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Following and crossing the winding route of the South Fork of the New River in the Blue Ridge Mountains community of Boone, the Boone Greenway Trail features a mix of open meadows and dense forests. The 4.75-mile trail passes by a historic dam site and has plenty of benches for resting, picnic facilities, and interpretive signs that tell the story of the region’s natural and human history. The greenway also boasts great bird-watching and wildflower-viewing.
The greenway’s mostly flat grade and smooth asphalt surface make it a natural fit for a relaxing bike ride or walk through nature.
About the Route
The Boone Greenway Trail leaves off in the west from the Southgate Shopping Center, a busy commercial area and a convenient stop for lunch or dinner before or after your trail journey. Shortly after State Farm Road, the trail forks. Trail users can loop back around, crossing a footbridge over the creek, to reach a field with baseball diamonds. On the western side of the creek, the trail reaches a T-juncture facing the creek. Turn right to take a 0.1-mile route along the creek back toward the shopping area, or take a left to continue north along the trail.
Heading north, the trail crosses Martin Luther King Jr. Street in 0.2 miles, and the National Guard Armory will appear on your right as you approach the street. Cross the street, turn right, and follow it northeast 450 feet to the entrance of Clawson-Burnley Park on your left. In the park, trail users can find informative signs about the region’s plant and animal life, as it’s a popular spot for birding and soaking up nature. It features an ADA-accessible picnic shelter, covered picnic tables, restrooms, and benches. This is also a great alternative parking location.
From the entrance to the park, the trail heads northwest, reaching a T-juncture in the trail in 0.2 miles. Turning left at this juncture takes the route 0.2 miles south to the Watauga County Industrial Fields Complex’s ball fields and tennis and basketball courts, as well as a parking lot on Complex Drive.
If you instead turn right at the T-juncture, this section of the trail heads north/northeast for 0.1 mile before reaching a covered bridge over the South Fork New River. Take a left after the trail crosses the bridge to stay on the main trail; turning right will take you to Hunting Hills Lane. From the bridge, it’s 0.8 miles to a historic dam site and stone ruins of a hydroelectric power station that produced the first electricity in Boone in the early 1900s. The station served the Appalachian Training School, now Appalachian State University, and early homes. Sitting in the midst of the densest forest along the greenway, the site features a view of the wood dam that still remains in the river. Continuing 0.5 mile northeast, you’ll come to the end of the trail at the Casey Lane trailhead, located along the South Fork New River.
Near the eastern end of the trail, a section of the trail also often referred to as the Kennedy Trails, is composed of gravel and dirt trails. These are accessible at the bridge over the South Fork New River about 0.75 miles northeast of Clawson-Burnley Park or across an adjacent sports field along Intramural Field Road just north of the Appalachian Field Hockey Stadium.
Connections
At the eastern end of the trail, the Boone Greenway Trail connects to the South Fork New River Greenway.
The Boone Greenway Trail runs between 1787 Blowing Rock Rd (Boone) and 200 Casey Ln (Boone), with parking available at both ends.
Parking is also available at:
See TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
Just got back, mid May ride. Purple and white Phlox blooming along creek. Clean community rec center to use bathroom. Mostly level.
A nice day out. Such a nice trail to relax and bike or walk around the outskirts of Boone. A great asset to the community.
This is an excellent trail for easy walking or riding. Only negative are the irresponsible pet owners who don't pick up their dog waste.
Stuck in town with a broken car in the shop all day, we tried almost every variation and branch of this trail and then continued on Casey Road and New River Hills Road to connect to the South Fork New River Trail (you cannot currently see the SFNRT on google maps, but it's mapped out on here) to give us quite a few miles (about 11). Scenic brooks and rivers, bridges, budding trees, a section through pine trees and a small covered bridge made this trail very enjoyable! It was busy enough that I (immuno-suppressed) needed to put on a mask for part of it and had to slow the bike down a few times. With all the twists and turns and side routes, it is a good idea to have the trail map up on your phone if you are trying to maximize your miles.
Very nice trail for walking or biking.
Beautiful and easy trail. Lots of friendly people riding, jogging and walking with their dogs
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