Nice, peaceful stroll along a beautiful creek which includes a small waterfall.

https://www.polktrails.org/vaughncreek

Strawberry Gap is the newest trail in the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge system. It can be accessed directly by a new parking area on US 74-A near the continental divide between Gerton and Asheville.

Conserving Carolina has a wealth of information on this trail on their website:

https://conservingcarolina.org/strawberry-gap/

NEW! Multi-purpose trails opened in 2022. Six-miles of trails open to hiking, running, mountain biking and some equestrian use. The system is phase one of a 42-mile trail network expansion in the area largely on national forest land.

For more information on the trails and the ongoing project check out the G5 Trail Collective website:

https://www.g5trailcollective.org/

A short but challenging hike up to an incredible view of Chimney Rock Mountain and Hickory Nut Gorge. More than 50 boulder problems for climbers as well.

Trail built with the leadership of the Carolina Climbers Coalition with easements and support from Chimney Rock Village.

Trailhead is located at the top of the village paid parking lot next to Medina’s Bistro and Burntshirt Vinyards tasting room.

The Youngs Mountain Trail is a 4.2-mile round-trip, out and back hike. When you reach the endpoint on the summit of Young’s Mountain, enjoy a spectacular
view of Lake Lure, sheer rock faces of Rumbling Bald, Shumont Mountain, and Eagle Rock. Also visible are Weed Patch Mountain, Buffalo Creek Park, the
lower Hickory Nut Gorge, and Mt. Mitchell on a clear day.

The hike is rated as strenuous, rising 1,200 feet in elevation, climbing up stone and log steps for much of the way. Also featured are exposed cliffs and
rock outcrops, offering extraordinary views of surrounding cliffs, mountains, valleys, and lakes – use caution in these sections.

This 185 acre preserve is located between between Saluda and Tryon. The trails take you to features including a drip falls, sheer cliffs, and a viewpoint
across the river valley.

Length: The most popular hike goes to the drip falls, which is about one mile each way (two miles out and back). If you include the spur trail to the cliffs,
there are a total of 1.3 miles of trail (2.6 miles round trip).

The blue and yellow trails are moderate. The red trail to the cliffs is steep and strenuous.

The most popular hike in Norman Wilder Forest leads to the drip falls. From the parking lot, follow the blue trail markers to the yellow trail markers
for a moderate, 2-mile round-trip out and back hike. (Previously, the yellow trail formed a loop around the drip falls, but this section of trail was
seriously damaged in the 2018 landslides. The yellow trail has been rerouted as an out-and-back.)

For a more strenuous hike, follow the red trail markers (from the intersection with the blue and yellow trails) uphill to see the rock cliffs. This spur
trail adds another 0.6 miles round trip to your hike.

For more info check out Conserving Carolina’s page on the preserve.

https://conservingcarolina.org/norman-wilder-forest/

 

The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) offers six miles of hiking/foot trails, including a hard-paved trail for the physically challenged.

 

FENCE Trails – open daily dawn to dusk

Pinewoods Trail .9 mi

Hardwoods Trail .7mi

Southside Trail 1.1 mi

Mountain Laurel Trail .4 mi

Wildwood Trail-Wheelchair Accessible.3 mi

Hilltop Trail .2mi

Holly Trail .1mi

Beech Trail .3mi

Connelly 1.0mi

 

The Tryon Missing 40 Trace is set in the beautiful Pacolet River Gorge. The land is being leased from the Town of Tryon by the Saluda Community Land Trust who built the moderate 1 mile hiking trail.

The trail starts at the convergence of Joles Creek and the North Pacolet River, it continues next to the river and features two unassisted river crossings
in about ankle high water. Taking the trail to the right is recommended to save river crossings for the end of the hike. White blazes mark the trail
throughout.

 

Pearson’s Falls and Glen is a top natural attraction in Polk County, NC, hosting over 20,000 visitors each year.

The property is managed by the Tryon Garden Club. They have a wealth of information on their website:

https://www.pearsonsfalls.org/

This unique botanical preserve is comprised of 275 acres of rich cove forest, granite, spring-fed streams, and a moderate 1/4 mile trail to a 90 ft. waterfall.
This trail has over 310 species of rare wildflowers and plants. Mosses, lichens, shrubs, and a variety of trees reside in this Glen, which is classified
as a deciduous climax forest.

There are many benches and picnic areas along the trail, at the base of the falls, and along Webster Way.

Entrance to the property requires a contribution of $5 to the Tryon Garden Club.

This is a nice, paved greenway along the Catawba River near Marion. About half-way in, you will see the trail to Round Hill. It’s a short, loop trail around
the base of the hill.