THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS, SUPPORTERS & LANDOWNERS FOR A GREAT 2015!
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View from Wells Knob
Stone Mountain Trail/MST
May we suggest a local  
First Day Hike?
New Trail Descriptions for Open EVTA Trail Sections 

Mountains to Sea Trail
aka: E & A Rail Trail in the Elkin city limits; a part of the developing Stone Mountain Trail/MST

Our Elkin "in Town" Trail - from Elkin "tree sign"on Main Street to Gong
  • Trail length: 2 miles
  • Difficulty: easy, level grade
  • Surface: Sidewalk and granite dust
The Westbound trail starts at the "tree sign" at the intersection of Main Street and East Market Street.  Proceed west down Main Street passing through the charming center of Elkin for 1/3 mile (The sidewalks are marked with "MST").  Most conveniences, including restaurants, hardware and drug stores, banks, post office, and quaint local interest shops can be found on both sides of the street.  Make a right just after crossing the Big Elkin Creek at the library (internet available).  Follow the creek on grass upstream for 700 feet to West Market Street.  Turn right and re-cross the creek on West Market Street.

Enter the Elkin Municipal Park on left via granite dust path. Proceed 1/4 mile and bear right or left on loop trail.  Follow the granite dust trail past the tennis courts and swimming pool for .4 mile to the "100 strong" railroad sculpture. At this point continue upstream on the old Elkin and Alleghany Railroad bed for 1/3 mile to the "shoe factory dam". As you go under the Hwy 268 highway a more pastoral setting will flood your senses and lower your blood pressure. Pause a moment to reflect on the viewing platform above the dam before continuing over the bridge.  Immediately after the bridge on the right is a wild flower meadow which nature paints in profuse colors during spring and summer.  On your right is a rustic trail .4 miles long, leading down and across a small bridge and then meandering along the creek before looping back.  Continue to follow the granite dust path for another 1/3 mile. Look up as you pass under the Hwy 268 bypass to see the cliff swallow nests at the top of the bridge pilings.  A short distance further brings you to the E&A Railroad Gong.  Tradition dictates that first timers ring the gong three times for luck.

Grassy Creek Trail
Grassy Creek Vineyard to Byrd's Branch Campground
  • Trail length:        1 1/2 miles
  • Difficulty:            Easy to moderate
  • Surface:             Natural surface
The Westbound trail starts at the Grassy Creek Vineyard tasting room 235 Chatham Cottage Ln, State Road, NC 28676.  Parking is available behind the tasting room. The marked trail enters the woods just east of the tasting room. There is a moderate and continuous downhill through a hardwood forest for about 1200 feet where the trail makes a sharp right at the creek. The trail continues upstream for 500 feet through an inviting fern-covered creek bottom to a bridge.  Cross the bridge and turn left.  Here the trail narrows and proceeds on a moderate uphill climb with two switchbacks for 900 feet.  Near the top of the hill the trail bears right heading west.  It meanders some 1800 feet through large hardwood trees, paralleling a tobacco field to Martin Byrd Road.
Turn left, go 200 feet and cross the road at the trail sign.  There you will enter a white pine forest of planted trees.  Follow the flagging as it is easy to get off trail.   After 400 feet exit the pines and continue another 400 feet along the field's edge to a small pond. Cross the dam and continue to the right (follow the pink flagging) 600 feet along the field's edge. There you will re-enter the "enchanted pine forest".  Follow the flagging 900 feet. Walk slowly and soak in the inviting but eerie landscape where a thick bed of pine needles soften every step you take.

