48 hours in Boone
Surrounded by some of North Carolina’s tallest mountains, Boone is the hub of adventure in North Carolina’s High Country. Home to Appalachian State University, the vibrant college town and the surrounding small communities are known for blending southern hospitality with some of the East’s most dramatic landscapes. Visitors can drive the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, mountain bike one of the region’s most popular bike parks, summit mile-high peaks or fish pristine rivers.
Kristian Jackson
meet the local
Kristian Jackson knows the High Country. The multi-sport athlete is the Trail Boss at Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park, overseeing the development and care of one of the most comprehensive mountain bike trail systems in the region. He’s also the director of the Boone Area Cyclists, a community group that hosts weekly trail maintenance initiatives. When he’s not cycling, skiing, hiking or stewarding the outdoors, he teaches at Appalachian State University.
“The mountains around Boone are very special to me, and there are so many people in this community that share the same sentiment,” Jackson says. “The variety of outdoor adventure that we have here is amazing.”
Jackson is a true multi-sport athlete who loves mountain biking, hiking, fishing and skiing, so he understands that the mountains and trails that surround Boone are meant to be enjoyed by all users.
“We’re not alone in these mountains,” Jackson says. “There are others outside trying to create their own great experience too, so Sharing the Outdoors, and thinking about how our presence can impact somebody else’s experience is an important step towards being a steward of the land.”
Kristian Jackson: My Weekend of Adventure and Stewardship in Boone
day one
Morning Adventure
Grab a coffee at Bald Guy Brew before hiking to the summit of Grandfather Mountain, inside Grandfather Mountain State Park. It’s an amazing summit, at almost 6,000 feet, with views into the escarpment, and trails that move through a spruce fir forest. There are some great rock outcroppings at the summit too. The setting is incredible. If you’re intrepid, doing a sunrise summit hike is incredible.
The 2.4-mile Grandfather Trail, which requires you to climb some ladders and scramble up rocks, is the classic hike on the mountain.
Everyone should Plan Ahead and Be Prepared by checking the weather ahead of time and packing the right layers for the expected conditions. This simple step goes a long way to maximizing your enjoyment, and keeping you safe in the outdoors.
Lunch
Wildwood Community Market has a deli counter where you can grab sandwiches and soups. You can eat there, but I say take that lunch to go and have a picnic at Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park’s pavilion, which has a great view of 5,000-foot peaks along the horizon.
Afternoon adventure
I think everyone should spend some time at Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park, which has an extensive system of trails. If you’re a mountain biker, check out Jumbo Shrimp and Black Forest, two of the newer additions to the park. Even though many of the trails were designed for bikes, Rocky Knob is intended for dual use, so hikers are encouraged to use the system too. Some trails are dedicated for downhill mountain biking only, and hikers are asked not to use those at all. We encourage hikers and bikers to travel in opposite directions to maximize visibility.
Whether we’re mountain biking, trail-running, dog-walking, or walking with kids, an afternoon at Rocky Knob is a great place to Share the Outdoors. I think that Outdoor NC Leave No Trace principle can be distilled down to one simple concept: Be Nice. Think about everyone else on the trail who wants to have an outdoor experience. They have their reasons and motivations that may be different than mine, but being nice on the trail by smiling, and letting other trail users pass when appropriate, creates more social sustainability on our public lands and enhances everyone’s experience.
dinner
High on my list of recommendations for food after a day at Rocky Knob is Coyote Kitchen. They focus on gluten-free Southwest and Caribbean soul food and also serve Lost Province Brewing Company beers. It’s a must-go place to eat here in town.
spend the night
You have a lot of different hotel and resort options throughout Boone. Rhode’s Motor Lodge is a cool, 54-room boutique hotel in an old school motor lodge. The lobby has a mid-century modern fireplace that makes for a great place to hang out and have a beer after a day full of adventure.
day two
morning adventure
There are so many different places to try your hand at fly fishing in and around Boone. Bass Lake offers easy access just off the Blue Ridge Parkway inside Moses Cone Park. Or you could head to Payne Branch Park to fish the headwaters of the New River.
Consider going with a guide, like High Country Guide Service. They’ll take you to the best spots and help you engage with the river while practicing Outdoor NC Leave No Trace Principles, like Leave it As You Find It, which can be as simple as practicing proper catch and release techniques that allow you to catch the fish without doing any harm.
lunch break
Black Cat Burrito is a Boone staple. It’s been serving delicious burritos to locals, visitors and college kids for 20 years. The types of burritos are off the wall too, with Greek, Thai and chicken wing-flavored options.
afternoon adventure
You can’t visit Boone without spending a little time on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic two-lane highway that runs 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Some of the prettiest sections are outside of Boone, including the Linn Cove Viaduct, an S-shaped bridge that wraps around Grandfather Mountain, minimizing the road’s impact on the delicate ecosystem. It’s a scenic drive, but there are plenty of hiking trails you can access along the Parkway too. If you park at the Linn Cove Visitor Center, you can walk a paved, wheelchair-accessible trail that gives you a look beneath the bridge, or hike the more rugged Tanawha Trail for 1.5 miles for an overview of the viaduct.
bonus adventure
Head back to Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park to enjoy the paved pump track. It’s a fun spot to work on your bike handling skills, but it also has an amazing view, particularly at sunset. From the pump track, you’re looking out at the Northern Peaks on the horizon.
Consider doing a little voluntourism by showing up for Rocky Knob’s “Dirty Thursdays,” a weekly volunteer trail maintenance initiative organized by Boone Area Cyclists. Visitors and community members are welcome to join in as the group picks up litter, fallen branches, and addresses the wear and tear on the trails caused by mountain biking, ensuring they remain safe and accessible to anyone in the park.
You’re invited to join the outdoor nc movement
Join the movement to preserve and protect North Carolina’s beloved outdoor spaces and you’ll be entered to win a ENO double nest hammock and hanging straps! Together we can preserve our beloved outdoor spaces for generations to come. Click to learn more.