This is a great place to bring kids and pets. There are multiple places to dip your toes in a beautiful mountain river, large rocks, and a natural walkway
including stone bridges. Several picnic sites are available.
Archives: Trails
Little Bradley Falls Trail
Short and relatively easy hike to a beautiful waterfall. Trail has two stream crossings which can be tricky to cross.
There is a false trail to the left at the first creek crossing. Do not go down that trail as it ends at private property.
Purple Martin Greenway
The Purple Martin Greenway is a great new trail in the county. It is a 2-mile, 10-foot wide paved trail that connects Kiwanis Park and Crestview Park.
The greenway is a very family friendly place with lots of shade and access points to Cleghorn Creek. The southern section of the greenway has a very nice
cascade on the creek. There are multiple picnic shelters. The trail gets great use, you will see many families, dogs, runners and walkers. It is open
to cyclists as well.
The trail can be accessed from multiple parking areas including:
Corner of Industrial Drive and S. Main St.
Kiwanis Park
Skyline Drive
Downtown Rutherfordton
Bearwallow Mountain Trail
Straddling the Eastern Continental Divide, the mountain has been a popular destination for local hikers who knew about it for years. Now, thanks to a conservation
easement on the land and a beautiful new trail leading to the top, it’s been officially opened to the public for hiking. Right now, there is one excellent
trail at Bearwallow Mountain (called the Bearwallow Mountain Trail), and by combining it with the gravel road which was traditionally used as the route
to the top, you can make a great loop hike. The trail is beautifully constructed with some nice rock work, as it switches back and forth across the
western ridge leading up to the summit.
At the top, you may encounter the local bovine population as they graze on the meadow grass. This trail also shares a trailhead with the Trombatore Trail,
which starts on the opposite side of the road.
NEW: The Bearwallow Mountain Trail now connects to the Wildcat Rock Trail! At the top of Bearwallow Mountain, look for the signs that connect you to the Wildcat Rock Trail which leads to Little Bearwallow Mountain and Little Bearwallow Falls.
For more details about the trail, the mountain and future plans in the see Conserving Carolina’s link below.
https://conservingcarolina.org/bearwallow-mountain/
The trail is part of the newly designated Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail System. That system is envisioned to be more than 100 miles of trails throughout
Hickory Nut Gorge. To read more about the plans and see a map of the current and proposed trails see the link below:
Big Bradley Falls Trail
The main trail has reopened with safety improvements at the falls overlook.
The NC Wildlife Commission is now requiring a permit prior to accessing the falls. That permit and process for submittal can be found at the this site: https://www.ncwildlife.org/Connect-With-Us/NCWRC-Operations-Closings-and-Alerts
Hike at your own risk. The trail is primitive and requires crossing the stream. Proper hiking shoes are required. The trail is especially dangerous at
the top of the falls. Seven people have fallen to their death since 2007 in this area!! Please be careful!! Do not attempt to hike to the bottom.
Broad River Greenway
The greenway is a series of beautiful, wooded trails along the banks of the Broad River winding up around Jolly Mountain and Flint Hill. There are nearly
13-miles of interconnected trails of varying distances and difficulty. Many of the trails see extensive equestrian use and do tend to hold water in
wet seasons. There is a small user fee but ample parking, restrooms at the start and trail marking.
More information can be found at the park website: broadrivergreenway.com/
The park can also be used as a put-in or take-out for paddling. See detailed information on our Broad River Paddle Trail page.
Broad River Paddle Trail
The Paddle Trail consists of 12 Sections in Rutherford and Cleveland Counties starting below Lake Lure. There are two sections on the Rocky Broad River above Lake Lure:
- Broad River Section 1 (Lake Lure Dam/Island Creek Rd to Rock Springs Ch Rd)
- Broad River Section 2 (Rock Springs Ch Rd (River Creek Campground) to Clark Rd)
- Broad River Section 3 (Clark Rd to River Rd)
- Broad River Section 4 (River Rd to Grays Rd)
- Broad River Section 5 (Grays Rd to Coxe Rd)
- Broad River Section 6 (Coxe to Poors Ford Rd)
- Broad River Section 7 (Poors Ford Rd to Big Island Rd.)
- Broad River Section 8 (Big Island Rd to Jack McKinney Rd.)
- Broad River Section 9 (Jack McKinney Rd. To US 221)
- Broad River Section 10 (US 221 to US 221-A)
- Broad River Section 11 (221A to Lake Houser)
- Broad River Section 12 (Lake Houser to Broad River Greenway)
Buffalo Creek Park
Though designed with mountain bikers in mind, this a multi-use park suitable for runners and hikers as well. This is the only bike trail system of its
kind within 20 miles. It features banked turns, rollers, and berms. The main trail is a 3.5-mile loop. The trail is challenging due to the elevation
change.
From the public parking area on Buffalo Creek Road, there is a short, graveled path with a bridge over Buffalo Creek. The main trail is to the right, shortly
after the bridge. The first 1/4-mile of the trail accommodates two-way traffic. After that, the trail is a loop with hikers/runners going one way and
bikers the opposite.
after the bridge. The first 1/4-mile of the trail accommodates two-way traffic. After that, the trail is a loop with hikers/runners going one way and
bikers the opposite.
Travel direction on the loop part of the trail varies by day. The current rotation is as follows:
M, T, Th, Sa – Hikers Clockwise, Bikers Counterclockwise
W, F, Su – Hikers Counterclockwise, Bikers Clockwise
Parking at the trailhead was recently expanded and can no handle about 35 cars. Overflow parking is allowed along Buffalo Creek Road.
The Weed Patch Mountain Trail, an 8.6-mile long connection from the end of the current extension to Eagle Rock on Chimney Rock State Park land.
For additional info see the town’s webpage for the trail: http://www.townoflakelure.com/buffalo-creek-park.php
The trail is part of the newly designated Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail System. That system is envisioned to be more than 100 miles of trails throughout
Hickory Nut Gorge. To read more about the plans and see a map of the current and proposed trails see the link below:
Chimney Rock State Park
North Carolina’s iconic state park! The trails in this park bring visitors to some of the most incredible views and places in the nation. The trails range
in difficulty, but generally require some measure of physical fitness due to the steep terrain.
Here’s a list of the trails at the park…
- Great Woodland Adventure – Kid-oriented fun and educational trek through the woods.
- Four Seasons Trail – Challenging 0.6-mile long trail with 400 feet of elevation gain
- Hickory Nut Falls Trail – A 0.75-mile long trail culminating at the bottom of the 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls.
- Exclamation Point Trail – Mostly a stair climb starting from the chimney leading to several unique vantage points including the Opera Box and Exclamation
Point - Skyline Trail – 1.1 additional mile trail from the end of the Exclamation Point Trail to the top of Hickory Nut Falls.
For the best information on the specific trails and other opportunities at the park visit one of these two websites…
Alexanders Ford
The Bradley Preserve at Alexanders Ford is 163-acre nature and heritage preserve. The trail is an official certified section of the Overmountain Victory
National Historic Trail.
The preserve includes a picnic shelter. The trail is now a loop consisting of an old road bed that leads down to the river and a single track trail coming back. It is a pleasant and peaceful walk in the woods. It is a great place to take the kids and the trail is pet-friendly. The halfway point of the loop is at the Green River.
An old family cemetery has been cleared and open for viewing. It is on the right side of the trail about half-way to the river.
