Wilkesboro Hiking Trails: W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir

Wilkesboro Hiking Trails: W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir

When you pay a visit to the W. Kerr Scott Dam Reservoir, it’s easy to be consumed with all the fun activities available on the water. But this time of year, as the temperatures drop and the water is just a little too cold to swim in, the miles of trails surrounding the lake take center stage.

Wilkesboro is blessed with an awesome trail system, and the almost 40 miles of hiking/mountain bike trails weaving around Kerr Scott Dam are a part of that. An average of about half a million people visit the parks at the reservoir each year, and the trails are one of the reasons they come to visit.

Whether you’re a Wilkes County resident looking for a place to get out in the woods for a little while or someone looking for a nice place to spend a few days camping and hiking to get out of the madness of the city, the trails at Kerr Scott Dam provide the perfect escape to nature.

Take Your Pick: Trail Options at Kerr Scott

The trails at Kerr Scott Dam provide a nice variety too choose from, whether you’re looking for a short loop with views of the lake or a longer, all day hike with a more challenging terrain.

“One of my favorite hikes is to go out on parts of the Overmountain Victory Trail,” says Grace Trimble, natural resource specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “It’s a pretty, scenic trail with views of the lake in some places, and it’s an easy trail to hike when my husband and I bring our daughter.”

For a bit more of a challenging hike, Ranger David Bolick counts Dark Mountain as his favorite. This 6.5 mile trail starts off with a somewhat steep ascent, which rewards hikers with a beautiful hike through a mature forest of poplars and pines and dark green rhododendron tunnel.

All trails are accessible for free, except for the Warrior Creek trailhead, which is located within the Warrior Creek Campground and has a $5 day-use fee. Currently this campground is losed due to a sink hole, but you can still access the Warrior Creek Trail system at the Pump Track, located off Boomer-Ferguson School Road. 

Hiking trails at Kerr Scott Dam include:

Shriner’s Run, 2.3 miles

Lake Loop, 1.5 miles

Horton’s Holler, 3.3 miles

Overmountain Victory Trail, 5.1 miles

Dark Mountain, 6.5 miles

Warrior Creek (currently closed), 11 miles

Hiking Safety Tips

All of the trails at Kerr Scott Dam are multi-use trails, which means mountain bikers and hikers are enjoying the trails together. With that in mind, it’s important to keep a few tips in mind for trail etiquette and hiking safety.

* While hiking, be sure if you’re listening to music it doesn’t inhibit your ability to hear a biker approaching. While bike riders are supposed to yield to hikers, they often approach at a high speed and the hiker will hear the bike coming before a biker sees the hiker.

* Walk with a buddy, or make sure to tell someone where you are going.

* Dress appropriately for the weather. It’s a good idea to dress in layers, because the temperature can change somewhat quickly in the foothills of North Carolina.

* Bring plenty of water.