With the spectacular Blue Ridge foothills and Catawba Valley as our playgrounds, we have a wealth of outdoor recreation for every interest and inkling. The elevation of Caldwell County rises from 900 feet above sea level to 5,964 feet: a breathtaking 575 percent increase. It’s the greatest elevation change of any county in North Carolina.
Biking, off-roading, watersports, hiking, hunting, fishing and camping are favorite pastimes. When the temperatures drop, skiing, sledding and snow tubing are close at hand, with several resorts to choose from.
Our Western Piedmont region offers lakes, rivers and rapids. In fact, our whitewater rafting is pretty legendary. The U.S. Olympic kayaking team trains in Wilson Creek, located in the Grandfather District of the Pisgah National Forest in the northwestern section of Caldwell County. Find your adventure in the Caldwell County NC Foothills Itinerary.
The City of Lenoir Greenway offers more than 9 miles of path and trails for outdoor activities including running, walking, cycling, and mountain biking. These trails include the main greenway, the T.H. Broyhill Walking Park, and the greenway on Morganton Boulevard. The Zacks Fork Bike Trail offers nearly 3 miles of off-road trail for mountain biking.
When you visit Lenoir & the NC Foothills, you have many different types of accommodations to choose from. If you love to not just visit the outdoor recreation areas, but also immerse yourself by lodging there, you will appreciate the many campgrounds we have in the Lenoir, North Carolina area. Whether you like to pitch a tent for a rustic experience or rent a cabin or teepee, there are several options at our state parks and other campgrounds.
Stretching 330 miles through four states (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina) the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail traces the route used by patriot militia during the pivotal Kings Mountain campaign of 1780. Follow the campaign by utilizing a Commemorative Motor Route which uses existing state highways marked with the distinctive trail logo, or 87 miles of walkable pathways.
Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Tuttle boasts a wide variety of pines and hardwoods plus rolling terrain and clear streams. These features are accessible by a series of well-marked trails accented by exhibits and displays which explain the ecology of the managed forest. Tuttle is open to the public and all programs are free of charge.
The Zacks Fork Mountain Biking Trail is located in the wooded area around the Lenoir Aquatic & Fitness Center. The trail offers 3.25 miles of off-road adventure.
With plenty of lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water, we’re the ideal destination if you love watersports.
Once the Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River was designated, Caldwell County began work on the creation of a visitor/education center to promote the outstanding values of Wilson Creek. Led by the efforts of the Caldwell County commissioners, the county purchased 6.4 acres along Wilson Creek using grants from the N.C. Natural Heritage Trust and the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust in January 2001. Later that year, funds for the construction of the visitor center were received from the N.C. Department of Transportation Enhancement Funds. Construction of the visitor center began in May 2002. On October 14, 2002, the Wilson Creek Visitor Center officially opened its doors to the public.
Enjoy a unique aerial adventure that will change the way you think of flying and the sky. Free flight will enrich your life.
The Butterfly Highway is a statewide conservation restoration initiative that aims to restore native pollinator habitats to areas impacted by urbanization, land use change and agriculture across North Carolina. From backyard Pollinator Pitstops to large-scale roadside habitat restoration, the project is creating a network of native flowering plants to support butterflies, bees, birds and other pollen and nectar dependent wildlife.
It might not seem like there would be many skiing opportunities when you visit Lenoir & the NC Foothills, but we do have several resorts in the area that are ideal for skiing, sledding, snow tubing, and snowboarding.
The Pisgah National Forest is a land of mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls, and heavily forested slopes. Comprised of over 500,000 acres, the Pisgah is primarily a hardwood forest with whitewater rivers, waterfalls and hundreds of miles of trails. This national forest is home of the first tract of land purchased under the Weeks Act of 1911 which led to the creation of the national forests in the eastern United States. It is also home of the first school of forestry in the United States, now preserved at the Cradle of Forestry in America historic site, and boasts two of the first designated wilderness areas in the east. The Pisgah, Grandfather and Appalachian Ranger Districts are scattered along the eastern edge of the mountains of western North Carolina and offer visitors a variety of opportunities for outdoor recreation and enjoying the natural beauty of the mountains.
What is the MST? The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is as diverse as North Carolina. Along the trail, you may see mountain vistas, rolling Piedmont farms, picture postcard colonial towns, weathered tobacco barns, old textile villages, country churches, rushing mountain streams, coastal swamps, hardwood and pine forests, lighthouses, sand dunes, miles of seashore, and friendly people. 725 miles of the route are on trail, and connecting backroads and an optional paddle route allow hikers to trek across the state.
