Elk Knob State Park - NC | YEAR OF THE TRAIL | 2023

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Elk Knob State Park

Location

5564 Meat Camp Road
Todd
NC / Watauga County
28684

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When the weather turns chilly, the critters quit c

When the weather turns chilly, the critters quit crawling and your usual hardtop running routes are getting a bit tired and boring......it's time to veer off the road and kick up some dirt on the trail! It's time for The First Annual Dirty Santa Trail Run - THIS Weekend! 🎅

This 4.6 mile race is the 4th event in The Foothills Run Series Presented By UNC Ortho.

The course starts / finishes at the Lenoir Rotary Soccer Complex and is made up of almost 3 miles of single track trail (Zack's Fork Mountain Bike Trail), nearly 1 1/4 miles of natural field / gravel trail and around .3 mile of hardtop just for some variety!

Learn more and register by following the link under our bio.

#greattrailsnc #yearofthetrail #greattrailsstate #northcarolina #trailrun #santa #winterrun #santatrailrun #santarun #holidayrun

It’s been one year since we launched NC Year of

It’s been one year since we launched NC Year of the Trail. We have been amazed by the support, energy, and engagement with trails across North Carolina over the last 12 months in the biggest celebration of trails we’ve ever seen.

While 2023 is coming to a close, we’re just getting started. Stay tuned because we’ll continue sharing stories and trails just like we’ve done this year and in 2024, we’re officially making North Carolina The Great Trails State!

Thank you to every single person, community, and organization that has helped make Year of the Trail happen!

#greattrailsnc #yearofthetrail #northcarolina #trails

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail was just listed as one

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail was just listed as one of three "new" long trails to keep an eye on by Backpacker Magazine (@backpackermag)! The New Triple Crown. We're honored to be listed alongside The Pacific Northwest Trail and the Great Divide Trail. Both of those trails have long been on our list of eventual must hikes!

"Backpacking a lesser-known long trail is like taking a step back in time. Do you wish you could hike the Appalachian Trail as it used to be, when the shelters weren’t packed shoulder-to-shoulder, and A Walk in the Woods was just an idea in Bill Bryson’s head? If so, set your sights on one of these up-and-coming routes. All three are hikeable today, though there’s some bushwhacking, compass wrangling, and road walking to be had. But when it comes to embarking on a “New Triple Crown”, that’s all part of the fun.

One of the challenges for any long trail on the East Coast is avoiding people. With a majority of Americans living east of the Mississippi River, it can be hard to find solitude. One eastern trail that’s made peace with that reality is the Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Over its 1,175-mile length, there’s plenty of natural splendor to enjoy, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the beaches of the Outer Banks. But the trail also embraces civilization by routing hikers along main streets and through the historic towns of North Carolina. “The MST is a little different,” says Brent Laurenz, the executive director of Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the non-profit dedicated to the trail. “From the outset it was never designed to be a purely wilderness trail. One goal was to connect the communities.”

Read about all three trails here: https://bit.ly/3R6gXIE

#mountainstoseatrail #pacificnorthwesttrail #greatdividetrail
Reposted from @mountainstoseatrail

There is something truly special about the chill i

There is something truly special about the chill in the air as temperatures begin to drop in the High Country. Throughout the year, @blowingrocknc has been taking on a trail each week as part of @greattrailsnc #YearOfTheTrail, and the trails this past month have been some of our favorites yet!

Head up to the “Trails We Took in November” link in our bio to learn more! With only a few weeks left in the year, we’ll be looking back at some of our favorite trails so far, as well as taking on 4 more local High Country trails so stay tuned for more #YearOfTheTrail content!
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#blowingrocknc #leavenotrace #ncoutdoors
Reposted from @blowingrocknc

Hello, December ❄️ Any guesses where this ma

Hello, December ❄️

Any guesses where this may be?

By @_roamthewild

#december #winterhiking #carversgap #appalachiantrail #roanmountain #hiketheworld #optoutside #coldweather #moodygrams #folkscenery #northcarolina #takemoreadventures #trail #hiketheat #cravethewild #yott #YearofTheTrail

#WaterfallWednesday or #WildlifeWednesday ? 🐻

#WaterfallWednesday or #WildlifeWednesday ? 🐻

Some of our favorites from @ncstateparks of what you may encounter on the trails in North Carolina!

