Burke County’s great outdoors offer endless opportunities to explore, connect, and recharge. Whether you're hiking a mountain trail, paddling a scenic waterway, enjoying an accessible outdoor experience, or learning how to recreate responsibly, we invite you to discover all the ways to get outside and enjoy our natural spaces while helping protect them for generations to come.
Join the Movement
Outdoor NC is a movement that is committed to promoting stewardship throughout North Carolina, inspiring everyone to not only experience the outdoors, but embrace and protect it as well. It provides a wide variety of resources that educate outdoor adventurers on how they can recreate responsibly, respectfully, and safely. As an Outdoor NC Alliance partner, we actively encourage everyone to join our collective movement to protect our beloved, shared outdoor spaces.
By making small, mindful choices while exploring North Carolina’s natural areas, we can help preserve these places for future generations to enjoy. Together, we can foster a culture of responsible recreation that supports both our communities and the environment.
We invite you to join the Outdoor NC movement by signing the petition HERE.
Accessibility for All
Burke County, NC welcomes visitors of all abilities to explore and enjoy everything our destination has to offer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment across our attractions, outdoor recreation areas, experiences, and visitor services.
Nestled in the foothills of North Carolina, Burke County is home to scenic parks, trails, waterways, historic sites, and a wide variety of outdoor adventures. Many of these locations offer partial or full accessibility features designed to help more people experience the beauty and heritage of our region.
To assist both visitors and residents in planning their adventures, Burke County Tourism is dedicated to working with local partners to identify and share accessibility information for recreation facilities and natural attractions throughout the county. Our goal is to provide clear, up-to-date details about accessible amenities and experiences so everyone can explore with confidence.
Learn more about accessibility in Burke County by visiting our Accessibility page.
Be one with nature!
Whether you're teeing off on a golf course or navigating a disc golf fairway, Burke County offers opportunities for players of all experience levels to enjoy the game. Beyond the courses, you'll find a variety of parks, trails, rivers, and outdoor spaces that invite exploration and adventure.
From peaceful nature walks and scenic hikes to mountain biking and paddling excursions, Burke County's diverse landscapes provide something for every outdoor enthusiast. Throughout the county, visitors can discover both recreational and interpretive trails that showcase the area's natural beauty, history, and culture.
If you like to give back to where you recreate, check out our events calendars or connect with Foothills Conservancy, Friends Valdese Rec, Friends of Mountains to Sea Trail or one of our other many volunteer groups to plan your trip around a volunteer work day or trail build so you can truly be one with nature.
As you enjoy the great outdoors, we encourage everyone to practice the principles of Leave No Trace to help protect and preserve Burke County's natural resources for future generations.
