Flat Top Tower and Trout Lake Trails at the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park - Blowing Rock, NC

North Carolina

Oct 13

“Surround yourself with people that reflect who you want to be and how you want to feel. Energy is contagious.” - Rachel Wolchin

“At some point, you have to realize that some people can stay in your heart, but not in your life.” - Kimberly Parisi Murray

“Sometimes you have to let go of the picture of what you thought life would be like and learn to find joy in the story you are actually living.” - Rachel Marie Martin

The Story -

On Saturday morning Ginger, Alex, Natalie, Sophie and I hiked six miles on the Flat Top Tower and Trout Lake Trails at the easy and beautiful Moses H. Cone Memorial Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock, NC. Leaf color-changing season is upon us and the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is an excellent place to visit to see all the vibrant colors the cooler weather brings.

Peak Season -

The fall foliage show in the western North Carolina mountains and foothills brings a kaleidoscope of leaf colors for many weeks beginning at the end of September until early November. The Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains have one of the longest autumn color seasons in the country, thanks to the many six-thousand-foot peaks, deep valleys, and varying microclimates. We are fortunate to experience over a five-week span of color that slowly descends from the tallest ridges in the West down to the lowest valleys in the Piedmont. Moses H. Cone Memorial Park in Northwest North Carolina is a perfect destination to experience nature’s gift due to its multiple viewing options and relatively easy-to-navigate trails.

Moses H. Cone Memorial Park -

The Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is a country estate in honor of Moses H. Cone in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. It is on the Blue Ridge Parkway between mileposts 292 and 295 with access at milepost 294. Most locals call it Cone Park. The park is run by the National Park Service and contains over 3,500 acres, three lakes, and twenty-five miles of carriage trails for hiking and horses. The main feature of the park is a twenty-three room 13,000-square-foot mansion called Flat Top Manor built in the early 1900s. At the Manor, there is a craft shop and demonstration center, along with an information desk and bookstore. The park is open year-round and sees more than 225,000 people each year, the most visited recreational place on the Blue Ridge Parkway other than the Parkway itself.

Spill The Tea -

Our drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park was a wonderful prelude to all the beautiful colors we would see at the park and on the trails. There are multiple scenic overlooks and beauty around almost every turn. Since the park was crowded and we feared not finding another spot, we parked near the entrance in the first available spot. After walking a short distance to the Manor and touring the house and grounds, we started our hike on the wide and wonderfully maintained Flat Top Tower Trail. Along the three-mile out-and-back trail, we stopped at the Cone family cemetery, and crossed several meadows and open fields, while traversing multiple switchbacks all with excellent views of the fall foilage. The trail also includes many wildflowers and acres of white pines, maples, hemlocks, rhododendrons, laurels, and apple trees. We ultimately arrived at the forty-foot observation tower for which the trail is named that offered unparalleled views of the surrounding mountains, including Grandfather Mountain, Calloway Peak, Sugar Mountain, Hanging Rock, the Roan Mountains, Linville Gorge, Snake Mountain, and even Mt. Rogers in Virginia on clear days.

Add Some Cream and Sugar -

Leaving the observation tower, we retraced our steps down the Flat Top Trail until reaching the out-and-back Trout Lake Trail. While the Flat Top trail was somewhat crowded with people and horses, the Trout Lake Trail was virtually deserted. A gentle breeze accompanied us along our walk next to the water as we admired the vibrant color of the leaves reflecting off the water. It was truly magical and excellent ending to a delightful day. We opted not to hike the Bass Lake Trail or the Maze Trail, saving those for our next visit.

Wrap It Up -

The Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is a North Carolina treasure, a true gift to our state and our country. I felt an an incredible inner peace and deep admiration for the area with a yearning desire to return again soon. Give it try, maybe this weekend. After visiting, I’m sure you will want to return again soon as well.

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