ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Bull Mountain Trail may seem like a simple, unassuming walk, but there is magic to be found for those looking closely. Read our hiking guide for more.

Fast facts

• Bull Mountain Trail is located just minutes away from the Asheville VA Medical Center in East Asheville. The trailhead can be found on map apps by typing in “Bull Mountain Trailhead,” or by navigating to Bull Mountain Road and driving until you see the boulders of the start of the trail.

• All told, hiking Bull Mountain Trail is between 1.5 and 1.8 miles.
• Bull Mountain Trail is paved – if unevenly in patches – so most kinds of shoes will work well for the hike.
• Parking is not bountiful, but it is adequate. Find a spot in front of the boulders at the trailhead or along the shoulder on the other side of the road.

Bull Mountain magic

The trail begins at a few roadside boulders. While there are branching dirt paths near the trailhead, stick to the paved walk. That’s a good rule of thumb for keeping on track for the entirety of the trek.

The pavement itself is uneven. In the rain, I could see it getting a little treacherous, but in dry conditions, you should be fine as long as you’re looking where you’re going.

The hike up is marked with downed trees, dirt path diversions and chipper grey squirrels. Be wary of leaning trees, keep off the dirt paths and say hello to the woodland critters.

The most notable landmark on Bull Mountain Trail is a graffiti-strewn silo. A small metal bridge connects it to the wood path for those wishing to inspect the artwork closer.

The aforementioned magic comes up shortly thereafter. For a brief stint along the route, the trees change from bare and straight to twisty and gnarled, like a forest of old wizards. Two trees leaning across the path will give a visual demarcation of when to look to your right: a stone labyrinth is situated right off the path for adventurous hikers with Ariadne’s thread. At the middle, a small pile of prizes includes an Osho quote and a Swedish proverb on typed scraps of paper.

Bull Mountain Trail is an out-and-back hike. When you reach the top, a fork in the road will present itself. This is actually a small circle around the summit. Pick your direction and head back down the way you came.