Lee & Vivian Reynolds Greenway

Traveling on US 321 (Blowing Rock Road) turn on Boone Heights Rd then right on State Farm Rd then a left on Hunting Lane which will take you to the Greenway's parking lot on the left side of the street.

There are three bridges. The Covered Bridge, Middle Bridge, and End Bridge as they are called.

Just before the Covered Bridge is a marshy area with lily pads and flowering plants.

  The Middle and End Bridges are identical and this is what they look like.

The view of the South Fork New River from the End Bridge.

1915-1924 this dam supplied electricity to Boone, and in 1924 dynamite couldn't even demolish the dam completely.

The greenway dead ends at Casey Lane near the water treatment plant. This side of the greenway is easier to access from US 421/221 by turning on New River Hills Rd. Turn left on Casey Lane, and you will see the parking area.

Elk Knob State Park-Summit Trail

Elk Knob State Park is a 1100 acre mountain state park with a picnic area, hiking trails, backpacking campsites, an amphitheater, and restrooms. Elk Knob via the Summit Trail is the main attraction with a trail rating of "Hard" because you continuously climb for nearly 1000 feet to reach the panoramic view from the cleared knob at 5520 feet. 

We were all smiles at the beginning, but it didn't take long for the Summit Trail to wipe that off our faces.

Unusual to see that many Shelf Mushrooms on a tree.

One of several rest stops we took. The trail is well maintained with rock steps that aided our ascend in the particularly steep portions of the trail. 

The Summit Trail wasn't no "white dot " trail but a blue diamond with many switchbacks. At a little more than a mile, Kelly decided she had enough, so Aaron didn't want mom to be alone, so he escorted her down the mountain while Gypsy and I continued to the top.

At the 1-mile post, the trail does a switchback at a clearing, and you have this view. Someone had said to us if you think you can't make it the rest of the way this would be a good place to turn around. 

 Finally, I made it to the top 5520 feet above sea level.

I have seen many impressive views while hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains, and this is just as beautiful as any of those were. Elk Knob and the Summit Trail is truly a classic North Carolina hike, and a must do if you're visiting Boone.

Site B1 at the KOA campground in Boone, NC. We enjoyed our stay here and will return next year.