Elkin Valley Trails Association

All 4 pilings were pounded into place; working on the forms for the concrete. Won't be long now!
















The trail continues on...

Next Bridge is Being Installed Now!

The moment we've all been waiting for...installation of the new pedestrian bridge on the E&A Rail Trail/MST has begun. Our sincere thank you to a community of volunteers, Town of Elkin, bridge engineers and construction crews and funding from a Recreational Trails Program grant for providing the missing link on our trail. Stay tuned...


Crane moving into place - Photo by Randy Mays


One happy EVTA Governing Board member!





Joe Mickey
Photo of Carter Falls by Joe Mickey.


Carter Falls...
A Local Destination Park on the MST?

Elkin Valley Trails Association would like to thank Wilkes County Commissioner, Eddie Settle, for presenting a draft memorandum of understanding at the August Wilkes County commissioner's meeting. The draft MOU creates a framework between Wilkes County and the State of North Carolina for the purchase and development of Carter Falls as a public park and a pathway for the Mountains to Sea trail. This first step is an effort to bring together landowners, state and local governments as well as private and non-profit organizations to save and protect this wonderful natural resource we have in our area.
 
Five years ago, Elkin Valley Trails Association began an effort to extend the Mountains to Sea Trail from Stone Mountain State Park through Elkin to Pilot Mountain State Park. One of the highlights has always been Carter Falls. The sixty foot high natural falls is located in eastern Wilkes County on the Big Elkin Creek. In the early 1900's, Duke Power constructed a small dam at the top of the falls to produce electrical power. It has since been in private hands.
 
Elkin Valley Trails Association invites ideas and comments on how best to preserve and protect this natural marvel.  For continuing information, please visit elkinvalleytrails.org or visit Elkin Valley Trails on Facebook.

Thank you for this support for the Carter Falls project and for the MST in Wilkes County...
Wilkes Journal-Patriot editorial.

Tribune article: State Park Designation Sought 


Randy Mays
Photo of Carter Falls from up top by Jason Taylor.



Blue Ridge Trail Works doing the steep stuff.















Elkin Creek Mountain Bike Trail...

It's Getting Serious Now!

After years of planning and countless hours of volunteer trail work - many hours in brutal summer heat this year - the mountain bike trail is nearing completion. EVTA Governing Board member, Rob Libbert, has led a small and dedicated crew throughout this year in creating a highlight of the EVTA trail network.

Most of the trail has been completed on town and private land just off the main E&A Rail Trail at Elkin Municipal Park. The steepest and most challenging section is now being completed by Blue Ridge Trail Works. The mountain bike trail entrance will hug a steep bluff near the first bridge on the E&A Rail Trail and will be the last section to be finished. This entrance will require some engineering work and heavy construction equipment and is made possible by a generous donation by the Elkin Jaycees.

Stay tuned for a grand opening in the near future!

Mountain bike/hike/run - a varied and interesting in-town trail for everyone.



Thank you, Rob Libbert, for leading this project and for your countless hours spent!
Special thanks to Don Pickett for donating some serious volunteer hours.



Thank you, volunteers, for your work on Dirty Thursdays!



Can you see the old brick bridge in the picture?



bicycle-silhouette-header.jpg
DIRTY THURSDAYS...
Help Us Build the Elkin Creek Mountain Bike Trail!


Every Thursday evening - until further notice - join us for workdays on the mountain bike trail.

Meet at 5:30 pm at the Hwy 268 Bypass entrance to the mountain bike trail. This is just past Shiki (going west) where the highway divides with a grass median. The entrance is a dirt road on the left.

To make sure you have directions and to let him know to expect you or your group, please contact EVTA Mountain Bike coordinator, Rob Libbert.


Before...wind damage on the
Grassy Creek Trail
Join our Trail Maintainers!
Keeping the Trails in Shape.

EVTA is not just about building trails. We also maintain them. Thanks to Jason Taylor and Tommy Gifford for clearing a section of trail after a recent wind storm!

As EVTA builds miles of trails, we need more volunteers to keep them maintained. Please consider donating some time occasionally to help us clear debris, build water bars, pick up trash, cut back forest creep and a ton of other necessary trail maintenance. You can spend as much or as little time as you would like as a maintainer. This is a great opportunity for an individual, a group or a business that is interested in community service.

Please contact our Trail Maintainers Coordinator,
Jason Taylor for more information and to volunteer.


Thank you, Tommy Gifford...your efforts make it nice for all of us.


Damage noted by hiker and reported via the EVTA website...thank you Cynthia Beane!













Be our eyes and ears on the trails...

New Trail Reporting Website Link

EVTA now has a "trail incident" reporting system up and running. On Sunday, some hikers noticed two large trees down across the trail near Martin Byrd Road. They went to the EVTA web site, hit the "trails" icon and then "report an issue".  Easy, simple, and fast!  The information was immediately sent to our Trail Maintainer, Jason Taylor, who arranged a group of volunteers to resolve the problem. Help us when you see a trail issue...report it!

Report a Trail Issue 


Rapid Response Trail Maintenance by Jason Taylor -
just in time for that hiker coming down the trail!



Jason Taylor, EVTA Trail Maintenance Coordinator


Here they go - what a beautiful sight!














Buy your winner at the Elkin Farmer's Market...

Duck & Turtle Regatta is September 24

Join us once again when normally quiet and calm ducks and turtles find their inner Olympian and race to claim the title of fastest on earth at the annual EVTA Duck and Turtle Regatta.

This EVTA fundraiser is a highlight of the Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival and will take place around 5pm at the close of the festival. Spectators gather at the Library Dam to cheer on their favorite critters.

You can still buy a chance on a winner on Saturday mornings from 9-noon at the Elkin Farmer's Market. Lots of awesome prizes for the top finishers have been donated by local businesses.


The "DuckyTurtle" could not be done without coordinator JoeBeaver!!!



Getting ready for the race - serious business!



Boy Scouts and volunteers rounding up the winners!




















Are You Training for Insane Terrain? 5k is Oct 22

One of EVTA's coolest fundraisers is the annual Insane Terrain 5k trail race. Please consider joining us on October 22 as either a runner, walker or spectator. Check out the really awesome new t-shirt!

The 5k will be starting & finishing at the Elkin Recreation Center, with a creek crossing here and there. The funds raised will go towards the completion and continual improvement of the over 20 mile trail from Elkin Municipal Park to Stone Mountain State Park.

Register Here!

Find details at  EVTA Insane Terrain on Facebook.

Insane Terrain 5k Trail Race 2015.


 MST thru hikers spent a few days in Elkin during July. They finished  the trail at Jockey's Ridge just recently.
MST thru hikers...
Elkin Enjoys Hosting A Most Interesting Group!
 One of the most interesting things about being a trail town on the Mountains to Sea Trail is meeting the folks who are walking 1,100 miles across the state and finding out what makes them do such a thing. EVTA Trail Angels are making sure hikers find a place to stay, get a hot shower and a hot meal, get medical attention, pick up a care package at the post office, find the library and a computer and just feel welcome when they pass through town. All of our Trail Angels agree that the reward is getting to know and help some very interesting and nice people who are following a dream.

If you would like to know more about becoming a
Trail Angel, please contact Cynthia Beane


Thank you Hassell Watson and Watson's Metal...

The Shoe Factory dam gate hole has been plugged and water again flows over dam. Work, materials and labor done by Watson's Metals. This volunteer spirit is what makes our community great!


Hot enough for you? Stay cool, friends.