Yadkin River State Trail

Maps & River Accesses

The Yadkin River State Trail (YRST) is a 163-mile paddling trail with multiple put-in and take-out areas for easy access to the river. Officially authorized as a state trail in 1985, It is mostly flat with Class I ripples and a few Class Il spots. The NC Division of State Parks and Recreation designated Yadkin Riverkeeper (YRK) as the official nonprofit state trail partner for the YRST in 2022.

The YRST starts at the base of the W. Kerr Scott Reservoir dam in Wilkes County, and meanders east through Wilkesboro and Elkin towards Pilot Mountain State Park. Before the Yadkin gets to Winston-Salem it turns south at the Great Bend to form the borders of Forsyth, Yadkin, Davidson and Davie counties and flows to High Rock Lake. The trail continues through High Rock Lake then to Tuckertown Reservoir, Badin Lake, and down to Falls Reservoir and finishes in Lake Tillery, each requiring a portage around the hydroelectric dams that formed the Yadkin Lakes. The Yadkin River State Trail ends at Morrow Mountain State Park, where the river’s name changes to the Pee Dee at its confluence with the Uwharrie River. The trail is just one section of the Yadkin Pee Dee River system, which provides drinking water and hydropower for residents, habitats for fish and wildlife, and recreation for all.

You can see the overview of the trail and the interactive story map below or online here.

To view and download the full map, please click the images below:

Paper versions of the YRST maps are available at no charge in outdoor stores and local visitor centers throughout the Yadkin Valley.

Get up to date information on the trail by following the trail on Facebook.

1) Mile 163 – Tailwater Access (Kerr Scott Dam)

Address: 202 Ranger Rd, Wilkesboro, NC 28697
GPS Coordinates: 36.136526, -81.222138
Maintained By: US Army Corps of Engineers
Phone: (336) 921-3390
Parking: Paved Lot (8 spaces)
Facilities: Bathroom
Camping: None
Entry Type: Concrete ramp
Next Access: Smoot Park
Miles to Next Access: 6.8 Miles
Time to Next Access: 2.5 Hours

2) Mile 156 – Smoot Park (North Wilkesboro)

Address: 202 Chestnut St, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
GPS Coordinates: 36.163400, -81.134499
Maintained By: North Wilkesboro
Phone: (336) 838-3359
Parking: Gravel lot
Facilities: Bathroom, Picnic, Playground
Camping: None
Entry Type: Hand Carry; Steps (#1) and gravel ramp (#2)
Next Access: Roaring River
Miles to Next Access: 10.5 Miles
Time to Next Access: 3.5 Hours

3) Mile 145 – Roaring River Access

Address: 9214 Elkin Highway, Roaring River, NC 28669
GPS Coordinates: 36.205925, -80.984027
Maintained By: NC Wildlife Resources
Phone: (336) 651-7501
Parking: Small gravel lot
Facilities: None
Camping: None
Entry Type: Gravel ramp
Next Access: Ronda Memorial Park
Miles to Next Access: 5.2 Miles
Time to Next Access: 2 Hours

4) Mile 140 – Ronda Memorial Park

Address: 238 Clingman Rd, Ronda, NC 2860
GPS Coordinates: 36.215930, -80.937172
Maintained By: Town of Ronda
Phone: (336) 835-2061
Parking: Small paved lot
Facilities: Porta-Potty, Picnic, Playground
Camping: None
Entry Type: Concrete boat ramp
Next Access: Crater Park (Elkin)
Miles to Next Access: 7.0 Miles
Time to Next Access: 2.5 Hours

5) Mile 133 – Crater Park (Elkin)

Address: 310 Standard St, Elkin, NC 28621
GPS Coordinates: 36.241717, -80.847351
Maintained By: Town of Elkin & NC Wildlife Resources
Phone: (336) 258-8917
Parking: Large gravel lot
Facilities: Bathroom (sometimes locked)
Camping: Allowed (but no designated sites/pads)
Entry Type: Concrete boat ramp and dock
Next Access: Burch Station
Miles to Next Access: 6.1 Miles
Time to Next Access: 2 Hours

Showers available at the Yadkin Valley Heritage and Trails Visitor Center, located at 257 Standard Street in Elkin (M-F 9am-5pm).

6) Mile 127 – Burch Station (at Mitchell River)

Address: 116 Greenwood Circle, Elkin, NC 28621
GPS Coordinates: 36.275577, -80.768861
Maintained By: Surry County & NC Wildlife Resources
Phone: (336) 401-8235
Parking: Large gravel lot (13 spaces)
Facilities: None
Camping: None
Entry Type: Hand Carry; Wooden steps
Next Access: Yadkin Shores
Miles to Next Access: 4.7 Miles
Time to Next Access: 1.5 Hours

7) Mile 122 – Yadkin Shore Access (at US-601)

Address: 8420 US 601, Boonville, NC 27055
GPS Coordinates: 36.269781, -80.720338
Maintained By: Yadkin County and NC Wildlife Resources
Phone: (336) 849-7909
Parking: Small gravel lot (7 spaces)
Facilities: None
Camping: Allowed (but no designated sites/pads)
Entry Type: Concrete ramp
Next Access: Shoals (Pilot Mnt State Park)
Miles to Next Access: 16.9 Miles
Time to Next Access: 5.5 Hours

8) Mile 105 – Shoals (Pilot Mountain State Park)

Address: 4454 Shoals Rd, East Bend, NC 27018
GPS Coordinates: 36.257547, -80.517135
Maintained By: Pilot Mountain State Park & NC Wildlife Resources
Phone: (336) 444-5100
Parking: Small gravel lot
Facilities: None
Camping: Allowed*
Entry Type: Hand Carry; Steps
Next Access: Donnaha
Miles to Next Access: 6.9 Miles
Time to Next Access: 2.5 Hours

*Camp sites are 0.8 miles downstream at a secondary river access on river right. There are two primitive campsites which are timber pads with gravel screenings. Pit toilet only.

