48 hours in Elkin
Elkin is a small town with just 4,000 residents in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains that’s best known for its combination of outdoor adventure and southern hospitality. It’s a place where expansive vineyards roll to the edge of green mountains, and historic downtown streets give way to meandering greenways. Elkin is defined by the natural beauty of the tranquil Yadkin River and the surrounding hills and the locals’ desire to preserve all of that beauty for generations to come. Adventure and stewardship are ingrained in the daily lives of Elkin residents, whether it’s supporting locally grown businesses or preserving large swaths of land for outdoor recreation.
Megan Stainback
meet the local
Long time Elkin resident Megan Stainback spends most of her free time exploring Elkin’s outdoor opportunities, running the local trails and riding bikes through the rolling foothills. Nurturing that connection with the outdoors isn’t just about recreation for Stainback, it’s about community and building a commitment to preserving the area’s unique landscape. She helps others enjoy the benefit of the region’s outdoor bounty by serving on the Board of Directors for the Elkin Valley Trails Association, which supports trail development and stewardship initiatives across the community by building and maintaining trails for the last decade.
“Elkin’s commitment to expanding public access to outdoor recreation is evident with a continuously growing network of multi-use trails right out our back door,” Stainback says, adding that the community gets as much out of the outdoor spaces as they put into them. “The easy accessibility of trails in and around Elkin makes it a wonderful place to live. Our trails are social hubs for spending time with friends and family.”
Here are Stainback’s suggestions for the perfect weekend in Elkin.
Leigh Kessel: 48 hours of Adventure and Stewardship in Martin County
day one
Morning Adventure
Ease into the day with a walk or run on the Elkin & Alleghany Rail-Trail, which is actually part of the greater Mountains to Sea Trail, which runs from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the Outer Banks. Here in Elkin, the E&A Rail Trail offers easy in-town access in Elkin Municipal Park, where you can stroll for three miles out and back along the Elkin Creek crossing over two bridges along the way. The path is wheel-friendly too. If you’re interested in local stewardship, look into Watershed NOW, a local-non-profit dedicated to keeping the Big Elkin Creek clean.
Lunch Break
Downtown Elkin has so many great local restaurants. For lunch, check out the authentic Greek food at Blue Oregano. You can’t go wrong with the kababs and Greek salad.
Afternoon adventure
After you get a sense for what’s downtown, branch out and head to Stone Mountain State Park, which has 30 miles of hiking trails surrounding a 600-foot granite dome, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. One of my favorite, lesser-known trails is Wolf Rock Trail. Pick it up at the backpackers parking lot and hike 1.5 miles through a forest that’s thick with rhododendrons to the summit of Wolf Rock, an outcropping with long range views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can hike this as an out and back, or combine it with other trails, like Cedar Rock Trail, which has another great view of Stone Mountain proper.
Remember to hike on established trails and stick to durable surfaces throughout the park to help prevent erosion and minimize the creation of social trails, which can damage the local flora.
dinner
Finish your day back in Elkin, catching some live music at The Reeves Theater, a beautiful historic space in the heart of town. They host local songwriter nights and the theater has a house band that plays tributes to popular artists. And you have to relax at The Railyard, an outdoor beer garden that pours local beers and has a rotating mix of food trucks. It’s such a fun space.
spend the night
There are plenty of hotels and campgrounds to choose from. Check out the small, one-bedroom cabins at Frog Holler Cabins, which are situated in the woods overlooking Big Elkin Creek. Some of them even have hot tubs.
day two
morning adventure
Make your way up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and take your time enjoying the views from this scenic, two-lane road. But eventually, head to Doughton Park at milepost 238, which has a beautifully restored historic cabin as well as 30 miles of hiking trails. There’s a visitor center with restrooms and a store, and you can occasionally see white tail deer gathering in the meadows surrounding the cabins. If you want a short hike, check out Fodder Stack Trail, which will take you through meadows and hardwood and evergreen forests on its mile-long journey. If you’re looking for a bigger adventure, test yourself on the 7.5-mile Bluff Mountain Trail, which runs from the historic cabin to Basin Cove Overlook. The terrain is relatively flat and you’ll have a bunch of scenic views along the way as you parallel the Blue Ridge Parkway.
lunch break
The day is packed with adventures, so grab a to-go lunch from Donna Kaye’s Sandwich Shoppe, on Main Street, and take it with you for your afternoon adventure. They have fresh-baked bread and are known for their club sandwich, but they have daily specials with a new sandwich each day.
afternoon adventure
Mountain bikers have built some of the best trails in the South on the banks of the Kerr Scott Reservoir. There are more than 40 miles to explore, but I the Warrior Creek Trail, which is more than 10 miles of fast, flowing singletrack with more berms than I could possibly count. It’s great for intermediate bikers. You can ride it in any direction and you’ll get the occasional wonderful view of the lake from your saddle.
These trails were built for mountain biking, but many people use them for hiking and running, so be sure to share the outdoors and be considerate of other users while you’re on the trail. The easiest way to share the outdoors when you’re on the bike is to give hikers and runners the right of way and allow them to pass. Pulling over for others also gives you a good chance to take a sip of water too.
bonus adventure
Consider volunteering with Elkin Valley Trails Association during a trail maintenance workday. You can find a list of upcoming work day on our Meetup page.
One initiative I’m especially excited about is the Elkin Creek Headwaters Preserve — 450 acres just north of Elkin that combines conservation and recreation. When complete, it will bring 21 miles of multi-use, bike-forward trails to our community through the remediation of old logging roads. With funding secured from the Great Trails State Program and other pending grants, Phase 1 is ready to launch. This includes the construction of new trails and key site infrastructure, advancing ECHP toward becoming a destination-worthy trail network that preserves clean water, promotes health, and supports local recreation tourism.
There are plenty of opportunities to help with that project moving forward.
You’re invited to join the outdoor nc movement
Join the movement to preserve and protect North Carolina’s beloved outdoor spaces and you’ll be entered to win a ENO double nest hammock and hanging straps! Together we can preserve our beloved outdoor spaces for generations to come. Click to learn more.