Carriage roads at Moses Cone Memorial Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway

I did not walk on any of the carriage roads within Moses Cone Memorial Park, other than a short walk around Bass Lake, but there are 25 miles of roads in the park. All are connected together in some way and can be accessed at various points throughout the park. Most people start their walk from Flat Top Manor, though the second most popular starting point is Bass Lake. The carriage roads are gravel and range from easy to moderate in difficulty.

Horseback riding is also allowed on the carriage roads. You can unload your horse and park your trailer at a large parking lot on Hwy 221 near the entrance to Bass Lake.

Carriage Trails at Moses Cone Memorial Park (click to enlarge)

The most popular walk from the mansion is one to Bass Lake, which is approximately a 5-mile round trip, including the walk around the lake. You can also drive to the lake, but on a nice day parking near it is next to impossible. I went by twice on a beautiful Sunday and left both times due to not being able to find a spot, other than maybe a half mile down the road. Plan B was to show up on a Monday morning at 9 AM when I would surely have the lake to myself—I got the very last parking spot! During the week the place is full of walking and jogging groups, mainly retired people. On the weekends its the same, except that the people are of all ages.

View of Bass Lake from the front porch of Flat Top Manor, part of Moses Cone Memorial Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway

If you are looking for a leisurely stroll along a lake where you can talk to your friends and not have to pay attention in order to avoid tripping over rock and roots, this is the trail to take. It is for the most part completely flat and perfectly smooth. Unlike most other lake trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway that venture so far from the water that you rarely see it, the trail along Bass Lake is nearly entirely within view of the lake, and the vegetation and trees are kept thin so the view doesn’t become blocked. If you have to choose between this lake trail and the one at Price Lake just a few miles south on the Parkway, I’d recommend Bass Lake.

In addition to walking around the lake, you can go fishing. See the Fishing web page for regulations. You cannot swim or do any type of boating here, whereas you can canoe and kayak at Price Lake.

Carriage road around Bass Lake at Moses Cone Memorial Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Moses Cone Memorial Park’s Bass Lake with view of Flat Top Manor on the hill in the distance

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