Hiking Trails

Rumbling Bald on Lake Lure is surrounded by the natural beauty of Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Admiring the beauty while playing a round of golf, enjoying a massage and lounging by the pool is exactly what we want our guests to do, but we also want you to have a chance to explore the area. Area hiking trails are specifically tailored to amplify the beauty and natural surroundings of the Hickory Nut Gorge.

Rumbling Bald Private Trailhead

The Buffalo Creek Park Trail System offers approximately five miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Rumbling Bald’s private trailhead is located at the north end of West Lake Drive. Picnic tables are available at the trailhead and Legends offers box lunches. Please check at the Wellness Center for directions to the trailhead. This map provides directions of how to get to the trailhead from the Wellness Center.

Download a map of the Trail System here. Learn more about the Trail System here.


Explore Local Parks and Trails

There’s no better time to experience the outdoors through one of our local scenes. From stunning waterfalls, pivotal peaks, and of course, panoramic mountain landscapes, the natural beauty of Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge Mountains will amaze you. There are plenty of local trails off the beaten track as well as Chimney Rock State Park with the iconic rock overlook. So grab your walking stick and hiking boots as you head out to explore the trails at Rumbling Bald!

Online resources for local trails:

New Trail Connects Bearwallow to Wildcat Rock
A new two-mile section of trail just opened in the Hickory Nut Gorge, creating a link between two highly popular trails—the Bearwallow Mountain Trail and the Wildcat Rock Trail. Conserving Carolina cut the ribbon on an extension of the Wildcat Rock Trail, which now reaches the summit of Bearwallow Mountain. To learn more, click here.


Go Hiking Within Rumbling Bald

Here are six trails that you can explore right here at Rumbling Bald.

  1. Mocking Bird Trail
    • Hiking Direction: From the Wellness Center turn left and after a few hundred yards go right at the fork and follow Hemlock Lane to Rumbling Bald Road (left) and go right to Quail Ridge Road. Turn left on Mocking Bird Drive. Take a left on Rumbling Bald Road back to Hemlock Lane and turn right, then left onto Quail Ridge Road which brings you back to the Wellness Center.
    • Distance to drive: About 0 mile.
    • Distance to walk: About 2.4 miles round trip.
    • Hike Rating: Easy
    • Reward: See wildlife, deer & others.
    • Driving Directions: No driving, hiking only.
  2. Quail Ridge & Bolt Trail
    • Hiking direction: From the Wellness Center turn left and after a few hundred yards go right at the fork and follow Hemlock Lane to Rumbling Bald Road (left) and go right to Quail Ridge Road. Follow Quail Ridge Road all the way to the end where it becomes Bolt Road. Follow Bolt Road down till it becomes O’Brien Road. Follow O’Brien Road till it becomes Quail Ridge Boulevard which brings you back to the Wellness Center.
    • Distance to drive: About 0 mile
    • Distance to walk: About 3.4 miles round trip
    • Hike Rating: Easy
    • Reward: See wildlife, deer & others. Large boulders can be seen along Bolt Road, which came down the mountains hundreds of years ago when the “rumbling” was heard miles away down in the valley, long before the lake was established.
    • Driving Directions: No driving, hiking only.
  3. Grandview Trail
    • Hiking direction: From the Spa and Fitness Center, turn left and after a few 100 yards to right at the first fork on Hemlock Lane. Keep right at the next fork and then turn left onto Huntington Lane. Turn right on Forest Way and right again on Grandview Drive. Follow Grandview all the way to Fairway Drive. Follow this road till you come to a T-intersection. Turn right on South Fork Drive, cross the bridge, then turn right on Mountains Boulevard, follow this road to Quail Ridge Boulevard, turn right and go downhill back to the Spa and Fitness Center. Do not walk on the golf course path.
    • Distance to drive: No driving required
    • Distance to walk: About 3.3 miles round trip
    • Hike Rating: Easy
    • Reward: See nature, deer and other wildlife. Young’s Mountain can be seen and the valley below with the Bald Mountain Golf Course. Listen to the quiet song of the birds and the bubbling Trout Stream on your way back.
    • Driving Directions: No driving, hiking only
  4. Roundabout Trail
    • Hiking direction: From the Wellness center, turn right and walk to Mountains Boulevard. Turn left at the cemetery and follow Mountains Boulevard to the end (you will see a private entrance to home) then turn right on Roundabout Road. Follow this road, enjoy good views till you come to Westlake Drive. Turn right and follow along Bald Mountain Lake till you reach Villa Drive. Turn right on Villa Drive then turn left onto Mountains Boulevard again, which brings you back to the Wellness Center. Do not walk on the golf course path.
    • Distance to drive: About 0 mile
    • Distance to walk: About 4.3 miles round trip
    • Hike Rating: Easy
    • Reward: See wildlife, deer & others. Young’s Mountain can be seen and the valley below with the Bald Mountain Golf Course. Listen to the quiet song of the birds and the bubbling trout stream creek on the way up.
    • Driving directions: No driving, hiking only.
  5. Shumont Ridge Trail
    • Hiking Directions: Follow Shumont Estates Drive then turn left up the hill onto Lakewood Drive once you pass the lake. Then next left is Hawk’s Nest Drive. Follow this road to the very end where you find a water reservoir. Enjoy the view all around you along the way. Back track to the car.
    • Distance to drive: About 1 mile.
    • Distance to walk: About 3 miles round trip.
    • Hike Rating: Easy
    • Reward: Stunning views to all the mountain ranges around the area: Bald Mountain, Shumont Mountain & Sugar Loaf Mountain. Best view to the center of the lake.
    • Driving Directions: From security gate, turn right over bridge. Then turn left at the stop sign. Then turn on second road on the right- Shumont Estates Drive. Park your car about 200 yards on the right.
  6. Weaver Trail
    • Hiking direction: From the Spa and Fitness Center, turn left and after a few 100 yards go right at the fork and follow Hemlock Lane to Rumbling Bald Road. Turn left on Rumbling Bald Road and turn right onto Quail Ridge Road. On your left you will see Weaver Lane. Follow Weaver Lane to the end and turn left onto Bolt Road. Hike down on Bolt Road. At the sharp curve, go straight onto Rumbling Bald Road which will bring you back to the Fitness Center.
    • Distance to drive: No Driving required
    • Distance to walk: Approximately 2.6 miles round trip
    • Hike Rating: Easy
    • Reward: See nature, deer, and other wildlife. Large boulders can be seen along Bolt Road, which came down the mountains hundreds of years ago when the mountain’s “rumbling” was heard miles away down in the valley, long before the lake was established.
    • Driving Directions: No driving, hiking only

Fitness Trail

In addition to hiking and biking, our fitness trail provides an outlet for a great outdoor workout. The .9 mile loop trail features five workout stations each designed to optimize your workout. View the Fitness Trail Map here.