THINGS TO DO

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CATAWBA RIVER GREENWAY

The main entrance for the Greenway is on Grenlee Ford Road (off Hwy. 70 East) approximately 1/2 mile east from the intersection of Jamestown Road and Hwy 70. The Greenway can also be accessed through a boardwalk behind the River Village Shopping Center off Sanford Drive.

The Greenway offers a paved, handicapped accessible walking trail, picnic shelters and open tables, ADA compliant rest rooms (open year round), a children's playground, fishing piers, a canoe launch, a gazebo, a 1200 foot multilevel observation deck and a 170 foot bridge which crosses Silver Creek. The Greenway boardwalk extends behind the River Village Shops along Sanford Drive with the newest section continuing under Hwy 181 and winding through the former Ralph Edwards Nursery (US Forestry Service tree nursery).

The Catawba River Greenway Park offers year-round biking, jogging and strolling, canoeing and picknicking. Enjoy the natural beauty of the great outdoors just a moment away from the heart of downtown Morganton.

The masterplan for the park calls for numerous baseball and softball fields, covered picnic areas for large groups, primitive camping, RV camping, a small museum, a sandy beach, an overlook/observation pier and canoe put-ins. The first goals are to complete the paved walking trail and build the first set of the baseball fields.

QUAKER MEADOWS GOLF COURSE

Approximately 1/2 mile from the intersection of the Catawba River Greenway and Highway 181 is the Russell Breeden designed Quaker Meadows Golf Course. The course is on the right of Hwy 181.

With well placed bunkers this course offers a challenge to reach the large well defined sloping greens. Golfers all of abilities enjoy this well designed course. Soon to be added, an island green on the 16th hole, creating a new challenge for all golfers to conquer.

LAKE JAMES

From the Greenway at the N.C. Highway 181 intersection travel North 3 miles Milepost #6 to Oak Hill Elementary School. At the red light turn left onto Frank Whisnant Road. Go 2/10 mile on Frank Whisnant and then turn right onto Watermill Road. Watermill Road will end on N.C. Highway 126, which along with Powerhouse Road, circles around Lake James. Site of the Fort in "Last of the Mohigans."

Tucked away in rolling hills at the base of Linville Gorge is Lake James, a 6,510-acre lake with more than 150 miles of shoreline. The impressive waterway is the centerpiece of Lake James State Park. Here, nature offers scenic vistas of the Appalachian Mountains and beckons to those with an appetite for recreation. Try swimming and sunbathing or enhoy a picnic along the lakeshore. Boat, water ski or fish in cool mountain waters, or take a walk and enjoy an abundance of woldflowers and wildlife along park trails.

More information on Lake James: ncparks.gov

TABLE ROCK

Traveling on N.C. Highway 181 North at Milepost #10 is the access road to the Table Rock area of Pisgah National Forest. Turn left on Simpson Creek Avenue. After going 2/10 of a mile there will be a graveled road on the right and a sign nailed to the tree that says "Table Rock Picnic Area." This entrance to Table Rock is a rougher road with more curves than the road leading through Gingercake. The road is fun for those that perfer to do light off-roading and will take considerably more time if the driver choses to go slow over small bumps in the road. Others should see the directions under Linville Gorge for access to Table Rock.

WILSON CREEK GORGE

Take N.C. Hwy 181 to just before Milepost #11 and turn right onto Brown Mountain Beach Rd. After traveling 3 1/2 miles you will reach the Brown Mountain Off Road Trail System, which contains over 100 miles of ATV and motorcycle trails. After traveling 5 miles you will cross a bridge and the turnoff to left is Brown Mtn. Bch. Rd. Turn left onto the road and follow it for 1 1/2 miles to the beginning of the Wilson Creed Gorge Recreation.

Wilson Creek Gorge lies in the eastern edge of Pisgah National Forest in Caldwell County, NC. Wilson Creek forms on the south slope of Grandfather Mountain and flows 20 miles through a rugged gorge and fertile farmland before flowing in Johns River, a tibutary of the Catawba River.

The upper 10 miles of Wilson Creek above Brown Mountain Beach are the most scenic. Wilson, Harper, and Lost Cove Creeks flow through rugged gorges before they combine together to flow through Wilson Creek Gorge proper. The main gorge is a haven for fishermen, swimmers, tubers and kayakers.