As you exit the forest, turn left on Martin Byrd Road and walk 100 feet then cross to path going west over the field.  In the distance, 500 feet, you will see Byrd's Branch Campground store building.  Inviting porch chairs may call your name to sit a while, while enjoying their many flavors of ice cream. Byrd's Branch Campground: http://byrdsbranchcampground.com

The Eastbound trail starts at Byrd's Branch Campground store (225 Martin Byrd Road, Elkin, NC 28621.)  Parking is available.  The trail goes east across the open field for 500 feet to Martin Byrd Road.  Cross the road and go north, uphill for 100 feet.  There you will enter the "enchanted pine forest".  Follow the flagging as it is easy to get off trail. For the next 900 feet, walk slowly, soaking in the inviting but eerie landscape where a thick bed of pine needles soften every step you take. When you exit the pine forest go right 600 feet follow the flagging along the field down to a small pond.  Cross the dam and turn left. Follow the edge of the field for 400 feet where you will enter a second group of white pines.  Another 400 feet through the pines brings you to Martin Byrd Road.

Turn left and go 200 feet before crossing the road at the trail signs.  Upon entering the woods, the trail now meanders some 1800 feet through large hardwood trees, paralleling a tobacco field.  Near the end of the field the trail turns left and starts a downward path through two switchbacks for 900 feet to a bridge.  Cross the bridge and turn right.  For the next 500 feet you pass through an inviting fern covered creek bottom on a now wider trail.  Bear left and start a moderate uphill climb through a hardwood forest for 1200 feet.  Upon exiting the woods, the Grassy Creek Vineyard tasting room will be on your left with wine and drinks.

Wells Knob Section of Stone Mountain Trail (MST) 
Mining Ridge Church Rd. to Roaring Gap Rd.
  • Trail length: 3 miles
  • Difficulty: easy to strenuous
  • Surface: Most natural surface, some gravel road
The Eastbound trail head can be found on the right side of "Wit's End Eventing" gravel driveway 700 feet from Roaring Gap Road.  The driveway is located 1/2 mile east of the junction of Roaring Gap Church Road and Roaring Gap Road.  The clearly marked trail leads 1/8 mile to a bridge crossing a tributary of the Elkin Creek.  The trail follows this creek crossing a second bridge for another 1/4 mile where it makes an "S" turn away from the creek.
For the next 1/2 mile the trail continues a moderate to easy climb.  As you near the base of Wells knob you encounter six switchbacks as you rise to the top of the knob.  This next 1/2 mile ends in a strenuous uphill section before reaching the top.  The trail continues to the right and straight down for approximately 500 feet before turning left onto a long flat 1/8 mile forest road.  Make a right where it dead-ends into another forest road and go 700 feet to a gate.  The trail leads around the left side of the gate and continues down the forest road following the power line for 1/4 mile.  Take a right on the gravel road for 1/2 mile leading down to Mining Ridge Church Road.
The Westbound trail starts at the junction of Mining Ridge Church Road and a gravel private road with a sign "Wells Knob Road".  Follow the road 1/2 mile up hill to where it levels and enters the woods.  Take a left continuing uphill on the old power line road for 1/4 mile.  The trail leads to the right around the gate.  Continue 700 feet and take a left on a marked forest road.  Go straight and level for 1/8 mile.  Then bear right and uphill for 500 feet to marked trail on left.  The next 1/2 mile starts with a strenuous downhill followed by six switchbacks.  The trail continues for another 1/2 mile to a creek crossing.

The next 1/4 mile follows the creek with two bridge crossings before a short climb to "Wit's End Eventing" driveway.  Turn left and proceed 700 feet to Roaring Gap Road (1/2 mile east of the junction with Roaring Gap Church Road).

Yadkin River Trail

The Yadkin River Trail is a Blueway Trail.  A blueway or water trail is a water path or trail that is developed with launch points, camping locations and points of interest for canoeists, paddle boarders and kayakers. Blueways are typically developed by state, county or local municipalities to encourage recreation, ecological education and preservation of wildlife resources.
The Yadkin River is designated as a State Blueway Trail and including High Rock Lake, Tuckertown Reservoir and Lake Tillery, with a connected series of river access points from Wilkes County to Montgomery County.

