Find the top rated walking trails in Elkin, whether you're looking for an easy short walking trail or a long walking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a walking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Nice paved trail with plenty of parking and handy facilities. Great for taking a stroll but midday on a Monday was too crowded for biking. Walkers with head phones that do not hear you ring, beep and call out and walk down middle of path. Segment by sewage processing plant wad S T I N K Y. Lots of deer ¿¿¿¿, covered bridge, river and wooded areas were very picturesque. The gravel trail to the left after the bridge led to a great off road ride through the hills. Very little traffic, cool curves and fun switchbacks. Peaceful and fun. ¿¿¿¿¿
Drove out here from Greensboro to bike. Pulled up to the closed Fleetwood post office to park in gravel lot next door. Passed 7 cars/trucks and 2 tractors on this narrow road with many blind curves mid morning on a Monday. Did not feel safe. Was not a low to no traffic road in our experience. Pivoted and went to Boone Greenway
Can make a 10 mike loop using several trails plus ride a couple surface streets. Very nice loop.
Just have to give all the park rangers and volunteers a shout out for making this trail a beautiful trail again after Hurricane Helene. We parked at Ivanhoe and rode to Cliffview. Flush toilets and a gift shop at Cliffview. The trail is better than I remember it being before. You could clearly see the devastation and how hard they must have worked to bring this trail back! Thank you!
I’ve ridden this twice since Helene. Once last Fall and then again in March 2025. There isn’t much traffic since the road is closed at the bridge — which is about half way. Bikes can cross the bridge and ride around the road damage past the bridge. It would be 5 stars for scenery if it weren’t for the fact there are still cars — just fewer than normal. Helene was such a devastating storm. ¿¿Appalachia Strong!
Accessed trail at Booker Falls. Great ride with beautiful views of the New River. Saw several deer and interesting to see the damage from the hurricane.
The Virginia Creeper Trail is CLOSED from Drowning Ford to Whitetop. No one is permitted on that section of the trail without the express written permission from the US Forest Service. In addition, NO clean ups are permitted on this section of the trail at this time. The most valuable action you can take at this time is to stay off the trail so essential resources are not otherwise diverted. We understand and appreciate your curiosity and interest but this is not the time. When we reach the restoration phase, we will reach out. Thank you for your support…it will take our entire trail community to rebuild and restore - but we will do so!! The lower section of the trail, from Abingdon to Drowning Ford (only) is open. Please repost…thank you!
This trail does not disappoint. The ride down from Whitetop Mountain was fun with beautiful vista after beautiful vista. I STRONGLY recommend riding this trail twice.
The first time, just ride it and take it all in. Enjoy the beauty of the environment and the trail. Get into the zone and just ride non-stop.
Then do it a second time but, this time, stop to take pictures, grab a coffee or a cider at one of the cafes that pop up along the trail, and then stop to take more pictures.
While not much traffic exists on this road, the cars that drive down drive quite fast and I feel this isn't the best place to send people for a walk. If there were a sidewalk going along this road, I think this would be a wonderful and lovely place to recreate.
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