Drexel Cub Scouts Help Bring Color and Fun to the Storybook Trail A new painted walkway is taking shape at the R.O. Huffman Center, adding another fun element to Drexel's Storybook Trail! When the Drexel Storybook Trail opened in June 2026, it gave families a new opportunity to combine reading, walking, and outdoor play. Now, thanks to the continued dedication of Drexel Cub Scout Pack 225...

Twilight Tales on the Trail Brings Legends, Lore, and Hundreds of Visitors to Valdese Lakeside Park (l-r) Storytellers and Guides: Kristy Poteat, Hollie Armstrong, Ethan Poteat, Lee Gray, Erin Turnbull, Brittany De Berry, Adrian Anderson, Dylan Webb, Andrea Skelton, Peter Skelton An evening of Appalachian storytelling, theatrical performances, and community collaboration brings the trails...

Pints for Miles: Come Talk Trails at Highlands Butchery! Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 5–9 PM | Highlands Butchery, Valdese Raise a glass. Help build the trail! Burke River Trail Association (BRTA) is teaming up with Highlands Butchery in Valdese for a special evening of community, conversation, and support for more trails in Burke County! On Thursday, November 19, from 5–9 PM,...

Glen Alpine Outdoor Collaborative: Connecting People Who Love the Outdoors Join us Monday, December 7, at 5:30 PM for our first gathering! At the Alpine Village in Glen Alpine. Glen Alpine is surrounded by incredible outdoor recreation opportunities — from Lake James and the Catawba River to Linville Gorge and the many trails, waterways, and natural areas throughout our...

Inspiring the Next Generation of Trail Explorers! 50 kids took home a little extra inspiration from Great Trails State Day at Valdese Lakeside Park! Thanks to the Burke River Trail Association, these young explorers received binoculars, magnifying glasses, trail activity workbooks, scavenger hunt sheets, and bike safety books to encourage them to get outside, explore nature, and learn...

18 Volunteers • 72 Volunteer Hours • 180 Pounds of Bagged Trash • 6 Tires Removed On October 3, the Burke River Trail Association's Litter Gitters joined the Catawba Riverkeeper's Riversweep effort for a day of community service along the Catawba River and at Valdese Lakeside Park. Working alongside Friends of the Valdese Rec, 18 volunteers contributed 72 hours of service,...

BRTA Awards $3,500 for Seven Community Projects Sometimes a relatively small investment — placed in the hands of people who care deeply about their community — can make a very visible difference. Burke River Trail Association is awarding seven $500 Keeping It Beautiful Community Beautification Mini-Grants, investing a total of $3,500 in projects across five Burke County trail...

BRTA was proud to recognize Dan Hoyle with our Heron Award, which reads: “Your impact reaches farther than you know.” Dan has been at the center of A Community of Hands public art project from the very beginning — bringing the vision, the persistence, and the determination to make this project something truly special for Drexel. We have a feeling the impact of A Community of...

Upcoming Events Saturday, Nov 7 - 1:00pm – Litter Gitters with NCSSM Students - Meet at Goodwin Hall at NCSSM Vests, gloves, grabbers, bags provided. 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...

Thirty residents, business owners, community leaders and partners came together August 31 for the Town of Glen Alpine’s Public Visioning Session, the third meeting in the development of the Town’s 5-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan. The two-hour session was facilitated by Phil Boggan with the NC Commerce Rural Planning Program. Participants worked at tables to identify Glen...

Are you serious? You can live, own a business, or invest inside an incorporated Burke County town and still have another town’s name in your mailing address. Even a Town Hall can have another town listed in its address. For a small town, this is an identity issue. An address does more than tell someone where to deliver a package. It tells customers where a business is located. It...