Wilkes County IS a recreational Mecca, attracting thousands of eco-tourists each year. The Kerr-Scott reservoir is a favorite of fishermen and boating enthusiasts of all ages.

Nearby Black Mountain has been rated as one of the Southeast’s most challenging single-track mountain bike trails. Each year the mountain is home to the “Bust and Burn” 24-hour endurance race.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, known as “America’s most scenic drive,” borders Wilkes County on three sides, and offers several spectacular scenic overlooks and access to the over 300 miles of tranquil hiking trails which weave throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains. A unique cooperative effort among citizens, corporate sponsors, Wilkes County and the towns of Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro, the Yadkin Valley Greenway if is a paved walking/running/biking path that weaves along the banks of the peaceful Yadkin River.

Stone Maintain State Park is home to a massive granite dome and some of the best camping, hiking, and trout fishing in North Carolina.

Wilkes County has also invested heavily into organized recreational programs. Partnering with each of its towns, Wilkes County offers one of the finest programs in Western North Carolina, if not the entire state. Soccer, T-Ball, and flag football are among some of the seasonal favorites, drawing hundreds of participants and parents out on weeknights and Saturday mornings to Lowe’s River’s Edge Park.

In addition, the Wilkes County YMCA has benefited from the generosity of many corporate patrons, and is a highly-rated facility, offering swimming instruction and competition, organized youth and adult basketball and racquetball leagues, and a state-of-the-art fitness center offering both personal trainers and computer-assisted exercise equipment.

Links

W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir

Stone Mountain State Park

The Blue Ridge Parkway

Brushy Mountain Cycle Club

Dark Mountain Trail

Wilkes County Parks and Recreation Department

YMCA of Northwestern North Carolina