Discover New River State Park

The Mission Trail at Elk Shoals Access in New River State Park offers a peaceful, moderately difficult hike along the South Fork of the New River in Ashe County, North Carolina. The trail winds through shaded oak and hickory forests and some decently steep hills, giving hikers calm river views and chances to spot wildlife. As you walk, you’ll see subtle signs of the property’s past, like old structures and foundations from the Methodist Camp, which ran the site from about 1958 until it was sold in 2018 because of maintenance issues.

The paved road up to the ridge offers hikers glimpses of the river below from both sides. In 2018, the New River Conservancy bought the 270-acre former camp for $2.5 million and donated it to the state park, helping to protect this area with its historic camp structures, including the Greg and Jane Howard Memorial Chapel. Near the top of the ridge is a more traditional natural surface trail that we believe was once named Mission Trail, which is why we offer this as the name of the path we took, as the trail did not appear on the New River State Park maps in 2025 when we hiked it.

This spot is great for anyone looking for a mix of beautiful scenery, local history, and quiet moments in the growing New River State Park.