In the Elkin area there are river access points at Ronda in Wilkes County, Elkin, Mitchell River and at Rockford in Surry County, and in Yadkin County, Shoals, Donnaha, Huntsville and Shore accesses. The Elkin access is at Crater Park with camping and facilities available. There is easy access to Elkin Main Street with restaurants, post office, library (with internet) and resupply.

Boat rentals and shuttles are provided locally by Yadkin River Adventures in Rockford and Roaring River Canoe and Kayak near Ronda/Roaring River.
Yadkin Riverkeeper

Overmountain Victory Trail 
Thanks to the hard work of the Town of Elkin and volunteers, Elkin can boast a segment of the historic Overmountain Victory Trail, a federal linear park, which follows the route of the Overmountain Men as they made their way to the Battle of King's Mountain in the Revolutionary War.  This trail begins at Elkin Municipal Park, crosses Elk Spur Street and then runs along Elkin Creek between the historic Gallaway Episcopal Church and Elkin Public Library; look for OVT trail signs to lead you west along the Yadkin River.  EVTA is working with the Overmountain Victory Trail Association to enhance and extend this trail. Access to the section of this trail along the Yadkin River is provided by generous landowners. Please stay on the trail and be respectful of private land.
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail



Save the Date!
Downtown Elkin Trail Town Mural.
EVTA
Community Meeting...
Everyone who is interested in trail projects in our area is invited to come to the next community trails meeting. This is an opportunity for discussion, suggestions, new ideas and new partnerships. Join us on:

Thursday
February 11
7pm

At the Elkin Center
1461 N. Bridge St.
at the corner of North Bridge Street and
Hwy 268 By-Pass,
Elkin NC

We'll update you on EVTA projects and give you many opportunities to get on board. We need chairpersons and volunteers for several new events and projects.

THURSDAY EVENING     FEBRUARY 11     7PM     THE ELKIN CENTER


trekking_in_woods.jpg
Spreading Magic on the Trail...
Looking For Local Trail Angels
Trail Angel: A kind and selfless person who provides trail magic; someone who does a good deed to a hiker in need, usually to long distance hikers.

Now that Elkin is host to the Mountains to Sea Trail, we should begin seeing MST thru hikers. Elkin saw five thru hikers in 2015. Those amazing people that start in the Great Smokey Mountains will have hiked approximately 325 miles by the time they reach Elkin. From the eastern terminus at Jockey's Ridge, they will have hiked approximately 800 miles. From east or west, that's a long way to walk. It's so nice to see a trail angel who can deliver some unexpected trail magic!

Trail magic can take many forms. We are looking for kind volunteers to assist thru hikers with transportation to restaurants, grocery stores, banks, laundry services, mail drops, and emergency assistance. If you are interested, you can even host a thru hiker in your home... providing a meal, hot shower, a bed, and good conversation. It is up to you to tell us what magic you are willing to provide. Thru hikers appreciate any small act of kindness.

If this is something that interests you, please contact Cynthia Beane at [email protected] . We are hoping to have a list of angels so that one may be available when thru hikers arrive. The nearby MST task forces generally let us know when a thru hiker is on the way and their approximate arrival date. Cynthia will be the contact person and filter the information to the angels on the list.

Becoming an Elkin Trail Angel is a nice way to spread our hospitality and kindness. Remember, trail magic goes both ways.

Some great links for the trail angel experience. 


Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers.
Opening this Spring...
Mountain Bike Trail Segment
EVTA volunteers plan to have about 2.5 miles of out and back (5 total) single track mountain bike trail open by late Spring of 2016. Several well attended workdays have helped EVTA make good progress on this in-town trail off the
E & A Rail Trail/Stone Mountain Trail. Expect this section to be natural terrain that will eventually loop six miles through a beautiful wooded area just beyond Elkin Municipal Park. This trail will provide excellent opportunities for trail running and hiking as well. EVTA willl continue to have work days and will post them as they are scheduled. A big thank you to Rob Libbert for heading up this project.

