We Were Wondering - “What are your favorite lesser-known hiking and walking trails in the region?”
"Blue Ridge Parkway Rough Ridge hike. Photo taken from top with viaduct view."
October 2022, we asked: What are your favorite lesser-known hiking and walking trails in the region?
Thank you to everyone who responded! After reviewing all the submissions we have created a Google Maps list with all the trails. More information on the trails from our listeners can be read below. Happy hiking or walking! If you visit a hike thanks to a suggestion here, tag us on social media at @885wfdd or try submitting a Dose of Good!
As everyone knows, Tanglewood Park in Clemmons has beautiful walking trails. They are pretty easy and offer paved and unpaved options, making them accessible to everyone. On the trails near the horse stables, I always see many people (and their dogs!), which is incredibly fun! But when I need solitude, a break from the chaos and noise of our modern world, I head back to the Nature Trail. The Nature Trail takes you down a gravel path, into the woods, and then along the Yadkin River. You will see some fellow hikers and horseback riders but not many.
Two lesser-known trails can be accessed via the Arboretum (behind the Manor House.) Even people who have lived here for decades don't always know these trails exist! The access point is a lovely iron gate. Unfortunately, I don't have an intuitive feel for directional words like "East" or "West," so it's hard for me to describe precisely where these trails are, but if listeners stop by Tanglewood's Welcome Center, I'm sure they'll point them in the right direction!
When I moved from California to North Carolina, Tanglewood's Welcome Center is how I discovered these trails and "all things Tanglewood!" The folks working there are fantastic and clearly love their jobs - and this park! - Rebecca H.
The New River Trail State Park, Fries and Galax, Va.
- Amy V.
The Forest Bathing trail at Grassy Creek Vineyard in State Road.
- Kitsey H.
Southwest Park in Guilford County. Several trail choices, some short, some longer.
- Trudy M.
Knight Brown Nature Preserve in Stokesdale (a Piedmont Land Conservancy Preserve)
- Brianna H.
Cascades Preserve is a quiet location with about two miles of wooded trails and creek views. Cascades is located at 7359 Goodwill Church Rd, Kernersville, toward Oak Ridge. Several volunteer created benches and overlooks are along the route. Trail has some roots and steeper parts, usually a single track hiking trail.
- Wade H.
Birkhead Mountain Trail in the Uwharrie National Forest. This trail is moderately challenging without being a "lose a lung" trek. (Yeah, I'm looking at you, Dutchman's Creek Trail Loop!) I used this hike as part of my training to do England's Coast to Coast walk earlier this summer. The only somewhat negative experience was my encounter in May with a Timber Rattlesnake. Thankfully, (s)he slithered away without incident.
- Karen S.J.
Profile Trail - Grandfather Mountain from Highway 105 to Calloway Peak
Southern Ridge Trail - Emerald Out Back- Hiking & Mtn Bike Park - Beech Mountain, NC - above 5,000 feet - great views & boulders
Town of Beech Mtn has over 30 miles of maintained hiking trails
Appalachian Trail - Roan Mtn -Carvers Gap to Highway 19 E - most incredible 360 degree ridgetop views
Moses Cone Park - 27 miles of carriage & hiking trails - great fall leaves & spring flowers - easy walking
Beech Mountain gets great WFDD signals. You can see Pilot Mountain on a clear day from the Skybar on top of our mountain in Eastern America's highest and coolest town - Jim B.
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