Explore the best rated trails in Elkin, NC, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail and Mayo River Rail Trail . With more than 24 trails covering 172 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
NRT is my heart trail, have been on many others in va but this is my favorite and most scenic!!!
Nice trail along the creek. Connects with the other two trails in town for a seamless ride. With the other two connecting trails it is an outstanding trail for a small town. Well done.
Red and green connect and make for a 6 mile ride round trip. Ride is mostly along the river with a few side connections. Don't let the confusing TrailLink description discourage you, you can't get lost. There is no reason that I could figure out why these trails are color coded.
Nice easy trail to ride, good for kids, but not very long for more serious riders. I missed the connection to the New River Greenway at the east end. The connection is really a road and looks like a road as far as I could see.
The surface of the New River Trail should not be described as “crushed stone.” This is factually incorrect. I rode the entire trail from end-to-end and back again over three days in mid-June 2024. The first 20 or so miles from Dora Junction (Pulaski) toward Lone Ash consist mostly of a wide grassy median with a narrow dirt track on either side. This is fine for bicycles in dry weather but those of us who ride recumbent tricycles are forced to ride with at least one wheel on the grass, which makes for a tortuous slow and bumpy ride. Some sections are indeed smooth crushed stone, such as the 5.5 mile spur from Fries Junction to the town of Fries which is the best maintained section of the trail, perhaps because Fries attracts tourists and more cyclists than other parts of the trail. The first part of the 12 miles from Fries Junction up to Galax is very rough and rocky but the trail improves toward the end. Nonetheless most of this section would best be described as coarse gravel, not crushed stone, and the gravel is quite soft in places. Parts of the trail from Foster Falls to Ivanhoe and from Ivanhoe to Fries Junction also have a grass median, but other parts are gravel or crushed stone. The surface for the first few miles on either side of Foster Falls is well maintained but deteriorates the further one rides away from the park headquarters. Cyclists would benefit from a more accurate description of trail surface conditions.
Repairs are being made to the creek and collapsing asphalt. So the Greenway doesn’t go all the way through.
The is a fun trail but you need to be careful going on and off the bridges. Not rode bike friendly. Well worth the Hall of Fame statue.
Beautiful scenery, great hangout spots along the river, mostly downhill.
Rode an out and back from Damascus to ABD Trailhead. Trail was in great shape except for a large oak tree blocking the entire trail at approx the 6.75 mile point from ABD. A challenging social path has formed on the river side of the trail. The smart move is to just turn around and ride back the way you came. We weren’t that wise today so we bushwhacked around the tree and did our out and back. The trail surface was in great shape and obvious trail maintenance is keeping the “Creeper Trail” at its “creepy” best. At least the stretch we rode today.
Really cool ride through downtown Hickory. You can ride from 1 bike shop to another but you have to cross a busy road to do it.
Circumvent the Salem Lake in 7 miles. Small section is asphalt and majority is packed dirt/gravel. Several sections of erosions and tree debris along with horse droppings. However, more eroded sections have been repaired. Lots of rolling hills and 2 steeper climbs with hairpin turns. Tough bike riding on weekends due to Lake’s popularity. Great balance of sun and shade with welcome lake breezes. Plenty of parking. Option to mountain bike on Jesus Trail or at the Dojo. If erosion was non existent-this would be a 5 star trail especially week days. One of our area favorites
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