Black Mountain offers several distinct ways to spend your stay: trails and water at Lake Tomahawk, a trail with information about stream banks, as well as art, local history and seasonal market offerings. Choosing a focus before your trip can help you balance outdoor time, culture and a visit to a market according to your interests.
Park, Water and Trails
Lake Tomahawk Park covers 16.3 acres and is centrally located in Black Mountain. A 0.55-mile walking trail runs through the park. Non-motorized boats are permitted on the park’s water. If you prefer to get around on foot, you can plan around the trail’s length; time on the water is subject to the rule that boats must not be motorized.
The Flat Creek Trail is paved and level; information panels focus on stream bank restoration. At Black Mountain Veterans Park, a relatively level loop runs around the playing fields and connects the Oaks Trail with the Community Garden Trail. This provides a choice between a paved, level trail with panels on stream bank restoration and a relatively level loop around playing fields with named trail connections.
A 4.4-mile stretch of the Swannanoa River is classified as Black Mountain Mountain Heritage Trout Water. If you plan to fish, check the fishing season and applicable regulations before your trip. This lets you consider the river classification as a distinct focus alongside the park trails, without having to commit to a specific route.
Art and Local History
The Black Mountain Center for the Arts welcomes visitors to a historic building that formerly housed Black Mountain City Hall. The center offers classes for all ages in music, theater, dance and visual arts. Individual class offerings may change. Its former use as City Hall provides a tangible connection to the town’s history.
The Upper Gallery hosts exhibitions throughout the year that are free and open to the public. Exhibition content may change. Alongside the Arts Center’s classes, the gallery offers a distinct view of art in Black Mountain: public exhibitions here, and classes in several disciplines for different age groups there.
The Swannanoa Valley Museum is located in Black Mountain’s former fire station. Richard Sharp Smith, the chief architect of the Biltmore Estate, designed and built the building in 1921. Its construction date, architect and former use make the building itself a tangible point of connection to local and architectural history.
The Swannanoa Valley Museum’s Haunted History Walking Tour passes through Black Mountain’s historic downtown district. It offers a different way to explore history than a look at the former fire station. If you would like to include the tour in your plans, check the dates before your trip.
Seasonal Market and Special Events
The Black Mountain Tailgate Market is a seasonal community market. Farmers, food producers and artisans sell directly to consumers there. Offerings include organically and sustainably grown fruit and vegetables, plants, cut flowers and herbs, as well as locally produced meat and seafood. There is also bread, baked goods, cheese and eggs, along with locally handcrafted products. The market thus brings together food, plants and crafts. Since it is seasonal and seasonal details may change, check the current information before visiting.
A festival celebrates local sourwood honey with arts and crafts, music and food vendors. This tradition dates back to 1977. If you would like to plan your stay around the festival, check the dates before your trip.
Explore more destinations: Arden, Swannanoa, Weaverville, Asheville, Candler, Leicester.
Return to the main travel overview: Buncombe.