New Section of In-Town Trail Opens in Elkin...
Hopefully you have been able to enjoy the new section of in-town Elkin trail connecting Municipal Park and downtown Elkin. Thanks to a grant from the Winston-Salem Foundation and a partnership with the Town of Elkin Recreation & Parks Department, EVTA volunteers have built the new section of trail and applied the granite dust surface, including a second layer of surface materials on the upper end of the trail, a drainage gutter and cement work at the beginning of the trail. Four permanent multi-modal QR coded historical and wildlife signs have been placed along the trail, and the bank by the dam has been cleared for viewing. We have added two beautiful "Peace" benches along the trail in partnership with the Yadkin Valley Rotary Club, alongside the Episcopal Church "Peace Pole". This location is now the confluence of several of Elkin's trails...the Mountains to Sea Trail/Stone Mountain Trail, the E&A Rail Trail and the Overmountain Victory Trail. What a powerful spot for peace through hiking!

New trail benches overlooking the Elkin library dam at the Galloway Episcopal Church Peace Pole.



New downtown Elkin trail section at Peace Park, between library and Episcopal Church



First footbridge on E&A Rail Trail.
Second footbridge construction  
is underway...Summer installation!
Lots of Great
Successes in 2015
and More to Come.

All of us involved, in whatever way, with the EVTA over the last couple of years, have enjoyed significant successes through enriched friendships, teamwork, enthusiasm, willingness to help each other for the common good of our community. Just a few of the great things accomplished by the hard work of our all-volunteer group:

1. Received and are completing a Jandy Ammons grant for a native species garden, trail and significant tree and plant identification trail.  (special thanks to Martha Smith and Joe Mickey)
2.  Completed the 140-foot bridge and trail with multiple culverts, etc.
3.  Set the gong (thanks Bob Hillyer and others)
4.  Set benches, rest stations, viewing deck at shoe factory dam, steps to the water, plantings all along the trail
5.  Two significant trail sculptures..."100 Strong" at Municipal Park (thank you, artist John McComb) and "Transitional Peace" (thank you, artist Chazz Ellstone) at the shoe factory dam
6. Christmas decorations on the E & A Rail Trail bridge (thank you, JoeBeaver)
7. Beginning of the mountain bike/hike/run trail ~ 3 miles of trail now
8. Two "Peace" benches, three Eagle Scout benches, one individual bench and two memorial benches
9.  The Mark Garner Memorial and dedication
10. 40-foot bridge, by Harrison Hall and family on the Grassy Creek Trail
11.  Two 25-foot bridges on Wells Knob and 3 miles of trail
12. Two miles of trail coming out of Stone Mountain
13. 1 1/2 miles of trail between Grassy Creek and Byrds Branch Campground
14.  Smashingly good monthly Constant Contact to all interested
15.  Received the Golden Spike Award from NC Rail-Trails Inc and hosted statewide meeting of the NCRT
16.  Helped establish a second E & A Rail-Trail group in Sparta headed toward Stone Mountain.
17.  Downtown trail sign tree
18.  550-foot section of trail town entry trail with benches, informational signs, etc.
19.  Installed 17 multi-modal QR coded historical and biology related signs along the trail
20.  Continued to promote the E & A Railroad book our EVTA team wrote
21.  Annually conducted the Trails Boogie, Insane Terrain, Tour de Vino, Duck & Turtle Regatta, 
22.  Set up a Trail Angel group to assist MST thru hikers
23.  Just received the contract from the state for the 178-foot bridge over the Elkin Creek by the reservoir on the Stone Mountain Trail
24.  Spun off an independent Watershed Now group working to get the turbidity out of Elkin Creek
25.  Continued to participate in hatchery supported trout fishing
26.  Continued to be engaged with the Overmountain Victory Trail, Yadkin Valley Heritage Corridor
27.  Developed a splendid new birding trail with now 126 species identified on the trail
28.  Became the Task Force Leader for the Mountains to Sea Trail between Devils Garden and Pilot Mountain
29.  Worked to establish a state designated master plan for the EVTA Task Force between Stone Mountain and Pilot Mountain
30. Established an officially designated kayak and canoe route for the MST between Elkin and Pilot Mountain...working with local outfitters, Superintendent of Pilot Mt Park, etc.
31.  Worked hand in hand with Elkin Mayor, Lestine Hutchens and staff, especially Recreation & Parks Director Adam McComb, Town Commissioners, Tourism Development Authority, Surry and Wilkes County Commissioners, Jonesville Town Manager and others to achieve mutual goals of enriching our economy and community well-being. 
32.  Worked with many local businesses and groups to achieve our successes, especially Joe Walker at AllStar Rentals, Skull Camp Brewery, Chatham Foundation, Elkin Tourism Development Authority, Bob Greene/Hg Greene's General Store, Elkin Parks & Recreation Board, WIFM and Walters/Ringamen Oral Surgery, Interact Club, Yadkin Valley Riders Club, Boy Scouts of America, Yadkin Valley Rotary, VFW, Prism Medical Products, Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital, Yadkin River Adventures, NC DOT, TAMPCO (Ken & Patricia Nicks), Jim Harrell Sr. in two fundraisers, Charles and Betty Fletcher and Kevin Campbell for plants, Jimmy Chappell, Tammy and David Sawyer, Jim and Cynthia Douthit, Johnny Hall, Derrill and Lori Rice and also over 70 businesses helping with the Duck & Turtle Regatta, Kate Dixon and others at Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail, Emily Herbert at NC Rail Trails, Inc., Yadkin Valley General Store.
33.  Many thanks to those who make this all possible...landowners like A Classen, Marion and Charlie Classen, Jack Partin, Don Alexander and others.
34.  Also special thanks to the Governing Group of the EVTA, Committee Chairs and volunteers who have given and coordinated over 4,000 hours of volunteer labor this year in support of our adventures.

