Best Beech Mountain Hiking Trails
High in the Blue Ridge Mountains, sunny Beech Mountain is one of the best places in the Eastern U.S. for a healthy hiking vacation. The town itself is tiny, surrounded by mountains, forest and miles (and miles!) of well-kept and interesting hiking trails. Whether you are taking your young children out for their first hike, or are a seasoned trekker looking for a challenge, there are great trails here just for you, winding past sparkling lakes, picturesque waterfalls and fields of wildflowers.
The area around Beech Mountain includes a fantastic recreational park that covers 50 acres with a huge network of trails for hikers and bikers. In addition, the town itself has lots of trails winding through it for an easy walk before lunch. To help you plan your trip, here is a list of the best Beech Mountain hiking trails.
Upper Pond Creek Trail winds from Perry Park to Lake Coffey , and it is an easy walk for every age. The kids will enjoy the 15 nature stations along the one-mile trail, each one featuring information about the surrounding creeks, animals and trees. They will also enjoy a number of small waterfalls along the way.
down to the Banner Elk Winery. It’s an easy to moderate hike through forests and fields, with views of Grandfather Mountain and the rest of the Blue Ridge. Once you arrive at the winery, there is a free picnic lunch and wine tasting. Make a reservation with the Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation Department , as these guided hikes are quite popular.
The area around Beech Mountain includes a fantastic recreational park that covers 50 acres with a huge network of trails for hikers and bikers. In addition, the town itself has lots of trails winding through it for an easy walk before lunch. To help you plan your trip, here is a list of the best Beech Mountain hiking trails.
Upper Pond Creek Trail
Upper Pond Creek Trail winds from Perry Park to Lake Coffey , and it is an easy walk for every age. The kids will enjoy the 15 nature stations along the one-mile trail, each one featuring information about the surrounding creeks, animals and trees. They will also enjoy a number of small waterfalls along the way.Lower Pond Creek Trail
A more strenuous hike, Lower Pond Creek Trail is one of the best Beech Mountain hiking trails for taking pictures. Also a one-mile trail, it winds through the old-growth forest down from Lake Coffey and has some of the greatest scenery along the way, including waterfalls, rocky cliffs and small forest pools.Wild Iris Loop Trail
The nearly two-mile Wild Iris Loop Trail is moderately challenging, and runs from Cherry Gap to Bear Paw Path and back. It is a fun hike for older kids—and make sure to bring along a berry bucket if the blackberries are in season, which is typically mid-July to mid-August. This trail is very open in places, offering great views of fields of wildflowers in spring and summer. The kids will also like exploring the small cave right near the path.Falls Trail Loop
One of the newest hiking trails in town, Falls Trail Loop has an entrance right next to the Buckeye Recreation Center walkway . It is another moderate trail, running about a mile and a half, with a 450-foot elevation change. The trail runs through forest and up to Buckeye Creek and the Falls , then crosses a bridge over to Buckeye Lake and back.Smoketree Trail
The Smoketree Trail runs for two miles and is one of the best Beech Mountain hiking trails simply because of the trees. The trail runs through forests of mountain magnolia, hemlock, beech and maple, and if you are hiking in late summer, there are fresh wild blackberries everywhere! Park your vehicles at the other end, or loop around for a nice four-mile walk.Hikes to Banner Elk Winery
Several times each summer, the town of Beech Mountain gives free guided hikes from the mountaindown to the Banner Elk Winery. It’s an easy to moderate hike through forests and fields, with views of Grandfather Mountain and the rest of the Blue Ridge. Once you arrive at the winery, there is a free picnic lunch and wine tasting. Make a reservation with the Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation Department , as these guided hikes are quite popular.