Hike to the Top of Bearwallow Mountain

Once you have parked along the roadside near the trailhead, pass through the big gate on the right side of the road and take the trail off to the right. The trail winds up the mountain for a mile before it empties out onto the bald atop Bearwallow. Once on the bald, you can follow the gravel road up to the top for even more impressive views of the French Broad Valley, Mount Pisgah, the Black Mountains, and many other Western North Carolina attractions. If you trek through the woods behind the towers, there is an overlook from which you can view Lake Lure and the Hickory Nut Gorge. If you want to change things up on the way down, you can follow the gravel road back to the trailhead, which is also about a mile long.

Be aware that the weather can be extreme on the bald. During the winter, winds can gust in excess of 70 mph and wind chills can drop to -30°F. Summertime thunderstorms pose a significant risk due to the exposed nature of Bearwallow Mountain.

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