Where is Moses Cone Memorial Park?
The Fire Tower trail and Moses Cone Memorial Park are both located on the Blue Ridge Parkway just south of Blowing Rock, NC. You can easily access this park from the Blue Ridge Parkway Entrance on HWY 221 near downtown Blowing Rock, or just a short drive south from the HWY 321 Entrance.
This trail started as one of the carriage roads used by Moses and Bertha Cone on their estate. The trail starts at the Southern Highlands Craft Center which is housed in the Manor House on the estate.
From the house you will turn left and begin walking towards the carriage house and stables. Then under the parkway to a large open field.
The trail forks here, if you want to continue to the Cone Family's cemetery and the fire tower you will want to take the trail on the right.
Here you will begin the climb up Flat Top Mountain. At the one mile mark you will arrive at the Cone Family grave site. This is where Moses Cone was buried. Moses Cone was a denim manufacturer based out of Greensboro NC. Being the son of Jewish German immigrants born before the civil war his story from rags to riches is one of the great American success stories for another time.
What is the trail like?
The hike up Flat Top Mountain is steep in places, but the path is well maintained and smooth with a gravel pavement. The trail is available to be used for horseback riding so you will find the horse's remnants up and down the mountain, luckily it doesn't really smell and is biodegradable. Just not fun to look at.
The trail begins to get steeper the closer you get to the summit with a series of switchbacks to gain elevation. There are some benches and rock ledges along the way to stop and catch your breath as you make your way to the top of the mountain. Along the way you will find plenty of native wild flowers as well as shrubbery planted by the Cone family over a hundred years ago!
When you reach the summit of the mountain you will find the fire tower. I highly recommend you summon the energy to climb the stairs to the top of the tower. If the two and a half mile hike to the tower didn't take your breath away, the view from the summit tower will!
With great views of the towns of Boone and Blowing Rock as well as plenty of scenic views of "The Old Man" (Grandfather Mountain). I would be sure to check the weather before making this hike, as this is not the trail I would want to get caught in a thunderstorm on. Half of the trail is in a wide open field where the nearest lightning rod is you. This would definitely be a fantastic fall time hike, date hike, or afternoon out with the family.
What do I need to bring?
Truthfully this trail is such an easy hike in terms of terrain, I wouldn't worry too much about footwear or snacks. A comfortable pair of shoes and a decent amount of water will get the job done! This is a very fun and manageable hike would definitely recommend to families!
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