EVTA Governing Group past and present includes:  Bob Hillyer, Joe Hicks, Joe Mickey, Denise Lyon, Bob Larson, Robert Ball, Rob Libbert, Will Gwyn, Terry Kryska, Mark Fowlkes, Cynthia Beane, Richard Moore, Stuart Taylor, Randall Ray, Susan Rose, Bill Blackburn, Bill Blackley  and major committee members Ron Storey, Brian Ratledge, Nancy Goodwin, Pamela Bauman, Rob Arnold, Randy Tulbert, Randy Mayes, Johnie Hopkins, Martin Weibel, Martha Smith

Major new plans for this year include completing more Mountains to Sea Trail on the ground, completing the mountain bike/run/hike trail, installing the 178-foot bridge over Elkin Creek in the city limits, a motorized "Trail Tour" opportunity run by the VFW for citizens who are unable to walk the trail and more.

Our successes are driven by our imagination. Join us in 2016!


Please Consider a Year End Donation
Our Friends Make
Everything Possible.

Become a Friend of Elkin Valley Trails and help support ongoing trail development and trails oriented programs. If you like what we're doing, help make sure we are able to continue either by your recurring donation, a one-time donation or by volunteering your time and energy.
Friends of Elkin Valley Trails...
  • will have the satisfaction of supporting the EVTA mission and the building of a segment of the NC Mountains to Sea Trail
  • will receive regular email newsletters
  • invitations to all EVTA events, fundraisers and community meetings
  • Friends of EVT merchandise to purchase and wear proudly!
  • an invitation to an annual picnic & celebration
  • tax deductible donation (EVTA is a non-profit affiliate of NC Rail Trails Inc.)
  • a nifty Friends sticker for your car, shop window, guitar case, laptop, forehead
Please visit our EVTA website to make your one-time or sustaining donation.



EVTA is featured in UNC-TV video...
Building the Mountains to Sea Trail.