9) Mile 99 – Donnaha (Dam Portage)

Address: 6131 Donnaha Park Rd, East Bend, NC 27018
GPS Coordinates: 36.21610, -80.43330
Maintained By: Yadkin County & NC Wildlife Resources
Phone: (336) 849-7909
Parking: Gravel lot
Facilities: Picnic
Camping: None
Entry Type: Boat ramp
Next Access: Old 421 Park
Miles to Next Access: 6.6 Miles
Time to Next Access: 2.5 Hours

Dam portage 6 miles downstream at mile #93. Exit river right.

10) Mile 92 – Old 421 Park

Address: 7699 Yadkinville Rd, Lewisville, NC 27023
GPS Coordinates: 36.133038, -80.444102
Maintained By: Forsyth County
Phone: (336) 703-2500
Parking: Large paved lot
Facilities: Porta-Potty, Picnic, Playground
Camping: None
Entry Type: Hand Carry; Steps and Concrete Ramp
Next Access: Huntsville
Miles to Next Access: 5.4 Miles
Time to Next Access: 2 Hours

11) Mile 87 – Huntsville (Undeveloped)

Address: 5600 Courtney-Huntsville Rd, Yadkinville, NC 27055
GPS Coordinates: 36.093049, -80.516312
Maintained By: Yadkin County
Phone:
Parking: Gravel/dirt lot
Facilities: None
Camping: None
Entry Type: Concrete Ramp
Next Access: Tanglewood
Miles to Next Access: 10.8 Miles
Time to Next Access: 3.5 Hours

12) Mile 76 – Tanglewood (Idol’s Dam Portage)

Address: 4061 Clemmons Rd, Clemmons, NC 27012
GPS Coordinates: 36.013597, -80.416689
Maintained By: Forsyth County (Gate open 9am – 5pm)
Phone: (336) 778-6300
Parking: Small gravel lot (10 spaces)
Facilities: None
Camping: None
Entry Type: Hand carry; Gravel ramp and Natural Steps
Next Access: US Hwy 64
Miles to Next Access: 16.7 Miles
Time to Next Access: 5.5 Hours

Portage at Idol’s Dam about 4 miles downstream at mile #72. Exit river right just before railroad trestle.

13) Mile 59 – US Hwy 64

Address: 6970 US 64, Lexington, NC 27295
GPS Coordinates: 35.8569, -80.386142
Maintained By: Davidson County
Phone:
Parking: Large gravel lot
Facilities: Picnic
Camping: None
Entry Type: Steps
Next Access: Concord Church (NC-801)
Miles to Next Access: 9.4 Miles
Time to Next Access: 3 Hours

14) Mile 50 – Concord Church (NC-801)

Address: 5897 NC801, Mocksville NC 27028
GPS Coordinates: 35.838120, -80.48455
Maintained By: NC Wildlife Resources
Phone:
Parking: Gravel lot, 1 Handicap Space
Facilities: None
Camping: None
Entry Type: Concrete boat ramp
Next Access: Boone’s Cave Park
Miles to Next Access: 3.5 Miles
Time to Next Access: 1 Hour

15) Mile 46 – Boone’s Cave Park

Address: 3552 Boones Cave Rd, Lexington, NC 27295
GPS Coordinates: 35.799862, -80.468053
Maintained By: Davidson County
Phone: (336) 752-2322
Parking: Paved lot
Facilities: Restrooms, Vending Machine
Camping: Allowed
Entry Type: Natural rock slope
Next Access: Hannah Ferry (South Yadkin River)
Miles to Next Access: 4.9 Miles
Time to Next Access: 2 Hours

16) Mile 41 – Hannah Ferry (at South Yadkin River)

Address: 955 Hannah Ferry Rd, Salisbury, NC 28144
GPS Coordinates: 35.746942, -80.461051
Maintained By: NC Wildlife Resources
Phone:
Parking: Small gravel lot
Facilities: None
Camping: None
Entry Type: Concrete boat ramp
Next Access: York Hill
Miles to Next Access: 4.9 Miles
Time to Next Access: 2 Hours

Note: must paddle slightly upstream around riverbend on river side right to reach this access point.

17) Mile 37 – York Hill (Yadkin River Park)

Address: 1212 Wilcox Way, Linwood, NC 27299
GPS Coordinates #1: 35.723981, -80.391099
GPS Coordinates #2: 35.725020, -80.390640
Maintained By: Davidson County
Phone: (336) 242-2958
Parking: Large gravel lot
Facilities: Porta-Potty
Camping: Allowed
Entry Type #1: Concrete boat ramp
Entry Type #2: Hand Carry Natural Slope

Note: There are two access points: #1 is a concrete ramp for larger boats, #2 is specific for canoes/kayaks.

York Hill marks the beginning of High Rock Lake. There are multiple boat ramps on the lake, not specific for canoes/kayaks. Paddlers will encounter the High Rock Dam about 15 miles downstream.