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Bass Lake Trail
4.9 ★★★★★ 608 Google reviews · Running trail in Blowing Rock, North Carolina · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Crushed gravel
- Loop distance
- 1 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Bass Lake Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Flat, tree-topped walking trail circling a small lake, with connections to other paths.
What runners say about Bass Lake Trail
“There's a fair amount of parking, clean restrooms, and a nice trail that loops around the lake.”
“Visitors can stroll, jog, fish, or simply take in the stunning scenery reflected in the lake’s mirror-like surface.”
Really nice small park. Trail is about .9 mile around Bass Lake which has an island in the middle. We did the park trail counterclockwise, first passing a large planting of hydrangeas which were in full bloom and we saw lots of water fowl swimming along the blooming water lilies.
Beautiful trail. It's a flat, mostly gravel terrain, great for children, elderly, and runners to run a repeated 1 mile loop. Fishing is allowed with a permit, catch and release. Beautiful place to bird watch and the Lily pads on the water top add extra wonder. Public restrooms on site. Not a lot of parking.
An awesome lake to walk around. The path is wide and evenly landscaped for easy walking. The fall colors were nice. Dogs are allowed on a leash. They also allow horseback riders on some of the trails. The lake is part of the 3500 acre Moses Cone estate which can be viewed at the top of the mountain on the parkway.
We're locals but always love going and viewing God's splendor. Great place for family to get out and enjoy nature. Easy flat trail that loops around the lake with options of other side trails with inclines. Trails are mapped and marked. Some will lead to Moses Cone Mansion. Restrooms at the parking area too👌.
Trail conditions & character
“Visitors can stroll, jog, fish, or simply take in the stunning scenery reflected in the lake’s mirror-like surface.”
“There's a fair amount of parking, clean restrooms, and a nice trail that loops around the lake.”
“Big lake for fishing and a close to 2 mile loop for walking, biking, running, or dog walking.”
“Easy short level trail around small lake at the base of Moses Cone Memorial Park off of the Blue Ridge Parkway.”
“Along the back side is the entrance to the Maze Trail then it loops back around to the parking lot.”
“The easy lakeside loop is perfect for a relaxed walk, while the trails leading up to the historic Moses Cone Manor offer a more moderate-to-challenging climb — your choice!”
“This 22-acre man-made gem sits just outside town on Route 221, surrounded by rolling hills and ever-changing mountain skies.”
“It's a flat, mostly gravel terrain, great for children, elderly, and runners to run a repeated 1 mile loop.”
Plan your run at Bass Lake Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
- Loop distance1 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitenps.gov
- Phone+1 828-348-3400
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
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Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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