Basics
- Length:
- 31 miles (49 km)
- Time:
- 45 minutes
- Fees:
- There is no fee to drive the byway but individual attractions may charge.
Description
This byway takes its name from an old fiddle tune called "The Black Mountain Rag". A 'rag' is a piece of music with multiple twists and turns, and that description also applies to this byway.
The route begins at exit 64 off 1-40 near Black Mountain, resort community named for the Mountain range that serves as a backdrop for the town. Mount Mitchell, which stands among the Black Mountains, is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River. Nearby, you'll find the community of Bat Cave which was named for a nearby cave that was inhabited by bats and other rare animals. The route from Black Mountain to Bat Cave is full of twists and hairpin turns. The Broad River and Hickory Nut Creek flow into Lake Lure. Travelers may want to consider aside trip up Chimney Rock Road to see the majestic Chimney Rock that watches over the towns of Bat Cave and Chimney Rock.
Hickory Nut Falls is another site of keen natural beauty, falling 404 feet into the Broad River. The scenic Broad River Gorge has served as a backdrop for movies such as The Last of The Mohicans.At the southern end of the byway is Edneyville, site of some of North Carolina's finest apple orchards while nearby Hendersonville was the home of poet and author Carl Sandburg.
This byway is near the Blue Ridge Parkway and has several points of interest that will make the drive worthwhile.
Points of Interest
Points of Interest Along The Way
Black Mountain (NC)
Known as "the front porch of North Carolina,"
Black Mountain is a picturesque North Carolina town associated with several state byways, along with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Settled in the 1780s, Black Mountain has maintained an old-fashioned feel throughout the decades. A stroll down main street tickles at the senses of another time. Craftsmen practice their arts, while antique shops sell art of the past. A central location for exploring the Appalachians, Black Mountain offers all the comforts of home.
Directions
At the northernmost end of the byway on NC 9 and I-40.
Chimney Rock (NC)
Enjoy nature and hiking in the area of the towering Chimney Rock.
Directions
On US Highway 64
Chimney Rock Park (NC)
Coming to the mountains is one of the authentic experiences in life, like going to the sea. It brings you closer to nature, to yourself. So now that you've come to the mountains, keep on coming.You simply haven't had the whole experience until you stand at the top of a 500 million-year-old rock on the edge of a tall mountain with the wind in your face and the world spread out beneath you, as you feel in your knees how high you are. You'll stand in awe of the view - 1200 vertical feet down - along Hickory Nut Gorge to Lake Lure and, on a clear day, as far as Kings Mountains, seventy-five miles to the east beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Directions
Off of US Highway 64.
