Guided Hike at Bean Shoals Canal Trail

Join Piedmont Land Conservancy for a spring hike led by Dr. Ken Bridle, PLC’s Conservation Advisor. This guided outing will follow the Bean Shoals Canal Trail, part of Pilot Mountain State Park, alongside the scenic Yadkin River.

From the parking area, it’s a short walk down to the river, where we’ll explore the historic, but never completed, Bean Shoals Canal and talk about its fascinating past. As we hike along the riverbank, we’ll take in views of rocky rapids and river islands that define the Bean Shoals section of the Yadkin. The route continues downriver along the Horne Creek Trail, where we’ll keep an eye out for wildlife, including bald eagles that are sometimes spotted fishing in this area. This spring hike offers a great opportunity to see early wildflowers and learn more about the plants that thrive in riverside habitats. 

The hike is approximately 1.5 miles round trip and is mostly flat, with some sandy sections, some rocky spots, a few steep stairs, and a railroad crossing. Plan for the outing to last around 2 hours at a steady pace.

This hike is open to the public and limited to 25 participants.