Snowball Mountain Trail - Barnardsville, NC
Snowball Mountain Trail is a beautiful dog park in Barnardsville, NC, offering pet-friendly trails for hiking enthusiasts and their furry companions. Located off Unnamed Road, this trail is perfect for dog owners seeking a moderately challenging outdoor adventure. The trail caters well to families and kids while allowing dogs to roam outside, making it a wonderful spot for a fun day with pets.
This dog-friendly hiking destination boasts well-marked trails with a mix of moderate to hard difficulty, including elevation gains over 2,000+. Hikers should be prepared for slippery and muddy conditions especially after rain, so proper footwear is highly recommended. Although the park has limited parking, early arrival increases your chances of securing a spot as it is popular among local hikers and dog walkers.
Snowball Mountain Trail is not wheelchair accessible but offers scenic views and multiple overlooks that captivate visitors of all ages. The presence of signage at trail forks helps with navigation, though maps or mile markers are lacking, enhancing the adventurous feel of the hike. Overall, this is a top choice for those searching for an engaging dog park and hiking experience near Barnardsville, NC.
FAQ for Snowball Mountain Trail in Barnardsville North Carolina:
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? Dogs are allowed outside on the trails, but specific off-leash policies are not stated.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? No, the park does not have a wheelchair accessible entrance.
- Is there a playground or activities for kids nearby? Yes, the park is good for kids and offers hiking and walking activities.
- Where is the best place to park? Parking is available near the main parking area for Craggy Gardens, but it can get full during peak times, so arriving earlier is recommended.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, the park offers well-marked moderate to strenuous hiking trails with elevation changes and beautiful landscape views.
- Is the park muddy after it rains? Yes, the trails can get very muddy and slippery after rain or frost, and the wet conditions may last for a few days due to shade.
Reviews
Nice trail well marked. We came in March and it had snow!
Beautiful views.
It is a moderate level hike.
Some parts were slippery due to frozen water over the ground or rocks.
I wish I was here not during such a wet weather. My husband and I were in the area for the day with the plan to hike Mount Mitchell Loop but the weather was cold and so foggy that Yoh could definitely not hike up there. So I thought that this trail would be fun to hike. I’m sure when the trail is dry it’s a lot of fun, the steps and uphill and the beautiful landscape make it a wonderful albeit moderate/hard hike. The trails are visible and wel marked making it easy to navigate. At the first fork there is signage with all the directions to different trails and length of each trail.
Parking is limited so I recommend getting there earlier. You’ll likely find other hikers on the trail and a lot of them with dogs.
It gets terrible muddy and a but slippery after a rain and I think it stays pretty wet for a few days because of the shade.
I wish the trail was better marked. It would have been nice to have some sort of map/diagram of the trail. Would have also liked it to be marked with mile markers. Make sure you wear actual hiking boots/shoes. We hiked this trail the first week of December. It was slippery and muddy in some parts. There were patches of ice. Several people who were ahead of us said they didn’t hike the trail all the way, we all think we were at the mid point (had there been markers, we would’ve known) before we decided to turn around and go back. After all that, I at least got a good workout in.
Snowball is a strenuous hike with several 2,000+ elevation changes. Some slippery spots after rain or frost. Very fun trail with a few nice overlooks.
Located just before the main parking area for Craggy Gardens, this area provides easily accessible parking for a number of trails. The parking can get full during peak times, but there is generally a decent amount of room.