25
Perfect Weekend
Adventure Guide
Get Lost in the Wilson Creek Recreation
Area - The rugged Wilson Creek area encompasses
over 75 miles of trails and is part of the Grandfather
District of the Pisgah National Forest. This often confusing
area has miles and miles of trails for running, biking, hiking,
and horseback riding with solid fishing and kayaking options.
We highly recommend grabbing a map before tackling this
wilderness area. See Biking Adventures-Yancey Ridge Trail in
the next column for more info.
Take a Stroll on the Greenway - Boone’s
greenway trail skips from bank to bank along the
South Fork of the New River as it explores a green, summitsurrounded valley.You can walk this great paved greenway
out and back for an almost 3.8-mile hike with a turn-around
at the Watauga Recreation Complex. If you just want to
relax bring a blanket and Frisbee and make camp in one of
the many wide open grassy fields. Directions from
Boone: Take Hwy. 321 South toward Blowing Rock. Take
left on Boone Heights Drive and follow to stoplight.Turn right
at State Farm Road and take the first left onto Hunting Lane.
Take the first left onto Complex Dr.The trail system begins at
the end of the parking lot.
Beacon Heights on the Blue Ridge Parkway – This
nearly 1-mile, easy to moderate hike puts you
in the middle of the big picture—with awesome views
of Grandfather Mountain, and the dizzying drop to the
Carolina Piedmont below. Cross the road behind the
overlook, enter the woods and go right where the
Tanawha Trail goes left. Head left at the next junction
to emerge at another split at the top. A left here reaches
craggy views of Grandfather Mountain. A right reaches
a dome of rock with views to Grandmother Mountain
and Mount Mitchell. Info: See Hiking Adventures-Beacon
Heights, pg. 26 for detailed directions.
Explore Moses Cone - With over 25 miles of
carriage roads to explore, Moses Cone has an adventure for everyone. Check out Bass Lake or head over
to the Parkway Craft Center at the Manor to peruse an
assortment of High Country crafts from hand-carved
wooden pieces to locally-crafted jewelry. Info: See Hiking Adventures-Moses Cone, pg. 26 for detailed info. Parkway
Craft Center / 828-295-7938.
Yancey Ridge Trail (Wilson
Creek): The Yancey Ridge Trail is one of the
area’s most well-known spots for mountain biking. Cyclists make the long, gradual climb up Forest Service
Rd. 192 to Old House Gap before dropping into a fast
and scenic ride down gravel roads and singletrack. Long
Yancey’s, as the locals call it, continues down the ridge
for 15 miles of mixed terrain and is ideally suited for experienced mountain bikers looking for a challenge. The
gentle, 2 mile Short Yancey’s trail veers off to the right
down a gravel forest service road after reaching Old
House Gap. Directions from Boone: Take Hwy
105 S for 17 miles to Linville. At the 4-way stop at Eseeola, turn
left onto Roseborough Rd. Follow to the Blue Ridge Parkway
and cross the BRP. Descend the gravel road for 3.1 miles to
parking on either side of bridge over Gragg Prong Creek. FS
192 heads uphill on the left after the bridge.
Watauga River Raft Trip - For the more experienced boaters who are seeking a thrill, look no
further than a trip through the Class V Watauga Gorge.The
river also offers gently flowing sections through scenic
Valle Crucis that are perfect for beginner kayakers, canoeists, and float trips. Info: See River Adventures-Watauga
River, pg. 30 for detailed info and other river trips.
Cycling on the Blue Ridge Parkway - The
Hwy 221/Blue Ridge Parkway loop is a quintessential High Country ride.The fast corners and lush forest
canopy provide cyclists with the inspiration they’ll need to
make it up the long climbs that lie ahead. Info: Stop into
Magic Cycles for local rides or get detailed directions by scanning this page or using the app.
Fly Fishing for Wild Trout - The majority of
trout water in North Carolina is classified as wild
trout water and is marked with gold and blue diamond
signs. Single hook artificial lures are required and although
not advised, anglers are allowed four fish with none smaller
than seven inches. These streams are quality trout waters
and sustain trout through natural reproduction. Many of
these streams can be found a short distance from Boone
in Pisgah National Forest. Info: See Fly Fishing Adventures-Wild Trout pg. 29 for detailed info.
Cool Off at Upper Creek Falls - One of the most
unique and popular swimming holes in the area, Upper Creek Falls is H]\