Boone's Cave Park

 September 19, 2020

Another weekend, another new park! We had temperatures in the 60s today and it felt so good to get outside. I had Boone's Cave Park on my radar so we headed up I-85 past Salisbury and after about an hour we were at the park. This one is interesting because the cave featured is rumored to have been where Daniel Boone and his parents and siblings lived until they built a home on the property in 1751. They were Quakers in Pennsylvania before moving to North Carolina, but once here they had ongoing feuds with Native Americans. Eventually Daniel Boone moved farther west and was instrumental in settling colonists in what would become Kentucky.

This park was established in 1909. It's not very big which makes the trails very manageable. We went on what seemed like most of the park's trails for a total of 2.7 miles. First we descended a lot of stairs to see the cave which was also close to the bank of the Yadkin River. Then we circled around to the Wetlands and Woodlands trail which included planks over swamp areas. We went on Boone's Peak Trail but didn't get a big view of anything. The kids seemed to really enjoy being in the forest, around water areas, seeing the cave, and in an uncrowded area. 

We ended up back at the parking area but decided to go across to the Overlook Trail, which did have a bit of a view. There are primitive campsites here that might be fun to use for scouts also. There are also ruins of a cabin from the 1700s but unfortunately right now it's a pile of wood on the ground. We had fun and would come back. I can't get over thinking about a family living in that shallow cave!