Established in 1909, Boone’s Cave Park holds so much history that you will want to come and spend a day here reading about it, strolling through all the sites that were once the Boone Family stomping grounds.
Once you enter the park, continue driving down the road until you reach the large parking lot. Clean and heated in the winter bathrooms are located right by it along with several picnic tables. Make sure to pop into the visitor center for a brochure before heading on the trail so you know what to look for and which path to choose depending on what you are interested in seeing.
We chose to take the stairs leading to the cave located right next to the parking lot as a start since it seemed to be one of the main points of interest here. History says that back in 1751 upon entering the region the Boone Family spent their first winter huddled in the cave along with their then 15 year old Daniel, their other nine children and other family members and neighbors who all left Pennsylvania together mostly likely to escape Native Americans.
The cave is nothing more than a small hole in the boulder but to our littles it was a pretty cool spot. Looking at it from the outside and seeing them explore inside it was hard to imagine anyone living in there let along a large family but rumors had it Squire and Sarah Jarman Morgan made it happen before going ahead and building homes near the cave, located next to the Yadkin River.
Once done exploring the cave we took the trail to the right following the river for a while. It is a very narrow path and hard to navigate if other people are walking across from you but doable if you have good shoes and take your time. The Cave and Wildflower Trail goes for about 0.7 miles and is considered easy.
We chose to continue on the Wetland Trail but you can go back to the parking lot at any time. The trail goes for about 0.9 miles connecting with Morel Loop waving under tall trees, crossing the road at some point and going over little bridges pass a wide variety of flora and fauna.
Despite the warnings of the Boone Peak Trail we decided to proceed and go on it and our kids did absolutely spectacular. The trail goes for about two miles with gradual incline at times feeling as if you are walking on the side of a mountain following a super narrow path before reaching some wetlands but it’s nothing too hard at all. In fact felt quite liberating walk the hills covered by a famous explorer and giving detail of his life to the littles who were thoroughly fascinated by his adventures.
The wooden platform over the bog was one of the highlights of the trail for our kids and they loved running back and forth on it tagging each other and giggling. Make sure you bring bug spray. We visited the Park after rain and the mosquitos were pretty bad. Even though wet the trails are so well maintained and the surroundings so beautiful and quiet that you quickly forget about the bugs.
After completing the Boone Peak Trail we looped back to the parking lot passed “Baptism Rock” and the stone steps by the cave stopping along the way and reading the markers highlighting the local plant life including a number of hardwoods such as oak, hornbeam and elm. Over 50 different flowering plants such as laurel and wild hydrangea can be found in the park.
The 110-acre county park located at 3552 Boones Cave Rd. in Lexington, NC and is open Daily from 8 A.M to 5 P. M. and from 1 P.M. to 5 P.M. on Sundays.