Visit the Yadkin Valley Heritage & Trails Center to find out more about the Yadkin Valley, Elkin, our Trails and local businesses. You can also purchase NC Trails Days merch all weekend long! Locker, Showers, Bathroom, and Parking all available on site at this location. The Heritage Center will be open throughout the weekend at varying times.

Learn how to use easy and FREE apps on your phone to identify local birds on this easy hike that follows the Yadkin River on the rolling terrain of the Greenway. A variety of songbirds and water birds are frequently seen on this trail.

Start the day in the campsite at Wells Knob and head towards Crater Park in Elkin (13.5 miles). Camping will be available at Crater Park on Friday night as well as alternative lodging (hotels) in town and lots of restaurant options. If you are interested in all or part of the hike, please fill out this form (if you haven't already). Email questions to info@elkinvalleytrails.org. YOU ONLY NEED TO FILL THE FORM OUT ONCE.

Meet the EVTA and join in for some fun and fulfilling trails work. This year, the focus will be on putting up new signage and trail blazes, along with some light tread work and widening in sections of the Carter Falls-Powerhouse Loop Trail.

Join the Friends of Stone Mountain as they lead you on a hike along Widows Creek. This is part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail inside the park, and it leads to the primitive campsite in the park. See the lesser-visited Upper Widow Creek Falls on this hike. There is a significant climb for the first half mile of this hike, but the trail levels out nicely after the initial climb.

Walk with Elkin's Main Street Manager, Laura Gaylord, and learn some fun facts, hidden gems, and eclectic history of Elkin, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Plan approximately 2 hours, wear comfortable clothes for this easy hike around 2 miles. Offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Experience NC's first 'Forest Bathing' trail immersing oneself in nature to improve mental, physical, and emotional well-being- while unplugged from electronics. This is an easy 2 mile hike out-and-back. Meet behind Grassy Creek Vineyard Tasting Room.

Immerse yourself and let go of tension, grief and life's rigors in a meditative walk by the Yadkin River along the greenway

Enjoy a beautiful hike & yoga practice at the base of Stone Mountain near the Homestead. Hike will be mild to moderate from the Lower Lot to the Homestead. We will have yoga class in the grass with the view of the mountain. Pack a towel or mat, but please pack with the hike in mind. Carrying a heavy mat without straps is not ideal! Yoga class will be appropriate for all levels, no yoga experience necessary!

10% OFF *NEW* gem mining activity for the family+ scavenger hunts and rock painting. Visit Byrd's Branch Campground and Store for info! Happening ALL WEEKEND 10-5!

Join local naturalist and poet, Dr. Bill Griffin, for a native plant and bird ID hike along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail rolling through the countryside of Elkin. All experience levels welcome and binoculars, field guides, and cameras are encouraged

$5 book sale on fiction, non-fiction, and activity books for kids!
From Paperpie and Usborne Books

Get tips and plans from the skilled, Trey Gephardt, on building a bluebird house of your own. Limited building materials will be available

Join Yadkin Valley Adventure for a half day of guided climbing at Pilot Mountain State Park. All skill levels welcome whether it's your first time or 500th time. All Gear including harness, helmet, climbing shoes, chalk bag are provided, but we encourage people to bring their own gear if they have it. Packing lists and other info will be sent upon registration. This is for fully active individuals looking to explore a new hobby in rock climbing. Questions can be directed to info@yadkinvalleyadventure.

Join Yadkin Riverkeeper (YRK), the Elkin Trails Association, and other volunteers to remove debris from our Yadkin River while paddling from Ronda to Crater Park (6.8 miles) in Elkin. Registration is recommended for this event. YRK will provide a limited number of boats to volunteers that need them, but we are encouraging volunteers to BYO boat. Paddlers will drop off boats in Ronda between 11-11:30 AM, drive to Crater Park for lunch, and be shuttled back to Ronda to begin the cleanup. Volunteers will receive a free lunch.

Get a workout in with Jonesville VFW in this new ruck sack hike along the greenway! Remember to hydrate and bring plenty of water! The hike is mostly shaded but has varying terrain.

Walk and read the picture book Knight Owl and then meet with two live owls up close with their handler from Owl's Roost
On the trail beneath Galloway Memorial Episcopal Church and across the Creek from the Elkin Public Library

Enjoy a beautiful 1-mile out-and-back hike to a waterfall AND learn some techniques with painting 'en plein air' with expert, Heidi Nisbett, of Sketching Summits. LIMITED SPACE! Also, feel free to bring your own materials/paints. If weather turns, this event will be held in the conference room at the Yadkin Valley Heritage & Trails Center.

Learn several exercises and techniques from Josh Edwards of North Bridge Physio & Sports Performance!

Bring the kids for fly and cast fishing demos on the Big Elkin. While you're hanging out on the water, get to know Watershed Now along with our local Trout Unlimited chapter, and hear what they are doing to steward our waters and educate the public

This one is for the dogs and their humans who like local and cultural history! All well-mannered attendees and their dogs are welcome to join an easy hike around 2 miles out-and-back on the scenic and historic Elkin & Alleghany Rail Trail. Copies of 'The Elkin & Alleghany Railway Revisited' will be available at this hike led by our friends at American Aquatic.

Elkin is the Eastern Trailhead of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (OVNHT); but what does that mean? Come meet Trail Ranger William Caldwell to learn more about the National Trails System and how the OVNHT operates. William will also share the story behind the OVNHT and some of the "lesser-known" sides of the tale that inspired the trail

Get to know our local advocates for the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail Elkin-stretch. Learn about volunteering opportunities and get connected to the Elkin Valley Trails Association as well as Friends of the MST in a relaxed atmosphere with great refreshments.

Watch the assembly of NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail completers as they parade or better yet, 'hike' the streets of Elkin to the Friday night Block Party in front of the Heritage Center. *MST completers: click the tab below for details*

Swing by the Heritage Center lot on Friday evening for a block party! Includes a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new outdoor stages, the finish of the MST thru-hiker parade, live music on the big stage by The Intoxicadas plus a variety of food, beer & wine options. New this year: you can design your own Mediterranean-style bowl (like at Chipotle, Cava, etc.)! Remember to REGISTER for this one ~ quantity is LIMITED! Be on the lookout for registration link announcements soon on social media (Facebook)

Meet at the heArt & Soul of the Yadkin Valley Gallery at 6:30 PM on FriGHTday nights and join us for a hauntingly good time crawling through the social district of historic Downtown Elkin. Hear ghoulish stories of days gone by as you take an easy hike along Elkin Main Street with stops available for refreshments or to use the restroom to change your pants! Get creeped out looking for ghostly activity in the historic buildings while you enjoy a beverage, ice cream or a treat from Yadkin Valley Hemp. Tickets are only $15 and cutoff time is at 5 PM on the day of the tour. RSVP 407-473-7557

Join Yadkin Riverkeeper for a FREE screening of the critically acclaimed documentary 'American River' at the historic Reeves Theater. Hear opening remarks from film director, Scott Morris. This event is made possible by the efforts of Roundabout Farms Family & Friends, Yadkin Riverkeeper, and our local environmental advocates, Watershed Now and Friends of Big Elkin Creek