Pets allowed

Allowed with Restrictions

Elevation Gain

537.00 ft (163.68 m)

Trail type

There-and-back

Distance

1.00 mi (1.61 km)

Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Hidden outside of Gerton, North Carolina, Bearwallow Mountain is a hiking trail that is often missed by people visiting Asheville and the surrounding areas. The summit is a 4,242-foot peak that will leave you astonished. On a clear day you can see 100 miles. The Great Smoky Mountains, Mount Mitchell, and Chimney Rock are all visible from the top of this peaceful hike. Surround yourself in 300-year-old trees along a clearly marked and well-maintained trail.

Since 1937 the peak of Bearwallow has been host to a fire tower and an adjacent residence for attendants, and it was decommissioned in 1994. It is technically closed and entry is prohibited. Cattle actively graze at the summit of this hiking trail. No camping or fires are allowed.