Located 20 minutes to the east is the hiking village of Black Mountain, NC. Known as the gateway to the "Seven Sisters", a beautiful hiking trail system that covers the Greybeard mountain range, this little town is the quintessential mountain village. With numerous parks, small town stores, vibrant pubs, and outdoor adventures, let me show you why Black Mountain is a great place to call home.

In the 1800s, wagons carried visitors to the town as they traveled over the Swannanoa Pass to or from Western North Carolina. These days, visitors come to the small town to enjoy the outdoors, wander the historic streets, and enjoy the lively community.

Perched in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Black Mountain is just 15 miles east of Asheville, making it an ideal day trip for anyone looking for their new favorite small town. And it is your new favorite: It was named one of the best small mountain towns in the South by the readers of Southern Living. 

Originally called Grey Eagle by the Cherokee and Catawba people who first lived there, Black Mountain was incorporated (and renamed, for a mountain range to the north) in the 19th century after rail travel popularized the North Carolina mountains. Today, Black Mountain has just 8,452 residents, but its location continues to draw tourists—about 2 million per year, according to the town’s Chamber of Commerce. Even if you don’t venture outside the town’s 7 square miles, you can take in plenty of scenic views, restaurants, bars and breweries, shops, and art galleries, many in a compact and picturesque downtown. 

Where to Stay

The Monte Vista Hotel, which opened in 1919 and is on the National Register of Historic Places, has both historic mountain charm and the modern luxuries of a boutique hotel. The 1937 Wing has 33 rooms with king or queen beds (some also have daybeds with trundles for families) and classic touches like original hardwood floors, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and wrought-iron bedframes. The Lodge, added in the 1950s, has 14 queen rooms with rustic natural-wood headboards and built-in side tables. 

The Arbor House Bed and Breakfast, overlooking Lake Tomahawk, is owned by Jim and Theresa. This private home is reminiscent of a New England cottage with a professional chef at your disposal and peaceful gardens for relaxation. Rooms are well appointed and comfortable and the innkeepers are committed to making your stay feel like home.


Black Mountain also has a Hampton Inn and Super 8 Motel for those who don't have too much time to spend.

Where to Eat

After dinner, stop by Oak and Grist Distilling Company for craft cocktails made with small-batch whiskey and gin distilled on-site from North Carolina grains. For craft beer, hit up Black Mountain Brewing or Lookout Brewing Company, or visit Trailhead Restaurant & Bar for a full bar and upscale pub grub. When the weather’s nice, find a table outside at Foothills Grange, which serves up beer and classic American eats, plus slushies for kids and adults.


                                                                                                                    The Trailhead

Where to Play

If you come to Black Mountain, you have to get outside! Lookout Trail is a moderate, 1.4-mile hike with views of the nearby Seven Sisters mountain range. For more experienced hikers, Graybeard Trail offers a 9.5-mile round-trip hike with small waterfalls along the way to a scenic summit. (If you forgot any gear, Take A Hike Outfitters and WNC Outdoor Collective downtown have you covered.) Have young kids in tow? Lake Tomahawk Park has trails, a playground, a fishing pier, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, public pool and restrooms.

And if you are headed up to the trails at Graybeard, stop off at Lake Susan on the campus of Montreat College and rent a paddleboat.





                                                                                                             Lookout Mountain hike


Black Mountain also has a beautiful public golf course owned by the city and visitors are always welcome.



Where to Shop

One of my favorite shopping stops is the Town Hardware & General Store where you can find anything and everything from barrels of candy to unique souvenirs.


Take a Hike Outfitters has all of the mountain gear that you will need for both you and your pups. And for those unique Appalachian crafts visit Dancing Dragonfly, Seven Sisters Gallery, and Europa Gifts. 

Everyday Living

Black Mountain may be small but she packs a lot of living into a small footprint. Here you have an Ingles supermarket, numerous gas stations, hardware stores, banks, churches, yoga studios, public parks and recreation pool, and an aquatic center.

There are tons of charming communities in and around the city center with The Village of Cheshire and Tudorcroft being two of my favorites. If you are looking for something a little more rural then consider one of the gated mountain communities out on Hwy. 9, Creston, Catawba Falls, or Laurel Mountain Preserve. 


The Village of Cheshire


Tudorcroft


Homes in the gated communities can be fairly pricey ranging from $800,000 to over $1M, however, there are still some very nice homes to be had. This home, for instance, at 109 Chepstow Pl. is in the community of Tudorcroft and is priced at $524,900 for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath with 1240 sf built in 2021.



For homes priced under $500,000 you will want to take a look at Padgett Place or homes in the neighborhood of Methodist Colony located near Lake Tomahawk.

Black Mountain, since it is a small town, has limited inventory and homes tend to sell very quickly. They also do not have a restrictions on short term rentals, HOAs withstanding, so if you are looking for an investment property, this is a great location. 

Please call me for more information on Black Mountain or any other WNC locations. I am happy to assist you with your mountain dreams!