Moses H. Cone Memorial Park

Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is a recreation area along the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 294 in Watauga County, North Carolina.  In the early 20th century, textile magnate Moses H. Cone and his wife Bertha built their summer retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Their family donated the estate to the National Park Service in 1949 and became part of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The old carriage trails provide more than 25 miles of multi-use trails for hiking and horseback riding.  The park is adjacent to Julian Price Memorial Park

Directions:


From Blowing Rock, get on the parkway northbound at US-221 and go half a mile to the park entrance on the right.  Several other parking areas provide access to the carriage trails.

Map:




Trails:


Bass Lake Trail:


Bass Lake Trail is an easy 1-mile loop around the lake below Flat Top Manor.


Deer Park Road:


Deer Park Road connects Bass Lake with Watkins Road near Flat Top Manor.


Duncan Road:


Duncan Road leaves from Flat Top Manor and winds its way down to Bass Lake.


Flat Top Road:


Flat Top Road starts just north of the parkway and follows a carriage trail up to the lookout tower at the summit of Flat Top Mountain.


The Maze:


The Maze is a 2.5-mile loop splitting off from Deer Park Road at Bass Lake and leading past the Apple Barn.


Points of Interest:


Apple Barn:


The apple barn is located along the Maze Trail.


Cone Cemetery:


Cone Cemetery is the final resting place of Mr. Cone and his family and is located off Flat Top Road.


Flat Top Tower:


Flat Top Tower is an observation tower at the summit of Flat Top Mountain at the end of Flat Top Road.


Wildlife:


Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a shrub that produces showy pinkish-white flowers.


Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) is an invasive species found growing in open areas.


Fragrant water lilies (Nymphaea odorata) in Bass Lake.


Fire pink (Silene virginica) produce brilliant red flowers.


Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) flowers open in the evening and begin to close in the morning.


Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) has very interesting flowers.


They produce bright red berries in the fall.


Zigzag spiderwort (Tradescantia subaspera)


Small's beardtongue (Penstemon smallii)


Agueweed (Gentianella quinquefolia)


Indian oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus pulmonarius)


Hemlock varnish shelf (Ganoderma tsugae)


Great spangled fritillary (Speyeria cybele)


Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)


Blog Entries:


18-Feb-2024: Blowing Rock Hikes



16-Oct-2022: Flat Top Hike


20-Jun-2021: Moses Cone MST Hike


External Links:


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