2016 Map of Black Mountain

About this map

Black Mountain and Ridgecrest anchor this high-elevation landscape at the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge, where the Swannanoa River begins its descent. The map highlights a critical mountain corridor defined by the Swannanoa Gap and the subterranean passage of the Swannanoa Tunnel, infrastructure essential for crossing the divide between Buncombe Co and Mcdowell Co. Modern institutional landmarks like the Western Carolina State Veterans Cem and Camp Ridgecrest sit alongside older terrain features such as Highland Farm. To the south, the terrain steepens into the Pisgah National Forest, where the headwaters of the Catawba River emerge at Catawba Falls Preserve. This survey documents a transition from the town's developed areas and recreational waters like Lake Tomahawk to the high ridges of Kitsuma Peak and Little Pisgah Mtn.