Glen Burney Trail

The Glen Burney Trail is located in the heart of Blowing Rock approximately .5 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway Moses Cone trails and the Mountains to Sea Trail. The trail head is located in town adjacent to the Mayview Lake and the Annie Cannon Park with easy public access. 

The trail is considered a strenuous, out and back, 3.2 mile round trip. Following New Year’s Creek, the trail can be wet and slippery and has variable surfaces. There is about a 600 foot elevation gain so if you venture down toward the falls, remember, you will have to climb back out the way you came in.

If you’re not prepared for a strenuous hike, consider taking the trail just down to The Ruins, a .4 mile walk where you can see the remnants from one of the first modern sewage treatment systems in the mountains from the 1920s.

The Glen Burney Trail has been described by locals and visitors as a “gem” in the High Country.  Three majestic waterfalls can be found along the trail adjacent to New Year’s Creek.  There is photographic evidence of the trail and the falls that dates back to 1895 but is believed the trail was built in the mid-1800s.  The 33 acres of land encompassing the trail was donated to the town in 1906 with the idea that it would be a perpetual trail for future generations to enjoy. 

Appalachian State University’s Blue Ridge Conservancy Student Club officially adopted the Glen Burney Trail and holds annual workdays to remove trash and make trail improvements. The Bistro Roca Antlers Bar, located next door to the trailhead, donated signage for the trail and the waterfalls.

In 2016, BRC received a grant from NC Park’s Recreational Trail Program to restore sections of the trail worn and eroded caused by heavy foot traffic.  Stone staircases and switchbacks were replaced and fallen logs were removed.

Download a printable map of the Glen Burney Trail here.