Our Hiking Trails
Montreat
Google Montreat Trail Map to find a map and decriptions of the many trails in Montreat.
Ridgecrest Conference Center
Ridgecrest has a good trails map with trail descriptions at the following website.
http://ridgecrestconferencecenter.org/assets/dropbox/Ridgecrest_Trail_Map.pdf
Warren Wilson
A good map of Warren Wilson trails, with trail descriptions, is at the following site.
Here is some supplementary information about our favorite hikes at Warren Wilson:
River Road West
From the parking lot near the Swannanoa River on Warren Wilson Road, hike west along River Trail West, cross through some stiles near open pasture land and come to Berea Creek. Or go up to the right where there is an opening in rhododendrons, to top of hill, follow trees beside pasture down to stile and return along the creek Follow the creek until you come to end of trail at Old Farm School road. About 3.5 miles. Easy walking with two very moderate climbs.
Owen Park to River Trail East and Campus Loop
Start at Owen Park parking lot. Walk to west end of lake and continue on trail along the Swannanoa River. Meadows and cultivated fields soon emerge ahead. You can then either continue along the river or head up the trail on your right into the woods and up a hill, taking Muhl Trail, Trail of Fortune, Hodge Tom Connector, and Jenson Trail and on into the Warren Wilson Campus and Back over to the River Trail East, making a loop. Or you can do the loop from the River Trail East, turning into the campus near a chicken house.
Bull Creek Dam
From Parking area at Berea Church, cross over road, turn left on connector trail and follow till you
come to Dam Pasture Trail along the river. Turn right, follow river to Dam and then river again to sign for Anthony Road and Dodge Lake. Follow Dodge lake and come back to Riceville Rd by Berea Church. 2.5 miles.
Suicide Ridge
Drive car to the right past Montreat Presbyterian Church and houses till you come to small Trail Head near two houses. Park. Climb on Suicide Ridge Trail for 1/5 mile and arrive on ridge. Turn right and follow trail till it merges with Cold Spring Trail. Bypass side trail to Warren Wilson Trail, staying on Cold Spring Trail until it loops back up to Suicide Ridge Trail. Turn right on Suicide Ridge Trail. Come to open pasture with view. Go left in pasture along fence to Casey Connector and then Soccer Field Trail (left and above the soccer field) until it veers off to left uphill and takes you back to start of Suicide Ridge Trail. 2 miles.
Outward Bound to Warren Wilson and Suicide Ridge Trails
Start from Outward Bound parking lot. Cut across pastures and take trail into woods and turn left on Warren Wilson Trail, which will take you to Cold Spring Trail. Turn right, then turn right again on Suicide Ridge Trail. At the pasture with view, turn right along fence and go right on Mushroom Farm Road and Warren Wilson Trail back to Outward Bound connector.
Jones Mountain
Start at the Jones Mountain Trailhead on College View Drive. The most direct route to the top is Davidson Road, but there are several alternative routes. See the Warren Wilson trail map.
YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly
Several maps and guides are available if you google blue ridge assembly trails. One good one is at:
http://www.hikingupward.com/NCSP/SwannanoaMountains/images/Map.pdf
Here is another map, showing more trails toward the lower section of the Blue Ridge Assembly.
The three trails that we currently hike are Wolfpit Circle, Carolina Loop, and Rhododendron Run. Wolfpit is about two miles, Carolina about three, and Rhododendron about two. For Wolfpit and Carolina we start at the McCrary Lodge parking area. For Rhododendron we start at the lake.
Christmount
Various Other Trails in our Portfolio; Some are Nearby, Some Not
Blue Ridge Parkway
There are, of course, many trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here we mention just a few that we hike fairly often.
Craggy Gardens
We hike this nice one-mile trail out of the picnic area, uphill, then back down, terminating near a little Parkway visitor's center, where we have shuttled our cars. We then go on to.....
Craggy Pinnacle
About a half mile uphill (rather steep and rocky) to the peak where you have excellent views and a good place to rest a bit before heading back down.
Rattlesnake Lodge Trail
This trail starts from a side road off the Parkway at Bull Gap. It is a good foot trail, climbing gradually for 1.5 miles on switchbacks, to the ruins of the Lodge, which are a good spot for a break. We usually go back to the trailhead the same way, but there is a rather steep shortcut a half mile down to the Parkway, which then requires a shuttle back to the original trailhead.
Mountains-to-the Sea North
For this hike we start at the Folk Art Center and head north on the MTS for a mile or two and then backtrack.
Mountains-to-the Sea South to Visitor Center
For this hike we start at the Folk Art Center and head south through woods and fields and a stairway with about 50 steps, then through more woods and to the Visitor Center. It is about two miles and requires a shuttle.
Visitor Center Loop
This is a short hike, about a mile, through the woods, partly on a special trail and partly on the Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail. It is a little hilly but an easy hike.
Other Trails Nearby
The Oaks
This is a network of trails on wooded Montreat College land between I-40 and the railroad tracks, accessible from Veterans Park Drive or from Vance Avenue. We use these trails quite often and sometimes we go on through town for a bakery hike.
Miami Mountain
This trail starts up behind Wendy's to the left, near the end of Sunset Drive. An old forest road takes you up above the power lines to the ruins of an old hotel. At the top there is a nice view of Black Mountain. It is a very good hike of about three miles round trip, but currently (September 2018) we lack permission to hike on the privately owned land. The owner is Mr. Wendell Begley.
Kitzuma
This trail starts at the end of Royal Gorge Road, near Ridgecrest. It is fairly steep, with many switchbacks. Near the top there is a rocky outcrop with a nice view of Black Mountain. The round trip is about tw0 miles.
Flat Creek Greenway
Short but nice, this greenway can be combined with street walks in Black Mountain.
Lake Tomahawk Loop
We could walk round and round on this pleasant, flat half-mile trail, and we would encounter many others who use it regularly, but our group has never have hiked it.
Other Trails Farther Away
Catawba Falls Trail
This pleasant trail through the woods and along the tumbling Catawba River is very popular. To the waterfall and back is about two miles, with just a few rocky spots near the top.
North Carolina Arboretum
Several nice trails along Bent Creek and in the woods. There are many possibilities ranging from short garden walks to three-mile hikes. It is a little far to go, but very rewarding.
French Broad River Greenway
In Asheville, this flat, paved greenway is about one mile long and terminates in a picnic spot on the river.
Reed Creek Greenway
Just a few years old, this well-designed greenway runs from the Asheville Botanical Gardens to Montford. It is about one mile long and can link to nice walks in the Gardens and in Montford.
New Belgium Greenway
This trail runs from the Asheville dog park to the New Belgium Brewery and beyond. It is close to a mile long. There are beverages and food trucks at the brewery.