Bass Lake

Overview

About Bass Lake

Set just below historic Cone Manor in Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, Bass Lake is the Parkway’s go-to mellow stroll—an easy loop with water views, lilies in summer, and that classic Blue Ridge backdrop. It’s a short hop from Blowing Rock with its own parking area off US 221.

Why stop

Flat, scenic loop around the lake
Restrooms and parking at the trailhead
Easy connections to Cone Manor and wider Moses Cone trails

Heads up

Parking fills fast on weekends and in peak fall
Can feel crowded; the gravel can be muddy after rain

The loop is wide, flat, and low-effort, so you get maximum scenery for minimal work.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhat makes it worth your time

Map

Where it is

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SightBass Lake36.14133, -81.68704

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Bass Lake

Arrive early on weekends or in October to snag a parking spot.
Start at Cone Manor if you want a longer hike that links down to the lake.
Bring binoculars for waterfowl and a zoom lens for manor-over-lake shots.
After rain, expect some muddy patches on the gravel; wear closed-toe shoes.
If the loop feels short, add Heart Pond or the Apple Barn via the estate trails.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Time of day: Early morning for mirror-calm water, soft light, and easier parking; late-day golden light also photographs well.
Day of week/season: Weekdays year-round are easiest. Fall foliage weekends are busy—arrive early.
How long to budget: 30–45 minutes for the loop; more if you tack on estate trails.

Logistics

Access: Park at the Bass Lake lot off US 221 (about a mile from the Parkway) or hike down from Cone Manor.
Facilities: Restrooms at the Bass Lake parking area.
Regulations: Dogs allowed on leash. Fishing is permitted with a valid license. The lakeside loop is a walk-only path (no bikes or horses on the loop).

2 active Blue Ridge Parkway alerts

ClosureNorth Carolina Helene-related closuresAvoid the closed Parkway section from MP 344.2–355.3; recreation of any kind is prohibited there.Official details
ClosureVirginia Parkway closures and detourFollow the signed detour around the closed James River Bridge and avoid the closed Roanoke Mountain Loop. - James River Bridge (MP 63.5–63.Official details

Blue Ridge Parkway alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide

Your drive to Bass Lake, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Blue Ridge Parkway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Blue Ridge Parkway audio tour

Recorded for this area

Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and Flat Top Manor

Listen

“You're approaching Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, one of the grandest estates along the Parkway.”

Plays on the road 0.6 mi from Bass Lake in the Parkwolf Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide.

More about Bass Lake

The walkDistance: roughly 0.8–0.9 miles around the lake on gravel.

Distance: roughly 0.8–0.9 miles around the lake on gravel.
Views: calm water, pads of water lilies, meadows and old pastures, and the manor above the trees.
Options: Link to trails leading to the Apple Barn, Heart Pond, or climb toward Flat Top Mountain.

WildlifeExpect regular waterfowl (think Canada geese and breeding wood ducks), plus turtles, frogs,…

Expect regular waterfowl (think Canada geese and breeding wood ducks), plus turtles, frogs, songbirds, and the occasional deer along meadows and edges. Bring binoculars if you’re a birder.

Crowd intelThis place is beloved by locals and visitors, especially on weekends and in peak fall color.

This place is beloved by locals and visitors, especially on weekends and in peak fall color. Parking is limited and fills quickly; weekdays and mornings are far calmer.

What makes it worth your timeYou’ll look up to Cone Manor on the hill, a nice visual tie-in to the estate’s history.

You’ll look up to Cone Manor on the hill, a nice visual tie-in to the estate’s history.
From the lakeshore you can branch onto the estate’s carriage-road network for a longer outing.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Blue Ridge Parkway

All Blue Ridge Parkway wildlife maps

1,208 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

1,020 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

2,257 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

200 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

1,126 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

255 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 11 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.