Vote for your favorite in the comments! ⬇️
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#greattrailsnc #yearofthetrail #greattrailsstate #northcarolina

It was a gorgeous weekend for the @hikerbabescoast

It was a gorgeous weekend for the @hikerbabescoastalnc 7 mile, Lassiter Trail hike at Merchants Mill Pond! The sky was blue, the air was crisp and new friendships were made! This is what it's all about! ❤️🙌
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#optoutside #hikerbabes #hikerbabesnc #greattrailsnc #yearofthetrail #hikerbabesrock @hiker_babes @ncstateparks @greattrailsnc @nc100milechallenge @ncwildlife @ncwildlifefed @nctraildays
Reposted from @hikerbabescoastalnc

This #SmallBusinessSaturday, consider shopping wit

This #SmallBusinessSaturday, consider shopping with one of our awesome campaign partners that are helping support trails across North Carolina!

@enohammocks is based in Asheville, NC and shares their hammocks and relaxation gear with members of ENO Nation around the globe. ENO is passionate about people, the planet, and creating a future where everyone can enjoy their time outside. Through their partnerships such as with the YOTT campaign, they’ve committed to promoting Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion in the outdoors, protecting and preserving our environment and public lands, and serving and supporting our communities through outdoor education and experiences.

@mastgeneralstore has 11 locations across the Southeast with most being in North Carolina, including Boone, Asheville, Hendersonville, and Winston-Salem. This store has been employee-owned since 1995, and is a go-to for outdoor apparel, fun provisions, and gifts! The Mast Store gives back to the communities in three major focus areas—arts, environmental, and human services, encouraging employees to give their time to groups that they are passionate about by paying for up to 8 hours of volunteer time each year. And, they also have a matching funds program to encourage monetary donations!

@footsloggersoutdoors, located in Boone, NC, is dedicated to supplying durable and sustainable goods, supporting their community youth programs, organizations that support those in need in the region, local state parks and land trusts, as well as the Banff Mountain Film Festival’s World Tour stop in Boone.

@trustygopc has been a huge supporter of the Year of the Trail campaign and has multiple locations across North Carolina and beyond. They work to educate and gear up trail enthusiasts to get outside and give a percentage of every sale made in their stores to local conservation efforts!

#yearofthetrail #yearofthetrailnc #northcarolina #greattrailsnc #greattrails

Gratitude in every step! 🍂 Join us today and th

Gratitude in every step! 🍂 Join us today and through this holiday weekend in embracing gratitude as you explore new trails with loved ones.

Nature's beauty awaits, and there's no better way to give thanks than by creating cherished moments outdoors. 🌳

How are you showing your gratitude for the trails this Thanksgiving? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by @wemakenc_

#yearofthetrail #yearofthetrailnc #northcarolina #greattrailsnc #greattrails #givethanks #thanksgiving #gratitude

Charlotte's Park's brand new addition: Backlot Tra

It's National Hiking Day weekend, aka National Tak

It's National Hiking Day weekend, aka National Take a Hike Day! Another great reminder to celebrate the benefits of hiking. Get out and enjoy a hike! 🥾

Hiking resources and more about the day by following the link under our bio.

Video by: @sc4caster
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#greattrailsnc #yearofthetrail #greattrailsstate #northcarolina #nationalhikingday #hikingday #hike #takeahike #hikingboots

Last call for volunteers at Table Rock, NC this ye

Last call for volunteers at Table Rock, NC this year! Come on out this Fri, Sat, Sun. 9AM. 🙌

The @carolinaclimberscoalition have hired the @accessfund from Sept- Nov for a great overhaul of the climbers access trail. They need your help to polish it off for the winter! They will be back this coming spring with the C4 Team as well.

Thank you Matt and Josh from Access Fund for all the work over the last two months!

Reposted from @carolinaclimberscoalition

THE OUTDOOR RECREATION ECONOMY GENERATES $11.8 BILLION IN
ANNUAL REVENUE IN NORTH CAROLINA & 130,000 jobs

trails are building north carolina

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

The Great Trails State Coalition is a broad-based group of diverse organizations, agencies, and supporters advocating for increased state investment in all types of trails statewide: hiking, paddle, mountain biking, equestrian, and paved.

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