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Bearwallow Mountain Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 361 Google reviews · Running trail in Hendersonville, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- 16 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Bearwallow Mountain 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.
Easy to moderate hike to the top of a mountain covered in wildflowers and meadows, with cows grazing at the summit for some.
What runners say about Bearwallow Mountain Trail
“The cows really add a uniqueness to this hike and it's a nice surprise to see them and take in the beautiful mountain views.”
“2 mile in and out (if you take service road can be round trip) easy trail even with snow and ice but have some ice/snow spikes on shoes to prevent falls.”
Outstanding hike. There are two different paths you can take. One is a series of switchbacks with tons of interesting rock features and gorgeous forest scenery. I would suggest that on the way up. On the way back down is a gravel pathway that still has some cool scenery.
We hiked 7 miles here this past Sat on a sunny, cold day but fortunately very little wind so it was nice. We parked on the roadside off Bearwallow Mt Rd and hiked to Bearwallow Mountain’s grassy bald and then onto the Wildcat Rock Trail.
This is a fun hike! It's moderate intensity with some rocky terrain and increase in elevation. There is parking along the side of the road. We were there around 9-10 in the morning and the cows at the top were out grazing on the grass but by 11 they headed further up the mountain to a shady area.
Went on a cold, windy day New years weekend, and it was busy. There is still a good amount of street parking for about 30 cars. I would suggest starting the loop to the right first. It's a moderate hike going mostly uphill but well maintained besides the usual mud and ice during the winter season.
Trail conditions & character
“The cows really add a uniqueness to this hike and it's a nice surprise to see them and take in the beautiful mountain views.”
“It’s around a mile long switchback to get up the mountain on a thin trail, but not too steep because you go back and forth so many times.”
“I don’t recommend taking the gravel road down because it is quite hard on the knees since it is steeper going down the shorter way.”
“Porta potties at the trailhead were a mess, but necessary for a lot of people, greatly appreciated.”
“There were dogs off leash, but I don’t recommend bringing your pup unless they don’t get stimulated by animals due to the cows at the top.”
“It's moderate intensity with some rocky terrain and increase in elevation.”
“I would suggest starting the loop to the right first.”
“There are also additional trails available, making it easy to choose a hike that suits your fitness level and interests.”
“We hiked 7 miles here this past Sat on a sunny, cold day but fortunately very little wind so it was nice.”
Plan your run at Bearwallow Mountain Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Loop distance16 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websiteconservingcarolina.org
- Phone+1 828-697-5777
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 am–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 8 am–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–8:30 pm |
| Sunday | 8 am–8:30 pm |
Running trails near Hendersonville
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Bearwallow Mountain
4.9 ★★★★★ 103 reviews
Gravel-road loop with an unpaved trail at the summit, plus views and cows roaming.
Collier Cove Nature Preserve
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Blue Ridge Parkway
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Patton Park
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Oklawaha Greenway Trail-Patton Park Access
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Bike path meanders along the Mud Creek with picnic pavilions, skate park, and a playground.
