BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The choose-your-own-adventure trails in the woods around the Christmount community of Black Mountain are steep, but their features are charmingly eclectic, making for a dynamic and diverse hiking experience.

Fast facts

• Christmount trails are located on Christmount Christian Assembly property. Parking at the site requires checking in at the Gaines M. Cook Guest House, 222 Fern Way, Black Mountain.
• There are several trails criss-crossing the Christmount woods. The combination we hiked was Lee Moore to Blue Ridge to Azalea, or red, blue and green blazes, respectively. The total trek was about 2 miles.
• Many of the trails and roads around Christmount were damaged by Hurricane Helene. For the best experience, get the updated trail map from the Guest House, devised by local volunteer Owen Lovejoy.
• Though the hike isn’t too long, these hills are steep, muddy and covered with roots. Prepare for a climb and a need for balance.

A Christmount Christmas climb

While the Guest House office was closed when we arrived on the site, we were lucky enough to run into Owen and Anita Lovejoy, a local couple who have lived in the Christmount community for 50 years. Anita Lovejoy’s family has lived at Christmount for decades and she and her husband have spent their half-century of marriage exploring the natural world there. Owen Lovejoy has taken charge of many of the trails on the Christmount property, drawing up maps and updating signage.

“I love nothing more than giving directions,” he told us.

Christmount maps are typically available at the Guest House, where hikers are normally required to register to park on the property. I advise all hikers to stop there for directions.

The Lovejoys directed us on the following route, which took about 45 minutes and covered approximately two miles.

After parking, walk up Holly Road, minding traffic along the way. Christmount is scenic and quaint, with homes filled with small yard curios, like a leaf-strewn treehouse, log-propped slide and a bust of a horse’s head.

Keeping to the right, you’ll know you’re getting close when a collection of brown signposts appear, including one labeled “Lee Moore Trailhead .1 Mile ->.” An additional sign marked with a red band will herald the arrival of the first of three trails to follow: Lee Moore Trail. Lee Moore is marked by red blazes on the trees.

Heading down the stairs, watch out for slick wood and unstable rocks. Hold onto the railing when possible.

The ensuing walk up Lee Moore is steep but gorgeous. The trail climbs up a ravine dotted with towering, starkly autumnal trees, reminiscent of scenes from “Stranger Things” or “Stand By Me.”

The trail climaxes on top of a ridge, where a sign points right in red paint for Lee Moore and left in light blue paint for “Blue,” or Blue Ridge Trail, which is marked by dark blue blazes.

Head to the left. The trail will careen downward, where eventually a fork in the road will be accompanied by a sign at ground level. This one points the way to Blue Ridge: up another hill.

Blue Ridge is where the eclecticism of the Christmount trail system begins to show its face. The trail is gorgeous, with steps made out of woven roots and curves in the path wrought with a tumble of stones – several are painted blue, for good measure. It seemed like a different natural landmark was around every corner: after roots and rocks came fallen lumber and shelves of fungi.

The trail eventually climbs up to a rocky fork in the road. A pile of blue-painted rocks denotes the continuation of Blue Ridge, while a stack of green-slathered stones indicates the beginning of Azalea Trail. If you miss both, there is also a brown sign imbedded in a nearby tree to show the way. Go green and take Azalea.

Azalea is beautiful but narrow. The beginning of the trail is loose and muddy, with a slim path leading up and around a curve, away from the taller trees on the trek.

Azalea is the longest segment of the loop, but most important is to keep following the green blazes. At a certain juncture, orange conservation signs will appear, but these are merely an indication of the 600 acres of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy that Christmount is nestled inside. Head right on past them.

After the orange tape, Azalea will become a rhododendron hell, weaving through a tightly-knit canopy of the bushes in a beautiful downslope tunnel.

Eventually, Azalea will cross an unvarnished wooden bridge across a small brook. Owen Lovejoy affectionately referred to the bridge as a “rock ‘n roll bridge.”

According to the mapmaker, after Helene, a group of teenagers carried two telephone poles over 100 yards to serve as the foundation for the structure. However, the two poles were of different diameters, resulting in a wobbly walk across the wooden slats.

After the bridge is the home stretch of the loop. Azalea spits you out at the terminus of Magnolia Road. Like its sister roadway on the other side of Christmount, Magnolia is also dotted with cool landmarks, such as a meditation labyrinth and disc golf chain basket. After passing by a cute building painted with a mural of camping raccoons, head up the stone staircase and walk along the wooden fence enclosing a small playground.

Once you turn the corner, you are a short walk from your parked car at the Guest House. Congratulations, you have hiked the Christmount Loop.

Afterward, head into nearby Black Mountain for lunch, a beer or holiday shopping, or hop back on I-40 and be on your merry way.