Bearwallow Mountain Trail

Bearwallow Mountain in Fairview, just 15 minutes southeast of Asheville, is one of the best intermediate family hikes in the region. The 5-mile round trip route climbs steadily through mixed forest before emerging into an expansive open meadow at the 4,232-foot summit — the kind of payoff that makes the climb feel immediately worth it.

The summit meadow is the defining feature. Unlike most mountain hikes that end on a rocky, forested peak, Bearwallow opens up to grassland with 360-degree views of the Blue Ridge and Pisgah ranges. Kids who've been hiking in the trees for an hour suddenly have miles of open sky.

Horses sometimes graze the meadow — owned by the adjacent farm — and the sight of free-roaming horses on a mountain summit adds to the sense that you've arrived somewhere genuinely special.

The Land of Sky Regional Council manages the trailhead and access is free. The 1,700-foot elevation gain makes this a real hike rather than a walk — fit kids ages 6 and up can handle it, but plan 2.5-3 hours and carry adequate water. The trail is well-marked and the forest section keeps it shaded in summer.

Bearwallow is less crowded than the Parkway-accessible peaks, making it a good choice on days when the Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks are packed.