Page 21 - Burke County NC 2024

Lake James
Hidden Cove Boat Ramp

South Mountains State Park is the largest state park
in North Carolina, and includes tent, equestrian and
R/V camping in this rugged destination. Featuring
elevations up to 3,000 feet, as well as the High
Shoals Falls 80-foot waterfall and mountain streams,
the state park includes a 17-mile loop for mountain
bikers and drive-to campsites beside the Jacob Fork
River. Miles of trout fishing can be found at the Jacob
Fork River and its tributaries. ncparks.gov

Linville Gorge is the deepest gorge in the eastern
U.S.– nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the East. This
stunning destination is part of the 12,000-acre Linville
Gorge Wilderness Area. The gorge is formed by the
Nature’s Playground Jonas Ridge on the east and Linville Mountain on the
west and is bisected by the Linville River which drops
2,000 feet into the valleys below. It is an excellent
place for hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, fishing,
and hunting. fs.usda.gov

The Morganton Greenway System offers year-
round and accessible biking, jogging, strolling, and
picnicking. It’s a great way to be urban-active with
access to downtown restaurants and shopping,
B urke County has two state parks, miles picnicking, and educational events. The Paddy’s too. The Morganton Greenway System includes the
Catawba River Greenway and the Freedom Trail
Creek area of the park offers a beach with a roped
of state trails, and access to thousands of
Greenway, with five access points with parking.
swimming area, along with canoe and paddle board
acres of the Pisgah National Forest. And
there is the Catawba River, too. We are
There are new biking trails, boat-in camping areas,
Nature’s Playground! rentals, and concessions during summer months. morgantonparksandrec.com
and an ADA fishing pier. ncparks.gov McGalliard Falls Park in Valdese is a popular
The Fonta Flora State Trail is a hiking and gathering spot for picnics and outdoor fun. The park
mountain biking trail. It will eventually connect has a volleyball court, a nature trail, picnic facilities
Morganton to Asheville, circle Lake James, and Beanstalk Ziplines and restrooms in addition to the natural attraction
connect with other state trail systems, and when of the falls. The park also serves as the trailhead to
complete, will be about 100 miles long. Fonta Flora the Valdese Greenway and is the closest access (½
State Trail is named after the settlement of African mile) from the picnic shelter to the McGalliard Creek
American sharecroppers and others forced to move 150-foot-long suspension bridge. The picnic shelter
when the Catawba River was dammed to create Lake may be rented by contacting the Valdese Recreation
James. Access the trail near the Linville boat access Department at 828-879-2132.
on NC Highway 126. trails.nc.gov
The 300-acre Valdese Lakeside Park offers seven
Find an adventure for the whole family at Beanstalk miles of hiking and mountain biking trails and 4,000
Ziplines! Climb up the cargo net and immerse
yourself in a full tree-trekking experience that linear feet of greenway, picnicking, fishing, canoeing
includes two sky bridges and five ziplines. Feel and kayaking on Lake Rhodhiss, a dog park, and
extra daring? Check out the free-fall experience beautiful views. visitvaldese.com/visit-valdese/
or spend an hour at the climbing wall. Beanstalk lakeside-park-valdese
accommodates large groups and full teambuilding
experiences; open April through November. In the Bennick Campground, the annual August
thebeanstalkjourney.com Ohana Mud Run offers a challenging 1-mile course
with a dozen-plus obstacles, all in the mud. Giant
Lake James State Park is at the base of the Blue sprinklers, slides, rope crawls, and big mud hills
Ridge Mountains. The park offers a variety of enhance the fun as teams and families compete to
adventures in its 4,000-plus acres of fun including the finish line. Ohana Mud Run benefits area social
hiking, biking, swimming, boating, fishing, camping, services. ohanamudrun.com

For more fun, visit discoverburkecounty.com and see the Membership Directory in this magazine.

burkecountychamber.org Nature’s Playground 17