The mission of City of Lenoir Parks and Recreation Department is to enhance the quality of life of residents while providing innovative, enjoyable, and safe recreational opportunities for all citizens.
The Hudson Recreation & Town of Hudson want to give an opportunity to all who have worked, coached, umpired, volunteered, played Baseball, Football, and Cheered over the last 55 years and to all the future participants, a chance to have their name forever displayed at Optimist Park. Our plans are to renovate the park and use the brick sales to help with the renovations.
The Granite Falls Parks and Recreation Department strives to provide state of the art facilities, programs, and activities for our citizens. Granite Falls Recreation Department facilities include the William B. Shuford Recreation Center on Pinewood Road, Lakeside Park on Lakeside Avenue, and Neighborhood Park on Chestnut Street.
Welcome to Grandfather Mountain! Our nature park is home to amazing biodiversity and scenic beauty. From the Mile-High Swinging Bridge to wildlife habitats, hands-on exhibits and spectacular hiking, find plenty to explore.
These maps have been compiled by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission as an aid to hunters, trappers, fishermen and other users of over two million acres of North Carolina game lands. Tract boundaries as pictured in these maps may not be precise but are approximations of actual locations. Game land users should identify boundaries on the ground posted with NCWRC signs. Be sure to refer to North Carolina Hunting Regulations to identify regulations and exceptions specific to game lands.
Quality of Life – it’s what everyone wants. And in the heart of the North Carolina Foothills, nestled between Charlotte, Asheville and the Appalachian mountains, there is a region that offers it in abundance.
The clear waters around the Lenoir, North Carolina area make it a popular destination for all types of watersports, not the least of which is fishing. When you Visit Lenoir & the NC Foothills, there are several state parks, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, streams, and other locations where you can get some fishing in, not to mention bait shops and tackle shops to get the supplies you need. To give you an idea of the fishing opportunities in the area, there are 40 lakes, 3,526 rivers and streams, 455 reservoirs, and more than 400 other public locations for fishing. Just be sure to steer clear of private property!
The state forest will increase recreational access, water quality protections and wildlife habitat in northwestern North Carolina
Ride the Trail.The Brown Mountain OHV (off-highway vehicle) area, the only OHV area in the Pisgah National Forest, offers 34 miles of designated trails. Signs are located at the head of each trail section. A detailed map of the area is available for purchase.
If you agree with Robert Frost, although more in a literal sense than a pathway for personal growth, off-roading might be an outdoor recreational pursuit that you can really wrap your head around. Whether you live in the Lenoir, North Carolina area and you want to do a bit of exploring or you plan to visit Lenoir & the NC foothills for a vacation, you’ll find several areas where you can go off-roading. There are miles of trails throughout the region, including ones suitable for an ATV or off-highway vehicle (OHV).
National Geographic Adventure named Lenoir one of America’s “Next Great Adventure Towns.” Lenoir is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream located near Hickory, Morganton, Boone, Blowing Rock, the Pisgah National Forest, Wilson Creek, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Lenoir Greenway offers more than nine miles of paths and trails for running, walking, cycling and mountain biking. These trails include the main greenway, the T.H. Broyhill Walking Park and the greenway on Morganton Boulevard. The Zacks Fork Mountain Biking Trail offers over three miles of off-road adventure.
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Travel to Collettsville for the kayak put-in at Wilson Creek Gorge to enjoy heart-pumping rapids. Wilson Creek, a federally-designated “Wild and Scenic River,” is located in Pisgah National Forest, in the northwestern section of Caldwell County.
Named for the falls and giant granite boulders on Gunpowder Creek, Granite Falls has beautiful vistas for hiking.
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CaldWELL POSITIONED
Explore scenic vistas, historical sites, art, breweries, wineries, eateries and more along this world famous route.
The Blue Ridge foothills, Pisgah National Forest and Wilson Creek are our playgrounds for biking, off-roading, watersports, hiking, hunting, fishing and camping.
Explore the Caldwell County Itinerary for food, shopping, highlights, lodging and adventures! We invite locals and visitors to delight in the journey and the destination.
Life in Caldwell County can be full of adventure. Spend the day exploring parks, mountains, whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking and biking.
Whether we’re celebrating art, butterflies, blackberries, BBQ or wine, the calendar is full of Southern charm.
Caldwell County has the most extensive collection of permanent public outdoor sculptures per capita in the U.S. Our annual Sculpture Celebration is the largest in the South.
