Boone Fork Trail — Attraction in North Carolina

8-13-22

Excellent trail off the Parkway. Can be accessed directly at the Boone Fort Lot/Price Park Picnic Area. Bathrooms and picnic tables with a ton of parking at the trailhead. The trail is a loop and the trailhead has signage detailing the loop, it's length, and the choice to start either direction. Going clockwise (left) takes you through a campground first while going counterclockwise right) is closer to Hebron Falls.

The trail is a solid moderate with some elevation change. It is orange blazed with mile markers every .5 miles. It is listed as a 5-mile trail but Strava put it at about 6 if you do the small spur trail to Hebron Falls (signs for this on trail). Varied trail. Expect a TON of roots, rock scrambling, muddy spots periodically, and uneven laterally for the majority. There are a myriad of stream crossings, some with bridges, but mostly with slippery rocks. You will need good footing and shoes/boots. This is a slow moving trail because of the crossings, roots, and rock scrambling. Has some ladders/steps and also has a paved part through a campground. Again, varied and an excellent trail to get some of everything. Trail twins as the MST for a bit and splits off. It also connects to Tanawha.

Hebron Falls isn't much of a falls but more rapids. A large portion of the trail has rapids and I don't find this falls anymore special than the rapids/crossings throughout. But it's an added addition. Not a hiking pole hiker but if you are, this is an excellent trail to have them. Could be tough after heavy rain.

Price Park is a destination hiking area for me and Boone Fork is an excellent trail to get a little bit of everything with some moderate challenge and...

I really loved the variety of this trail and based on where it starts/ends, I would have never guessed. It starts out kind of low along a sandy creek so there's definitely some muddy/water-logged areas to traverse. It quickly gets rocky and a little treacherous, but it's not consistently up or down. You'll go up some rough boulders and then flatten out and then go down again. Once you get to the waterfall area though, it's spectacular! I had to resist the urge to climb up the waterfall on all of those massive boulders. Much better than just a massive waterfall if you ask me. This sort of draws the experience out with multiple smaller waterfalls. Once you start going back, there are multiple water crossings which can be a little tricky but also quite fun. You end up on top of the mountain in a field at one point and eventually hike through a campground (which looked to still be closed for the season) and back to the parking lot. I have never been this engaged on a hike before. I would highly recommend trekking poles to stabilize some of the many water crossings. Watch those ankles too. Lots of tricky rocks to climb over, but over...

Hurricane has damaged it. This trail is rigorous for a mile stretch in the middle of the loop as its not fully repaired. It was a problem for my wife. That being said, its a wonderful trail and for me, I enjoyed the "full body workout" experience of the hike. Go counterclockwise if you have large dogs as there is a 7 step ladder to deal with and going down with a big dog was not fun. Go with a dog that can go offleash for short periods too, as some spots are too difficult to maneuver while holding a dog back. Do not do the full loop with a child on your back.

Beyond that, this trail provides access to wonderful family friendly rapids and falls going counterclockwise. Most of the trail foot traffic is back and forth to that.

The campground is still closed. LOTS of trees fell there.

Restrooms exist. Its unlikely you will use them. A nice rest area is a short drive from here. They lose a...