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The Town of Valdese has voted to accept a 5.69-acre land donation from Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina — a major step forward for Children’s Park, a Burke River Trail Connector and the future of the Wilderness Gateway State Trail…

A Natural Partner to the Burke River Trail The Upper Catawba River Paddle Trail flows through the heart of Burke County — the same corridor that the Burke River Trail (BRT) is working to connect by land. While BRT is…

NC Commerce Visits Glen Alpine: Planning for Downtown Opportunity The Burke River Trail Association believes trails are more than recreational amenities—they are catalysts for community vitality. As Glen Alpine continues to build momentum around its Downtown Park and town-center investments,…

We are pleased to present our 2025 Annual Report. If you are a BRTA member, the printed report will be coming to your mailbox soon. You can also request a printed report – just send an email to burketrails@gmail.com

The Burke River Trail Association (BRTA) is proud to renew our Gold Membership in the Great Trails State Coalition—a statewide partnership that is shaping the future of trails in North Carolina. We are members because the Coalition speaks with one…

Caring for Place. One Bag at a Time. Trail Town Trash is Burke River Trail Association’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship across the Burke River Trail corridor. BRTA first became involved in roadside cleanups during the March 2024 Burke County Chamber…

Service with a Purpose: NCSSM Students Turn Cleanup into Advocacy on MLK Day When Burke River Trail Association was invited to partner with the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics for a Day of Service, the choice of project…

Why this moment matters for WNC For the last three years, BRTA has said what many of us already believed: our Trail Towns could also be Rail Towns. Now, Western North Carolina is closer than it has been in 50…

The Burke River Trail Association is proud to announce that the Mull Foundation has awarded funding to support furnishings for the new Glen Alpine Downtown Park. This $9,800 investment helps bring to life a space designed for connection and belonging…

Exploring trail routes is both an art and a science, and sometimes the most challenging sections end up becoming the most spectacular. Recently, we brought in trail designer Joseph Litaker of Black Diamond Trail Designs to walk a potential new…

Did you know that surveyors play a critical role in getting trails off the ground—long before a single tree is trimmed or a shovel hits the dirt? When most people picture trail building, they think of shovels, gravel, bridges, and…

NC Commerce Visits Glen Alpine and Drexel The Burke River Trail is more than a trail — it’s a catalyst for community revitalization. As part of our ongoing work to help Burke County’s Trail Towns prepare for the economic opportunities…

Glen Alpine Celebrates New Downtown Park with Ribbon Cutting, Community Picnic, and Regional Support Sunshine, live music, and a strong showing of community spirit marked the official Ribbon Cutting and Community Picnic for the new Glen Alpine Downtown Park on…

Community Foundation Grant Helps Create “A Place to Gather” in Glen Alpine The Burke River Trail Association is proud to recognize the Community Foundation of Burke County (CFBC) for its generous support of the new Glen Alpine Downtown Park through…

🌿 Trailblazers in the Making! 💪 What an organization. What a great help. What a day! Thirty incredible young people from Morganton CORE — Carolina Outdoor Recreation & Education — joined Burke River Trail Association (BRTA) and Friends of the…

From Litter Gitters to Leaders: BRTA Inspires Exceptional Clean-Up Crew What started as a simple effort to keep our trail towns clean has sparked something truly special. BRTA’s Litter Gitters — a volunteer program providing vests, grabbers, gloves, and bags…

In the heart of Rhodhiss, a small mill town in Burke County, stands Old Glory Mill — once a thriving textile hub where fabric for the American flag that flew on the moon was woven. Today, the mill is poised…

Lift Off for Rhodhiss: Old Glory Mill Launches at Investor Convening On August 20, Burke River Trail Association had the honor of representing the Town of Rhodhiss and our Old Glory Mill project at the Opportunity Appalachia Investor Convening in…

BRTA Bringing the Public for Public Input As a member of the Steering Committee for the Western Piedmont Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan, BRTA was proud to play a key role in shaping the regional vision — and in getting the…