when Daniel Boone roamed the wide open expanse in search of game while befriending a Native American upon occasion. The Blue Ridge Mountains are about getting away from the highly urbanized, technologically advanced lifestyles that most lead on a daily basis and communing with nature. The 469 mile Blue Ridge Parkway forms a back bone for those in search of a personal relationship with the mountains. For those that end up falling in love with the aesthetic beauty of this region, the process begins to find the perfectly rustic get-a-way. A Blue Ridge Log Cabin, or cabin in the Blue Ridge mountains, is the perfect retreat most are looking for. The rustic natural features of a log cabin blend perfectly with the mountain back drop.
The question soon becomes, where do we find what we are looking for. I have travelled the Parkway top to bottom multiple times and been a long time resident of the NC mountains and will be the first to tell you that the perfect Blue Ridge Log Cabin is not as easy to come by as most would think. The mountain region consists of 3 main corridors in my opinion: 1) Highlands/Cashiers 2) Asheville region 3) Boone/Blowing Rock. In my opinion, areas 2) and 3) are the most accessible. In my opinion, area 1) is still overpriced. For those that have to have Asheville and the amenities associated with Asheville, then you should go to the Asheville area. For me, the Boone and Blowing Rock area defines the Blue Ridge Mountains. Here you will find quaint Mountain towns, parks and parkway, outdoor recreation and some of the best log cabin communities in Appalacia. 
The Trails to Trails Incredible Challenge starts this Sunday, March 8. It is an annual walking/biking event sponsored by Caldwell County Pathways and Healthy Caldwellians, and is held anually from the beginning to the end of Daylight Savings Time. The program offers a variety of walking and cycling programs to encourage regualr walking and physical activity as a means of better health, and to make community residents and visitors aware of the many trails and parks available throughout Caldwell County.
With the weather warming up Friday and Saturday, why not start early and get moving? It's fun, cheap, and a great way to boost your spirits and exercise your body. Wherever you live, there's sure to be a trail, park, greenway, or natural area where you can get out and enjoy some open space and fresh air, and "move" into spring.
If you are in Caldwell County, please check out one of the 30+ trails and natural areas near by. Some of my favorites are the more rugged trails in the Wilson Creek are of the Pisgah National Forest & the walking trails at Tuttle Educational State Forest.
For flatter, paved, trails in the area, you might prefer T.H. Broyhill Walking Park, near the Lenoir Golf Course, the Lenoir Greenway [Click here for a PDF map of the Lenoir Greenway], or one of the other designated walking areas listed on the chart and map below:
| Map No. |
Walking Area |
Address |
Community | Description |
| 1 | Baton Ruritan Park | 2611 Connelly Springs Rd. | Baton |
0.33-mile lighted paved track with a playground, porta-jon and two shelters |
| 2 |
Buffalo Community Park | Buffalo Cove Rd. | Buffalo Cove |
0.1-mile lighted track with picnic tables, playground and a creek stocked with trout; no restrooms |
| 3 |
Collettsville Park | Adako Rd. | Collettsville |
0.33- and 0.67-mile lighted track with picnic tables, ball fields, playground, and restrooms |
| 4 | Davenport School Park | 901 College Ave. |
Lenoir |
0.3-mile unlighted trail for day use with picnic tables, playground and benches; no restrooms |
| 5 | Dudley Shoals School Park | 1500 Dudley School Rd. |
Granite Falls |
0.5-mile unlighted paved track with ball fields and playground; no restrooms |
| 6 | Gamewell Park | Gamewell School Rd. | Gamewell |
0.4-mile track near Gamewell Middle School with picnic tables, playground and ball fields; no restrooms |
| 7 | William B. Shuford Rec. Center | 56 Pinewood Drive | Granite Falls |
0.33-mile paved lighted track with ball fields, playground and restrooms |
| 8 | Hibriten High School Track | 550 East Blvd. | Lenoir |
0.25-mile unlighted paved track with no restrooms |
| 9 |
Hudson Uptown Building Walking Trail | Cedar Valley Rd. | Hudson |
0.1-mile unlighted trail; no restrooms |
| 10 |
J.E. Broyhill Park | 509 Ridge St. | Lenoir |
Near downtown Lenoir; a 0.5-mile lighted paved track with restrooms, playground, shelters, tables and grills |
| 11 |
Lenoir Aquatic Center Trails | 1031 Jim Barger Ct. | Lenoir |
1.6- and 3.1 mile unlighted trails |
| 12 | Lenoir Greenway | Powell Rd. |
Lenoir | Over 7 miles of a network of trails; restrooms and benches |
| 13 | Lenoir Mall | 1031 Morganton Blvd. |
Lenoir | 0.25-mile indoor track with restrooms |
| 14 | Leslie J. Hagaman Walking Park |
1350 Yadkin River Rd. |
Happy Valley |
Happy Valley School; 0.36-mile lighted paved track with porta-jon, ball fields, playground and picnic tables |
| 15 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Track |
122 Greenhaven Rd. |
Lenoir | 0.33-mile unlighted track with indoor fitness area, ball fields, playgrounds and restrooms |
| 16 | Oak Hill Community Park | 4603 Oak Hill School Rd. |
Oak Hill |
0.2-mile unlighted trail with picnic tables, playground, benches and shelter |
| 17 | Redwood Park | 450 Redwood St. |
Hudson | 1.5-, 0.5- and 0.3-mile unlighted walking and bike trails with playground and restrooms |
| 18 | Sawmills School Park | 4436 Sawmills School Rd. |
Sawmills | 0.33-mile unlighted paved track with playground; no restrooms |
| 19 | T.H. Broyhill Walking Park | 509 Golf St. |
Lenoir |
0.5-mile lighted paved track with restrooms |
| 20 | Tuttle Educational State Forest |
3420 Playmore Beach Rd. |
Gamewell | 0.2-, 0.33- and 1.75-mile trails with restrooms, picnic tables and shelters |
| 21 | Valmead Elementary School Track |
111 Elizabeth Drive | Valmead | 0.23- and 0.37-mile unlighted track with ball fields and playground; no restrooms |
| 22 | West Lenoir School Track | 125 Maple Drive |
Lenoir | 0.2-mile unlighted paved track with playground; no restrooms; for daylight use only |
Recently, 
