Glen Alpine Planning for Future
NC Commerce Visits Glen Alpine: Planning for Downtown Opportunity
The Burke River Trail Association believes trails are more than recreational amenities—they are catalysts for community vitality. As Glen Alpine continues to build momentum around its Downtown Park and town-center investments, BRTA worked with town leadership to explore what planning tools and resources are available to...
Let the Meadow Grow
Letting The Meadow Grow: A New Natural Area at Valdese Lakeside Park
At Valdese Lakeside Park, one mile into the park along the Outer Loop, there’s a wide open grassy area we call The Meadow. For years, this space was regularly mowed—but as our trail system has evolved, so has our thinking.
Thanks to a recent trail reroute that moves visitors into the woods, The Meadow no longer...
BRTA 2025 Annual Report
We are pleased to present our 2025 Annual Report. If you are a BRTA member, the printed report will be coming to your mailbox soon. You can also request a printed report – just send an email to burketrails@gmail.com
BRTA Annual Report 2025 web versionDownload
Why a GTSC Member?
The Burke River Trail Association (BRTA) is proud to renew our Gold Membership in the Great Trails State Coalition—a statewide partnership that is shaping the future of trails in North Carolina.
We are members because the Coalition speaks with one unified voice for what matters most to trail communities:
A shared vision to promote North Carolina as The Great Trails State
Recurring...
Trail Town Trash
Caring for Place. One Bag at a Time.
Trail Town Trash is Burke River Trail Association’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship across the Burke River Trail corridor.
BRTA first became involved in roadside cleanups during the March 2024 Burke County Chamber Litter Sweep, organizing trash pickups in all nine Trail Towns along the trail route. Over eight days, 51...
Day of Service with NCSSM
Service with a Purpose: NCSSM Students Turn Cleanup into Advocacy on MLK Day
When Burke River Trail Association was invited to partner with the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics for a Day of Service, the choice of project was intentional.
Rather than a generic cleanup, BRTA designed a service experience rooted in students’ daily reality: the route they walk from campus...
Trails and Trains
Why this moment matters for WNC
For the last three years, BRTA has said what many of us already believed: our Trail Towns could also be Rail Towns. Now, Western North Carolina is closer than it has been in 50 years.
Pictured: Beth Heile, Founder of BRTA and Mimi Phifer, Founder of Waiting for the Train
NCDOT has released its Draft Comprehensive State Rail Plan, and for the first time,...
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...