48 Hours of Adventure and Stewardship in Wilkes County
Wilkes County sits at the gateway of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the rolling foothills meet the peaks of the High Country, and adventure is right out your door. You can spend a morning paddling flat water, an afternoon exploring waterfalls and an evening watching the sun disappear behind a granite dome, and never spend more than a few minutes in your car. A strong culture of stewardship and community pride has created an outdoor experience that feels personal to locals and visitors alike.
Thomas Salley
meet the local
Thomas Salley spends his time championing outdoor recreation across all of Wilkes County. As the president of the Wilkes County District W Tourism Development Authority, he’s an integral part of the community of trail builders, outfitters, volunteers and land stewards that preserve the natural assets that make Wilkes County special.
“Many of our trails, boat launches and overlooks were built by local hands, and that connection fosters a shared sense of responsibility to care for them,” Salley says.
When he’s not advocating for those natural resources, he’s exploring them, spending his free time paddling the Yadkin River and exploring the county’s state parks, and he believes visiting the county with stewardship in mind can help preserve the natural resources for future generations.
“We’re proud to welcome visitors into the landscapes we love,” Salley says. “With small, thoughtful actions, every traveler can help keep Wilkes wild, clean and accessible for the next generation.
Thomas Salley: adventure with intention in Wilkes County
day one
Morning Adventure
Start by exploring Stone Mountain State Park, which is home to a 600-foot tall granite dome, but make sure you stop at the Stone Mountain Country Store, first. It’s housed in an old log cabin just a few minutes from the entrance to the park, and features sandwiches, hot dogs, ice cream and so much more. Grab some supplies to go for a late picnic breakfast on the mountain.
If you’re looking for an adventure, tackle the 4.5-mile Loop Trail up the side of the massive granite dome. From the top you’ll get amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the horizon. You can also take a short detour to Stone Mountain Falls, a 200-foot waterfall that slides down a smooth granite slab.
Practice sound Outdoor NC Leave No Trace Principles and stay on designated trails when you’re hiking Stone Mountain State Park. You might see shortcuts created by other visitors, but staying on established trails helps protect the forest by preventing erosion on steep, fragile slopes and preserving the natural landscape. Using unofficial paths can also put you at risk—they may lead to disorientation or getting lost, increase the chance of encountering hazards like snakes or ticks, and make it harder for emergency responders.
Lunch
Roaring River Vineyards, about 15 minutes from the park entrance, is a beautiful winery with a great restaurant and biergarten that overlooks the Roaring River. The owners spent years planting grape vines and shaping the property into what it is today, holding their first public grape harvest in 2014. Eating lunch here allows you to get a glimpse into a working agricultural venture while sampling the results (their Petite Rose is really popular).
Afternoon adventure
After lunch, head to W. Kerr Scott Reservoir to paddle around the quiet coves near the dam. The water is calm, the wildlife is abundant and the shoreline is lined with mountain laurel and pine forests. A canoe is a wonderful way to spot wildlife, because it’s quiet so there’s less chance of disturbing local creatures like the whitetail deer that roam the banks and the osprey and hawks that can be seen soaring overhead. It also allows you to observe those animals from a distance, which is a key principle of Outdoor NC Leave No Trace, and allows those animals to exist in their natural habitat without causing undue stress from human contact.
dinner
You can’t go wrong with any restaurant in “The Boros,” which is what locals call the downtown areas of Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro. There are a lot of options, but you can leave the choices to the pros when you sign up for an evening with Blue Ridge Food Tours, which is a guided walking and culinary experience through downtown North Wilkesboro. You’ll get to visit several local restaurants and sample their signature dishes, so everyone comes away happy after this tour. You’ll also learn about the local history and how the town is connected to cultural cornerstones like NASCAR and bluegrass music. Make sure you finish the night with a cold beverage at TwoBoros Brewhouse, which has an outdoor patio scene that reflects the area’s friendly mountain culture.
spend the night
There are a variety of privately owned cabins for rent nestled in the woods throughout the countryside, and some well-placed larger hotels in and near downtown Wilkesboro. If you really want to immerse yourself in local history and culture, snag a room at The Holbrook House, a bed and breakfast close to Stone Mountain State Park that was built in 1912 by a local artist in a small community that was once a hot bed of moonshining activity.
day two
morning adventure
Start your second day by exploring the Yadkin River Greenway, an 8-mile-long paved path that follows the mellow Yadkin, connecting the communities of Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro. It also offers amazing views of the ridges in the distance. It’s a really accessible adventure too, with a gentle slope to the trail, plenty of benches for resting and wheelchair-friendly parking too. There are multiple access points throughout the county, and so many people use the greenway for different things, like biking, running or even roller skating. So it’s up to you how you enjoy it, just be sure to Be Considerate of Other Users by being mindful of your noise level and announcing your presence if you’re planning to pass others on the trail. When you respect other users, you’re making sure that our natural spaces are welcoming and relaxing for everyone.
lunch break
The Lost Wombat, in downtown North Wilkesboro, has pub-fare staples and a large beer garden where you can soak up the sun. It’s inside the town’s Social District, too, so you can grab a beer and stroll downtown shops too.
afternoon adventure
Spend the afternoon checking out one of Wilkes County’s lesser-known gems, Rendezvous Mountain State Park. This is a newly-minted park that features plenty of interpretive forest trails to explore, as well as excellent bird watching, as the forest is home to woodpeckers, cardinals, and 11 species of warblers. A lot of the overlooks in the park face east, so on a clear day you can see the distinctive, rocky peaks of Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock. Hike the 4.25-mile Amadahy Waterfalls Trail, which follows the Purlear Creek, which has several small waterfalls. Remember to Trash Your Trash as your exploring Rendezvous Mountain, and pack out anything that you bring into the park. When you keep trash, like food scraps, away from local wildlife, you’re helping to preserve the natural food system within the local ecosystem.
bonus adventure
No visit to Wilkes County would be complete without a spin at W. Kerr Scott Dam, which has an extensive trail system with more than 40 miles of singletrack built for mountain bikers. Dark Mountain is the highlight of the system, with 7.5 miles of fast and tight trails with lots of flow and optional jumps and technical features. Even though the trails were built with mountain biking in mind, they’re open to all users, so you’ll encounter trail runners and hikers while out for a ride. Be sure to share the outdoors and allow pedestrians to have the right of way if you’re on a bike. Being considerate of others ensures that all user groups are able to enjoy the resource equally.
You’re invited to join the outdoor nc movement
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