Above the main gorge, a major trail network follows Harper Creek and Lost Cove Creek with miles of trails that loop and connect together to offer a splendid outback experience close to home. The NC Mountains-toSea Trail shares several of these trails as it passes from Linville Gorge to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

STEEL CREEK PARK

Just past the Milepost #13 on N.C. Hwy 181 is Steel Creek Park. The park entrance is on the left when North bound on 181. Steel Creek features a cool mountain creek, sandy white beaches, a high diving board, a giant waterslide, a swimming area, camping (full hook ups), a putt-putt course, fishing, a grill, a gameroom and picnic areas.

Steel Creek Park
7081 NC Hwy 181 North
Morganton, NC 28655
828-433-5660

BROWN MOUNTAIN LIGHTS

Take Hwy 181 North out of Morganton. At Milepost 20, you'll come to a large turn-out area on the right that affords a great view of the countryside. But on clear nights the parking lot fills up quickly so you may want to arrive a little early.

In the Blue Ridge Mountains, there is a legend and phenomenon that has mystified people for at least 800 years. Many ghostly stories and tales have been throughout generations about the Brown Mountain Lights. Many have claimed to see supernatural events while others have gone searching for the origin of the lights time and time again only to leave more perplexed than when they arrived. The explanation might never be known as to what causes these lights.

UPPER CREEK FALLS

On N.C. Hwy 181 just before the Milepost #22 on the right is the entrance to Upper Creek Falls in Pisgah National Forest.  Turn right into the parking area and facing Grandfather Mountain in the distant the trail to the left goes to the top of the falls.

The trail to the left out of the parking lot goes to the top of the Falls and is 0.4 miles long. Use caution here; the rocks are slick and dangerous! The trail to the right out of the parking lot goes to the bottom of the falls and is 0.8 miles long. For the more adverturous, a 1.6 mile loop can be made if you choose to wade or rock-hop across the creek twice.

A steep, 0.8 mile trail leads to bottom of the falls. The trail is open to hikers.  Upper Creek Falls is located in the Jonas Ridge Area of Burke County.  Trails leading to the top and bottom of the falls are popular among sunbathers, swimmers, and fishermen, so plan on having company unless you arrive earlier.

NOTE: When hiking to the top of the falls, stay to the trail to your left after seeing the small upper falls. The trail to the right leads to the right side of the falls, which ends at the top of the cliff above the falls and over a 100ft drop. Stay to the left and go over the wooden walkway t o cross the creek above the falls. It is an easier hike to the bottom of the falls to cross over the creek at the top and take the loop trail to the base of the falls.

LINVILLE GORGE - THE GRAND CANYON OF THE EAST

Take N.C. Hwy 181 North to Milepost #23 and turn left onto Gingercake Road.  Go approximately 1/2 mile, to the first fork in the road, and turn left onto Table Rock Road and follow the road through the Gingercake Acres housing development. After 1 mile the road turns to gravel and is labeled F.S. 210B, which is the Rich Cove Road.

The 1st parking area is for the Devils Hole Trail - approximately 2 miles from Gingercake Acres. The 2nd parking area is for Hawksbill (parking area on left and trail on right) - 1 mile from Devils Hole. The 3rd parking area is for Spence Ridge Trail and North Table Rock Trail - 1 mile from Hawksbill. Continue 1 mile to the first intersection and turn right (you will pass the Outward Bound School sigh). Stay on this road, bearing to the right, through several switchbacks and you will arrive at Table Rock Picnic area.

NOTE: On Hawksbille Trail stay to your left at the first trail intersection to climb up Hawksbill. Turning to your right will take you to the top of Sitting Bull Mountain via the mountain to Sea Trail.

Views from Hawksbill Mountain in Linville Gorge

The Linville River with its source high on Grandfather Mountain has, by its tremendous action, formed Eastern America's most scenic and rugged gorge. Within the gorge, the river drops a dramatic 2,000 feet before leveling out in the Catawba Valley.

The Linville Gorge Wilderness Area is part of the Pisgah National Forest. The gorge is bordered by several distinctive peaks including Sitting Bear, Hawksbill, Table Rock and the Chimneys.

Elevations range from 1,300 feet on the Linville River to 4,120 feet on Gingercake Mountain. The terrain is extremely steep and rugged with numerous rock formations. It is covered by a dense hardwood/pine forest and a wide variety of smaller trees and other plants. Recreation includes hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, fishing and hunting.

Linville Falls

Linville Falls, which measures 150 feet, has the largest volume of water of any waterfall on the northern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The top portion of the falls were featured in the motion picture, "The last of the Mohicans."

Directions

At N.C. Hwy 181 Milepost 26 1/2 turn left on Hwy 183 West. Go 4 miles and turn left onto Old NC 105 at the Pisgah National Forest Linville Gorge Wilderness sign (Wiseman's View is 4 miles past the Falls parking area).