Trail Work Continues At Elk Knob Elk Knob State Natural Area superintendent Larry Trivette strolls through the 1,800-acre park located off of Meat Camp Road north of Boone in a photo taken in July 2005. Photo by Scott Nicholson By Scott Nicholson The Elk Knob State Natural Area, one of the newest additions to the state park system, is getting warmed up for summer as work continues on the development of trails through the mountain that bridges Watauga and Ashe counties. The 1,800-acre park was authorized as an addition to the state parks system in 2003 after being donated by The Nature Conservancy. The natural area’s main entrance is on Meat Camp Road, though right now there’s little more than a rough logging road to provide access to the park. Larry Trivette, park superintendent, said some trails and a few other amenities will be developed, but the emphasis will remain on “natural.” “Right now, we’re getting an archeological study done to clear the path for the interim development plan,” Trivette said. The study is required before work can begin on building a trail to the top of the knob, which is part of an amphibolite mountain chain that runs just inside the Tennessee and Virginia borders. After the trail is finished, there will be some road upgrades, the addition of parking lots at the trail heads, and about a dozen picnic sites. Eventually a park office will be built along with an interim maintenance station, and Trivette hopes a picnic shelter will be constructed, though he said money will probably run out by that point. “We hope to start (the trail) in the next month or so,” he said. “We have limited staff to do the initial groundwork, and the DOT (N.C. Department of Transportation) will work on the roads. We’ll eventually be open to volunteers interested in trail construction.” Seeking Input Another important part of the interim development plan was the appointment of a park advisory committee, made of names familiar for their work in conservation and recreation. The committee members, appointed by N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation director Lewis Ledford, are: Curtis Smalling, mountain area biologist with Audubon North Carolina; Tommy Walsh, a local conservation activist; Jay Wild, retired superintendent of New River State Park; Pat Beaver, professor of Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University; Stephen Poulus, director of Watauga County Parks and Recreation Department; Lisa Baldwin, a Watauga County teacher and business owner; and Chuck Smith, director of the Goodnight Family Sustainable Development Program. Trivette said the advisory committee would play an important role in linking the Elk Knob area with the local community. The committee will also help oversee the development of facilities and the continuing land acquisition efforts in Watauga and Ashe counties. Conservation groups and the state are hoping to secure or purchase more of the mountaintops in the chain and eventually connect miles of walking trails. About 1,100 acres of the land was gained through a purchase agreement with business owner Sterling Carroll of Deep Gap in 2002, and other pieces were added over the years through a combination of conservation purchases and state funds. Hiker’s Delight Elk Knob soars 5,500 feet and overlooks Long Hope Valley, containing many important headwaters of the New River. The summit supports a species of stunted dwarf beech trees, a treat for hikers who can brave the trek to the mountaintop on the logging road. The trail will eventually be planned with a series of switchbacks to lessen the grade of the hike. The Nature Conservancy has been able to secure about 6,600 acres in the 12 mountains comprising the amphibolite chain. Elk Knob is home to ravens, black bears and bobcats, and is a seasonal stopover for a number of migrating songbirds. Trivette said it’s unlikely that camping sites will ever be added to the park, since it’s primarily a natural area. The public is welcome to visit the park during operating hours, which are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. During June, July and August, evening hours will expand to 9 p.m. Trivette anticipates holding some Saturday volunteer gatherings this summer to continue work on the main trail. Those interested in volunteering can call the Elk Knob office at 297-7261 and leave a name and phone number.