Why Black Mountain is the best small town in NC to spend a fall day in

From its myriad fall festivals to its seasonal treats and stunning scenery, Black Mountain, North Carolina, is one place you need to visit this autumn.

Nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Lake Tomahawk, Black Mountain is one of North Carolina’s best-kept secrets.

This town is quaint, charming, and beautiful, and it has a penchant for the arts that makes it even more swoon-worthy. The best part? Fall here is, simply put, magical. The area’s abundance of trees means you’re surrounded by burnt-orange leaves, and with both a lake and mountains nearby, you’re never far from an Insta-worthy snapshot.

Now, you may be wondering where exactly Black Mountain is. If so, look no further than Asheville, as this small town — which has a population of fewer than 9,000 people — is actually a member of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area in Buncombe County, though it’s still its own incorporated town (and has been since 1893). Think of it like the cutest little suburb you’ve ever seen. And we do mean little — its size, as designated by the U.S. census data, sits at just 6.7 square miles!

While Black Mountain is small, it’s mighty, and there’s plenty to do in the fall, from exploring its scenic surroundings to visiting an arts festival and tasting fun fall drinks at local shops and breweries.

Start (and end) your trip with Black Mountain’s scenic driving routes

The best part about visiting Black Mountain for a day is that you’re guaranteed to start your day on a fall-filled note. Many of the roads and routes surrounding Black Mountain are naturally autumnal thanks to them being lined with trees. As such, you’re met with fall’s welcoming flames each and every time you enter the town, and they’re there to say “See you next time” as you leave.

The best way to see these views from your car windows is on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and you might’ve even driven it before without realizing it. This parkway spans a whopping 469 miles, but you don’t have to trek that whole length to get amazing views. You could head out for a few-mile drive, a 30-minute drive, or whatever you have time for before turning around and heading back into town for fall-themed refreshments. Just make sure to have your shotgun rider snap a picture or two for the ‘Gram. 

The Blue Ridge Parkway isn’t your only option, though. Other scenic drives in the Black Mountain area include the Appalachian Medley Scenic Byway, the Roan Mountain Scenic Drive, and the Black Mountain Rag to Chimney Rock. The latter is partially driven on the Blue Ridge Parkway, so it’s a two-for-one special that also lets you see other small towns in the area without ever straying from your path.

Photo courtesy of Sakura Sunagawa/CC BY 2.0.

Spend some time in Lake Tomahawk Park

Whether you want to fish, swim, have an impromptu photoshoot, or anything in between, you need to head to Lake Tomahawk Park this fall. Located in Black Mountain, this park has a pool in addition to the lake, giving you two swimming options, and it even boasts a yacht club. According to Black Mountain Recreation and Parks, guests can visit Lake Tomahawk Park from “dawn [to] dusk,” but folks should note that if they plan on fishing, adults are required to have a valid fishing license from the state of North Carolina. 

Lake Tomahawk is stunning year-round, but it becomes truly enrapturing when the leaves change colors and begin to fall. The lake becomes a fiery dream, and when combined with chilly weather, hanging out here is always a day well-spent. For a simple but lovely visit to take in the view — and plenty of fresh autumn air — give the walking trails a go. Or, you can play a spot of tennis on the tennis courts. You can even break your own food to enjoy at the park’s pavilion, which features a grill and a host of picnic tables. And don’t worry — there are public bathrooms as well.

Basically, you could spend an entire day here, but don’t forget to check out the following events and places, too. 

See the fall foliage on a hike

Lake Tomahawk Park is gorgeous, but there’s also more hardcore hiking to be had for folks who like their fall even more adventurous. For example, you could head to the closeby Big Piney Ridge Trail, a moderate route that holds a special surprise near its end: a sweeping look of Black Mountain that allows you to soak up all of the town, lake, and mountain’s sweet fall serendipity from a bird’s-eye view.

What’s more, Black Mountain’s neighboring town of Montreat is a great respite for hikers, with the equally quaint town boasting a full trail map that folks can download and use to plan their next adventure. Some of these trails include lookouts that allow you to see Black Mountain, so it will be like you never left (though Montreat is so close that it’s not like you really left Black Mountain anyway). Oh, and did we mention that some of the nearby trails in DuPont State Forest contain a total of six waterfalls that will look even more alluring with a slight chill in the air?

Photo courtesy of Wncoutdoors/CC BY-SA 3.0.

Attend fall festivals in Black Mountain

Black Mountain is home to not one, not two, but three fun fall festivals that you can attend as the temps get chillier and jack-o-lanterns begin lining the streets. These festivals center on — and celebrate — music, food, art, seasonal activities like pumpkin picking, and more. Here’s what they entail and when they’re held:

Black Mountain Home Fall Festival

This annual festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 12 this year, and it takes place at Black Mountain Home, a nonprofit organization that cares for the area’s disadvantaged children and youth. The festival aims to bring fun to the community through a variety of attractions, including face painting, hayrides, bounce houses and other games, live music, a pumpkin patch, and so much more. Guests can also visit vendor booths to support local artists and businesses. Ultimately, this event is to bring the community together and raise awareness of the organization’s cause, and it simply sounds like a good, fall-filled time.

