Mull Grant for Glen Alpine
Picnic Tables funded by Mull Foundation in use for Community Picnic
The Burke River Trail Association is proud to announce that the Mull Foundation has awarded funding to support furnishings for the new Glen Alpine Downtown Park. This $9,000 investment helps bring to life a space designed for connection and belonging — a place where residents can rest, gather, share a meal, or enjoy...
Black Diamond Inspires
Exploring trail routes is both an art and a science, and sometimes the most challenging sections end up becoming the most spectacular. Recently, we brought in trail designer Joseph Litaker of Black Diamond Trail Designs to walk a potential new alignment for the Burke River Trail below the Rhodhiss Dam. While this route will be more difficult—and more expensive—than the original concept,...
Trails and Surveys
Did you know that surveyors play a critical role in getting trails off the ground—long before a single tree is trimmed or a shovel hits the dirt?
When most people picture trail building, they think of shovels, gravel, bridges, and boardwalks. But one of the most important steps happens long before any of that begins: surveying. Before a single foot of trail is laid, surveyors help us...
Twilight Tales on the Trail
🌙✨ Twilight Tales on the Trail Draws 200 for Night of Legends and Lore ✨🌙
Old Colony Players Guild Director Sam Morgan and Storytellers: Becky Carswell, Braiden Bell, Dalton Ryder, Lee Grey, Holli Armstrong
Oh, what a night! The first-ever Twilight Tales on the Trail brought more than 200 guests to Valdese Lakeside Park on Thursday, October 30, for an evening of legends, lore,...
New Trail Opens
Pictured are Valdese Lakeside Park supporters, donors, and volunteers. Sam Fitzwater holds the big scissors, with Eric Heile to his left in the gray vest and Johnny Poteat to his right. Trail dog Lucy Heile, who attended nearly every workday, is front and center. Also pictured: Beth Heile (to Johnny’s right) and Representative Hugh Blackwell (to Eric’s left).
New Trail Opens...
Vibrant Trail Towns Take Planning
NC Commerce in Glen Alpine
NC Commerce Visits Glen Alpine and Drexel
The Burke River Trail is more than a trail — it’s a catalyst for community revitalization. As part of our ongoing work to help Burke County’s Trail Towns prepare for the economic opportunities that come with outdoor recreation, Executive Director Beth Heile invited Phil Boggan, ARC Community Economic Development...
Glen Alpine Ribbon Cutting
Glen Alpine Celebrates New Downtown Park with Ribbon Cutting, Community Picnic, and Regional Support
Sunshine, live music, and a strong showing of community spirit marked the official Ribbon Cutting and Community Picnic for the new Glen Alpine Downtown Park on Saturday, November 1. More than 50 people attended the celebration, including residents, elected officials, volunteers, and...
CFBC Grant for Glen Alpine
Community Foundation Grant Helps Create “A Place to Gather” in Glen Alpine
CFBC 2025 Grant Recipients (Photo Credit: CFBC)
The Burke River Trail Association is proud to recognize the Community Foundation of Burke County (CFBC) for its generous support of the new Glen Alpine Downtown Park through a grant titled “A Place to Gather: Creating Community in Glen Alpine.” This $10,000...
CORE
🌿 Trailblazers in the Making! 💪
What an organization. What a great help. What a day! Thirty incredible young people from Morganton CORE — Carolina Outdoor Recreation & Education — joined Burke River Trail Association (BRTA) and Friends of the Valdese Rec for two days of trail building at Valdese Lakeside Park. With shovels in hand and smiles all around, they worked hard,...
Lunch & Learn Grant
Lunch and Learn Receives Community Foundation Grant Support
October 2025 Lunch and Learn with Program from Alzheimer's Association
Friends of the Valdese Rec is proud to announce that we have received a $2,400 grant from the Community Foundation of Burke County (CFBC) to support our Lunch and Learn program — a free monthly gathering that brings together older adults in our community for...
Great Trails State Day Challenge Met
Great Trails State Day 2025 – Miles of Fun, Fitness, and Fellowship!
North Carolina’s official Great Trails State Day—celebrated each year on the third Saturday in October—was a huge success at Valdese Lakeside Park! From sunrise coffee and donuts to sunset pizza, participants hiked, biked, kayaked, ran, and walked their way to an incredible 🌟2,086 collective miles🌟 between 7:00...
New Outer Loop Section
60 Different Volunteers - 376 Hours
As part of the Valdese Lakeside Park Master Park Plan, FVR Volunteers have finished the Red Outer Loop Trail -- relocating the existing trail off unsustainable logging road, separating a section where Hollipop Mountain Bike Trail and Outer Loop overlap and stretch the trail out to the property boundary.
An excavator was rented with FVR Donor Funds for 14...
Lake Rhodhiss Trailfest
Update: Thanks to Race Directors Mark and Ray, the October 11 Lake Rhodhiss Trailfest was a great success with 35 runners completing their chosen distance, Participants came from Valdese and all the way from Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Mooresville, and Hickory. View Results
Back for its second year under the new name and date, Lake Rhodhiss Trailfest is the kickoff event for the Great State...