On this Year of the Trail NC Trail Days Festival Weekend, you can ride a challenging 12-mile mountain bike network, paddle the Deep River State Trail and hike a diverse local park and one of the region's first land conservancies, among other activities. You’ll find events for those just getting their outdoor wings and folks looking for new places to explore. This NC Trail Days Festival event will be held in conjunction with Sanford's annual Strawberry Jammin' festival, which starts at 8:30 at the downtown Farmer's Market and rolls throughout the day with vendors, food, dedication of the Piedmont Blues Mural and music until 10 p.m. Learn more about each activity at this Trail Days event.

If you’ve never attended the annual NC Trail Days in Elkin, NC, the Year of the Trail is a great year to start! Nestled between Stone Mountain State Park and Pilot Mountain State Park, Elkin is the perfect place to bring your bikes, boats and boots to explore the many area trails. Spend the weekend in Elkin and enjoy guided and self-guided hikes, Yadkin River excursions, outdoor exhibitors, live music, art and more! From the Mountains-To-Sea Trail, Overmountain Victory Trail, and Yadkin River State Paddle Trail to the Yadkin Valley Wine Trail, Downtown Elkin Mural Trail or even the Surry County Sonker Trail… there is a trail for everyone! Plan your weekend and get all the details now!

This Year of the Trail NC Trail Days event offers the opportunity to explore a part of our state that can truly be called a “hidden gem.” Start your weekend in Elizabeth City at the First Friday Art Walk, then prepare to hit the trails in the breathtaking surroundings of Dismal Swamp State Park, Merchants Millpond State Park, and the blackwater creeks and rivers of the Albemarle Sound near Elizabeth City. Learn more about each activity at this Trail Days event. 

This Year of the Trail NC Trail Days event will be held in conjunction with the Old Fort Trails & Trains Festival featuring a multitude of activities showcasing this Blue Ridge Mountain area. Groups such as the G5 Trail Collective, Friends of the Fonta Flora Trail, and the McDowell Trails Association will host hiking, biking and various other trail-related events. This is a great opportunity to spend a day celebrating the Year of the Trail and National Trails Day! Check back here for full details of the day’s events when they become available.

This Year of the Trail NC Trail Days event features the great paddling experiences available in the Albemarle Sound region. On this three-day celebration of paddling we will take you on out on a mill pond (Bennett's), on evening paddles on Pembroke and Queen Anne's creeks, on the Roanoke River State Trail and the new Salmon Creek State Natural Area -- in Big Canoes. You can also see the newest park in Bertie County, where you can paddle, hike, and swim. While you’re in town, save some time to enjoy the Sounds of Summer celebration at Colonial Park on Edenton's waterfront, which features vendors, food and live music. Learn more about each activity at this Trail Days event.

This Year of the Trail NC Trail Days event will take adventurers through dreamy portions of the mountains of northwestern North Carolina with a weekend of hiking at Elk Knob State Park, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Pond Mountain, Bluff Mountain, and Three Top Mountain. The event will also include paddling on the New River State Trail, plus mountain biking activities. Check back here for full details of the events when they become available.

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Celebrate North Carolina’s Year of the Trail and Pick Your Own PATH at Hammocks Beach State Park! Canoes, Kayaks, Stand-Up Paddleboards…how will you explore? Interested in learning more about paddling or curious about what it entails? Accompany a ranger on guided paddles on the Bear Island loop paddle trail (various distances and difficulty levels provided) or hop inside one of NC State Parks Big Canoes and paddle as a team through the Queens Creek marshes surrounding the park. Area paddling organizations and NC DNCR partners (including the DNCR PATH Airstream!) will be in attendance to provide resources throughout the weekend. Hammocks Beach State Park will provide environmental education activities throughout the weekend as well. 

Guided Paddles (Weather dependent)
Sunday
Kayaks: 9:30am, 10:30am, 1:30pm (10 people each)
Big Canoes: 11am, 2pm (14 people each)

Monday
Kayaks: 9:30am, 1:30pm (10 people each)
Stand Up Paddleboard: 10:30am (10 people each)
Big Canoes: 11am, 2pm (14 people each)

Sign-ups for guided paddle trips will be first come, first serve starting at 9am each day. There is a limit of 10 people per guided paddle and 14 people per Big Canoe trip. Sign ups will be at the DNCR Airstream near the Visitor Center at Hammocks Beach State Park.

Can't make one of the guided paddles? Kayak, canoe, and Stand Up Paddle Board Rentals are available onsite through Paddle NC. Visit https://paddlenc.com/ for more information.

There will be kayaks to use available/rent, but participants are also encouraged to bring their own. The US Coast Guard Auxiliary will be onsite to perform free safety checks for those bringing their own boats. There will also be displays of the different kinds of kayaks and canoes that can be used throughout NC. 

Attending Community Groups:

US Coast Guard Auxiliary
Twin River Paddle Club
White Oak River Keepers
Onslow County Tourism
NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
Black Folks Camp Too
NC State Parks 
NC African American Heritage Commission

Celebrate North Carolina’s Year of the Trail and Pick Your Own PATH at Flutterfest at Prairie Ridge Ecostation in Raleigh! 

Join us for a family-friendly celebration of our amazing local pollinators with FlutterFest, a reimagining of our popular Gnome & Fairy Day! Dressed in your favorite pollinator costume, get ready to explore and engage with nature at the numerous activity stations set up around Prairie Ridge. From underwater pond explorations to butterfly wing decorating, bee home crafting to monarch citizen science projects, we’ll have all your favorite activities from Gnome & Fairy Day (plus a few new additions!) to help you and your family engage with nature and learn about the pollinators that call North Carolina home!

This is a free program beginning at 9am, with activities spread out among the Outdoor Classroom, Nature PlaySpace and Prairie Ridge pond. Come dressed for the weather in your best pollinator costume and be prepared to take a walk! This program is designed for families with children up to age 10, and includes walking between stations on uneven grass- and gravel-covered paths.

This event will serve as a culmination of Take a Child Outside Week, an NCMNS initiative to get kids outside and engaging with nature, and is being presented by Prairie Ridge Ecostation and the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resource’s PATH (Parks and Trails for Health) initiative.

https://naturalsciences.org/calendar/event/flutterfest/

Explore the growing trail network in the North Carolina foothills and experience the quirky fun of the Mush, Music & Mutts Festival in Shelby! Check out the brand-new Carolina Harmony Trail along a historic railway. Guided hikes, group paddle trips, live music, and all kinds of family-friendly outdoor fun. Learn more about the Trail Days activities at this exciting event!