Black Mountain Music Festival

Starting at the same time as the Black Mountain Home Fall Festival this year, the Black Mountain Music Festival is slated to be held from October 12 to October 17 at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. Now, this isn’t the type of music festival you might be thinking of — there’s no Lollapalooza-level concert happening here — but it will be a fun time if you’re someone who adores making music. That’s right: This festival’s all about instruments, and it sees its participants taking classes, hanging out with fellow musicians, and creating lifelong memories while honing their craft. The best part of this festival taking place in the fall is that once your classes are over, you can head to Lake Tomahawk Park or a local brewery or bakery to indulge in more traditional fall activities and treats.

LEAF Global Arts Festival

The LEAF Global Arts Festival is held twice yearly, first in the spring and then again in the fall, and it unites everyone in the area in the name of, well, art. More specifically, you can catch dance numbers, various types of performance art, many styles of paintings, and more. If it falls under the art umbrella — or is an expression of culture — you’ll likely find it here. This year’s event is slated for October 17 through October 20, and tickets start at $61 for single-day access, though you’ll likely want a weekend pass once you hear about the food situation. That’s right: Culinary arts are a valid art form, too, and the LEAF Global Arts Festival honors this art form by employing excellent chefs to feed festival attendees throughout the weekend. Like the event’s theme, the dishes at this festival will be worldly, giving you a taste of many different cuisines from across the globe. You can even buy a specific pass to unlock five magnificent meals for just $65. This is just the beginning of what this festival has in store, but it’s absolutely worth checking out.

Taste your way through local coffee shops & breweries

Nothing feels like fall quite like seasonal grub, whether it’s your first PSL of the year, an apple cider donut from your favorite bakery, or a pint of perfectly crisp cider.

Luckily for Black Mountain residents, the town has its very own cider taproom: Black Mountain Cider and Mead. This establishment recently celebrated its 11th anniversary, and it’s clear to see why it’s become a cornerstone of the Black Mountain community. Black Mountain Cider and Mead pours up glasses of traditional cider, which is perfect for fall since it’s made from apples — and fall is prime apple-picking season. If that weren’t enough, many of its drinks feature warm spices like those featured in pumpkin pie spice, including allspice, which creates an extra sense of comfort.

Black Mountain Cider and Mead isn’t the only place to get seasonally appropriate alcoholic beverages. Lookout Brewing Company offers a variety of ciders, and its website claims that the drink Schatz Lager Oktoberfest is “coming soon.” (What’s more “fall” than Oktoberfest?) Then, there’s Pisgah Brewing Company, which currently sells two ciders: a traditional one and one featuring striking notes of ginger.

On the other end of the drink spectrum, you can imbibe in pumpkin spice lattes galore at Dripolator, which has been serving the Black Mountain community since 1999. You may even get beautiful latte art of a jack-o-lantern with your order, as seen in one of the coffee shop’s recent Instagram posts. That’s not all, though — Dripolator’s fall menu also includes a white chocolate cold brew with pumpkin spice cold foam and a chocolate-ginger drink to keep you warm all day (and night) long. Moreover, according to Tripadvisor reviews, where Dripolator has a 4.5-star rating, the coffee shop has also served pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins previously, so it’s worth checking to see what seasonal treats they have when you visit.

Photo courtesy of Dripolator.

Stay in a cabin for the ultimate cozy fall vibes

Exploring the town and the nature around it is one thing, but living in it for a night or two is another. We’ve already established that Black Mountain is ravishing in the fall, but if you stay in a cabin, you can capitalize on your time and savor every last second of its beauty. One option is The Village of Cheshire, a “premier community” of cabins situated in Black Mountain, which you can book through Carolina Mornings. The cabins come in varying sizes, so there’s one for everyone, and they come with “well-stocked kitchens” and “seasonal mountain views.” Oh, and this rental company allows pets, so you never have to worry about leaving your best friend out of your fall memories here.

If Carolina Mornings’ cabin community isn’t for you, don’t fret — there are many other cabin options in Black Mountain, ranging from luxury properties to cozier, no-frills cabins. For example, this stunning cabin is the epitome of luxurious cabin life and sleeps up to 16 people, which helps make its $896-per-night price feel more reasonable when split among many people. And people tend to thoroughly enjoy their stays — and the scenery. Just take it from this reviewer: “The home was Gorgeous and location Perfect at the top of the mountain. The views and sunrises were Spectacular!”

On the other hand, there’s this cabin that goes for just $239 per night and is more humble, letting you escape into a simpler life for a night. It allows pets, and it even has a hot tub, so you can kick back and watch the scenery in style. “My husband, dog, and I had a magical time staying here. The views were gorgeous and the location was great. We hope to be back in the future,” one reviewer said of their visit.

Ultimately, there’s a place to stay in Black Mountain for everyone, and with so much to do, you’re bound to have the best time if you’re looking to dissolve into a breathtaking autumnal naturescape for a day.

Photo courtesy of John McTarnaghan/CC BY 2.0.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.