NC’s Adventure Playground: Year-Round Recreation

NC’s Adventure Playground Boone Offers Year-Round Recreation

BY ANNA OAKES

Four seasons of diverse recreational activities can be enjoyed in the mountain community of Boone — North Carolina’s premier adventure playground.

Skiing, snowboarding and caving in the winter. Trout fishing, wildflower hunting and boating in the spring. Camping and river tubing in the summer. Rock climbing, backpacking and bike riding in the fall.

Oh, and hiking? That’s yearround — in fact, many of the abundant activities available to residents and visitors of Boone can be enjoyed throughout the year.

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The Watauga Community Recreation Center was completed in 2020.

PHOTO BY ANNA OAKES

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PARKS

Boone is home to many parks and dedicated green space areas, from national parks to privately run community facilities.

Within minutes of Boone is the Blue Ridge Parkway — the most-visited national park in the country — a paved road with 469 miles of scenic beauty, overlooks, trails, campgrounds and other amenities across the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia. Two parks that are part of the Parkway system include the beautiful Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and Julian Price Memorial Park, which offer miles of trails, horseback riding, a campground, canoe and boat rentals, picnic areas and more.

Just south of Boone and Blowing Rock, citizens can access the federal lands of the Pisgah National Forest, providing opportunities for hiking, camping, backpacking, fishing, hunting, climbing and swimming. The Pisgah National Forest includes the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area — known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.”

State parks in the region include Grandfather Mountain State Park, Elk Knob State Park, New River State Park and Mount Jefferson State Natural Area — and many of these parks are continuing to grow in size as area conservancies secure more acreage. These parks offer opportunities for hiking, picnicking, camping, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, ranger-led programs and special events.

Community and local government-operated parks in the Boone area include Brookshire Park, Jaycees Park, Junaluska Park, Howard Knob Park, Durham Park, Valle Crucis Park, Memorial Park in Blowing Rock, Green Valley Park and many others. The parks’ amenities vary, including green space, picnic areas, covered shelters, playing fields, playground equipment, walking trails, stream access and more.

YOUTH, ADULT SPORTS

The Watauga Parks and Recreation Department offers multiple recreational activities for youth and adults in and around Boone. (Some facilities and programs could be affected by COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021).

The department sponsors youth football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball leagues and offers lacrosse clinics.

The county’s Recreation Complex off of State Farm Road includes baseball and softball fields, a playground and picnic shelters.

In spring 2020, the county completed a new, state-of-the art indoor community recreation center at the Recreation Complex, featuring a competition indoor swimming pool, a leisure pool, multi-use courts, locker rooms, a walking track, gym equipment and party rooms for public use. Outdoor facilities affected by the rec center construction are scheduled to reopen by 2021, including tennis courts and basketball courts. Pickleball courts will be a new addition.

In addition, Optimist Park is home to two baseball fields, and the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex has two full-length soccer fields. The High Country Soccer Association sponsors teams that play in a variety of age groups and against teams from throughout the area. In addition, amateur leagues and clubs exist for casual competition in ultimate (disc), disc golf and other sports.

And the town of Boone has

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designated land near the Boone Greenway Trail for a new skate park, with a grassroots effort underway to raise the funds needed for construction.

WALKING, BIKING TRAILS

The Boone area’s most exciting trail project is the Middle Fork Greenway — a paved hiking and biking trail that will eventually link Boone to Blowing Rock along the Middle Fork tributary of the South Fork New River. The trail, which is being completed one section at a time as funds are raised, will provide connections to downtown Blowing Rock, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and the Boone Greenway Trail. Want more info? Visit MiddleForkGreenway.org.

The Boone Greenway Trail offers several miles of paved trail in town limits for transportation, leisure and exercise. Access points include the Watauga County Recreation Complex and Clawson-Burnley Park off of State Farm Road, beside the Moose Lodge on Deerfield Road and the former Watauga Humane Society parking

FILE PHOTO The High Country boasts several rivers perfect for swimming, tubing and kayaking.

lot on Casey Lane. From there, the trail can connect with Brookshire Park north of U.S. 421 via New River Hills Road and a highway underpass.

The Blue Ridge Parkway’s Moses Cone Memorial Park near Blowing Rock also offers an extensive gravel trail system that is beloved by the area’s many running and horseback-riding enthusiasts.

CYCLING, MOUNTAIN BIKING

The Boone area provides varied terrain and scenic views for amateur and competitive cyclists and is home to several major road events, including the Blood, Sweat and Gears Bike Ride in June, a fundraiser.

Rocky Knob Park is a destination moun-

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tain biking park located on the east side of Boone, with several miles of intermediate to difficult trails. Beech Mountain offers additional mountain biking opportunities at the Emerald Outback trail system as well as at Beech Mountain Resort. Sugar Mountain Resort also features a mountain bike park with beginner and intermediate trails.

SKIING AND SNOW SPORTS

During the winter months, the ski industry is king in the High Country, with three resorts located less than an hour away from Boone.

Just 15 minutes south of Boone just off of Highway 321 is Appalachian Ski Mtn., which offers ski and snowboarding trails for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers. The resort also offers rentals, and lessons are available through the French Swiss Ski College. Appalachian Ski Mtn. also has an ice rink, a restaurant and lodging.

In addition, Sugar Mountain Resort and Beech Mountain Resort are both located about 30 minutes from Boone, close to nearby Banner Elk. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Sugar Mountain has tubing, ice skating, a restaurant, lodging and shopping available. Beech Mountain Resort is located just beyond Banner Elk. The resort offers rentals, lessons, lodging and trails of various difficulties.

Hawksnest in Seven Devils offers snow tubing in the winter and ziplining in the warmer months.

GOLF

There are several golf courses near the town of Boone. The Boone Golf Club is a public 18-hole golf course with a practice green and a restaurant and clubhouse. The Mountaineer Driving Range and Golf Center located off N.C. Highway 105 Extension offers a driving range and golf instruction for all levels of ability.

There are also two other public golf courses close to Boone. The Willow Creek Golf Club is located in Vilas and the Sugar Mountain Golf Club is located in Sugar Mountain.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

The High Country is also known for topnotch rock climbing opportunities; caving; river sports such as fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking and tubing; and

PHOTO BY STEVE BEHR Blood, Sweat and Gears 2019 bike ride winner Michael Bissette, right, edges second-place William Harrison while crossing the finish line June 22.

RENDERING COURTESY J.P. PARDY Pictured is a rendering of what a finished Boone Greenway skate park would look like.

even hang-gliding and paragliding.

There are a number of local outfitters who can help guide you on these adventures, including River & Earth Adventures, Wahoo’s Outdoor Adventures, Rock Dimensions Climbing Guides and River Girl Fishing.

Guided horseback riding excursions are available via outfitters including Leatherwood Mountains Resort, while Hawksnest, High Gravity Adventures and Sky Valley Zip Tours will take you on a zipline adventure.

ATTRACTIONS

The greater High Country area is also home to several entertainment and educational attractions, including the Tweetsie Railroad Wild West Theme Park, Mystery Hill and Grandfather Mountain.

Plan ahead and call or visit establishments’ websites to learn about any COVID-19-related closures, restrictions or requirements.

Stay withus onyour next visittothe High Country

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