Ross's Goose - Photo by Brian Ratledge
Birder's Corner.
by Ron Storey

End of Year Birding
Activity Report
(As of December 26, 2015)
 
There has been good birding on Elkin's trails all year long including some exciting waterfowl reports this December!  On December 13, Brian Ratledge made the first report on the trail of a Ross's Goose (notable for western NC) and the first report of Hooded Merganser (6). The Ross's Goose was on the pond visible from Crater Park, and the Mergansers were on the Elkin reservoir.  I surmise that Brian's report drew Derek Hudgins to Crater Park on December 14.  He birded the trails for three hours; covered 1.5 miles and reported 43 species including the Ross's Goose and three Ring-necked Ducks (another first for the trail).  On December 16, Joe Mickey went out specifically to see the Ross's Goose, but instead saw three Buffleheads- the first Buffleheads ever reported in Surry County! This sequence of events serves to demonstrate the benefit of having a variety of people birding a common area and reporting to eBird.  
 
By number of species reported, the E & A Rail Trail eBird Hotspot has the hottest birding in Surry County. Looking at state-wide numbers of reported species for all years, Surry County is #77 (out of 100 counties). However, for 2015 the County is #48 - a good indicator of increased  birding activity in the county during 2015.  The following stats confirm increased activity on Elkin trails:
 
- Total species reported during 2015 = 122
- Total species reported for all years = 127
- Species first reported in 2015 = 38
 
Of the total 122 species reported in 2015, 31.15% are first time reports.  There is an impressive 42.7% increase in the number of species reported during 2015 over the total number of species reported in all past years.
 
2015 E&A Rail-Trail Top eBirders:
 
Brian Ratledge, 110 species 
Yours truly, 107 species
Derek Hudgins, 43 species 
Joe Mickey, 38 species 
Bill Blackley, 36 species
Ron Morris, 31 species 
Eric Harold, 24 species
 
With the start of 2016, the Top eBirders category is wide open so dig out your binocs; start reporting to eBird; and throw your best birding hat into this friendly, bragging rights competition. If you need some help setting up an eBird account and/or want to learn more about identifying birds, email the E&A Rail Trail's 2015 Top eBirder, Brian Ratledge at [email protected] to arrange a birding tour of the trail. Bring your own binocs - or check them out from the Elkin Public Library. For information about checking out binocs, call (336) 835-5535
 
Elkin Trails' Birding Map
 
If you know folks coming from out of town who might be interested in birding Elkin, there is now a birding map posted on the EVTA website.  Here is the link to the map:
 
 
HeadsUp...
 
If you are using the BirdsEye app for birding on your smart phone or tablet and have the "Elkin and Allegheny Rail-Trail" bookmarked in "Favorite Locations," you may need to reset your bookmark.  You will need to reset your bookmark if when you use it, there are "No Results" on the 'Elkin and Allegheny Rail-Trail" checklist page.
 
To reset your "Favorite Locations" bookmark for the E&A Rail-Trail: 
  1. Go to "Browse by Location" on the main menu.  On the "Browse by Location" map there is a red pin approximately where Oakland Dr. intersects W. Spring St.  
  2. Select that pin to access a link to the new "Elkin and Allegheny Rail-Trail' page.  
  3. Select the "Elkin and Allegheny Rail-Trail" text at the bottom left of the page to access the species checklist page.
  4. To set a new bookmark click on the star icon at the top of the page.
 
The bookmarks post in the order that they are set with the first one set at the top of the page. The new bookmark will be at the bottom of your favorites list. To delete the old bookmark:
  1. Go to "Favorite Locations" on the main menu
  2. Select "Edit" at the top right of the page
  3. Delete the "Elkin and Allegheny Rail-Trail" listing that is closest to the top of the page by selecting the red minus icon to the left of the listing.
 
If you prefer, delete the old bookmark before adding the new bookmark.
 
Happy trails and good birding,
Ron Storey


2nd place - People on the Trail category - photo by Joe Mickey, EVTA
Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail Photo Contest





MST markers on Main Street, Elkin
HAPPY NEW YEAR!