a headlamp or bright flashlight, because it is pitch black.
Remember it also cools off in the evenings, especially up in the mountains. I wish I had brought a blanket while I was sitting up there because it was chilly in early September.
As for the trail itself, it’s short — about 1 mile to the summit — and while it is all uphill, AllTrails puts the elevation gain just under 600 feet, so nothing too strenuous.
As you’re heading up, you may spot something large in the woods. Don’t panic. Despite the trail’s name, it’s probably not a bear, but a cow. Yes, a cow. And you’ll see quite a few of them grazing at the top, as they’re part of a working farm. So keep your dogs leashed, give them some room, and watch your step for cow dung.
For more information about Bearwallow Mountain Trail:
Conserving Carolina – Bearwallow Mountain Trail
Romantic Asheville – Bearwallow Mountain Hike
Getting There
This trail was easy to find with Google maps, with paved roads the entire way (at least it was for the route I took from I-26). There is no parking lot, just park off the road on either side.
