Public Invited for Oct. 22 Dedication of Boone Fork Bridge on Mountains-to-Sea Trail

This family was the first to cross the bridge on Sunday after engineer Adam Felmlee and MST volunteer Drew Koehler removed the red tape and permitted public access to great new views from above the creek. Photo by Drew Koehler
This family was the first to cross the bridge on Sunday after engineer Adam Felmlee and MST volunteer Drew Koehler removed the red tape and permitted public access to great new views from above the creek. Photo by Drew Koehler

North Carolina and federal officials will join with the public Saturday, Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. to dedicate the opening of the Boone Fork Bridge on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in Watauga County.

The 80-foot bridge allows hikers to avoid wading across the knee-deep Boone Fork Creek as the MST turns north from the popular Boone Fork Trail in Julian Price Memorial Park. The bridge will also improve access to Price Park’s backcountry campsite, one of only three backpack camping areas permitted along the entire Blue Ridge Parkway.

The $250,000 bridge was paid for with funds from the federal Recreational Trails Program, administered by the NC Division of State Parks, and a John Wesley and Anna Hodgin Hanes Foundation grant to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. The Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail managed the project.

The ceremony will start at the Price Park Picnic Area at Milepost 297 on the Blue Ridge Parkway with remarks from representatives of the Friends of the MST; North Carolina Trails Program; Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and National Park Service.

Following remarks there will be a 1.2 mile (2.4 round trip) moderate hike through beautiful forests to a ribbon cutting at the bridge. Light refreshments will be provided at the picnic area.

See more pics and read more about this project here.