Explore the New River state Park

For one of the most varied and rewarding short hikes at New River State Park, the Hickory Trail is a real standout. Set at the US 221 Access in Laurel Springs — the main visitor center area for the park — this 1-mile loop winds through oak-hickory montane forest, drops down to the edge of the New River, climbs back up through a mountain meadow, and finishes through a pine thicket. The Hickory Trail also doubles as the park’s Kids in Parks TRACK Trail, with free kid-friendly brochures and interpretive features stationed at the trailhead kiosk by the visitor center. Be sure to check out the YouTube video and pictures below to get a feel for the trail before you go — or to relive the visit after.

A Short Loop with Real Variety

The Hickory Trail is rated moderate by the park, with gentle terrain and a well-maintained natural-surface path that’s accessible to most ability levels. What makes the trail genuinely worthwhile is the variety packed into its 1-mile loop — from the oak-hickory forest at the start, down to the New River’s edge, up through a mountain meadow, and back through a pine thicket to the visitor center. Few short hikes in this part of North Carolina cover this many distinct habitats in such a small footprint.

Along the way, you’ll encounter the kind of small details that make a hike memorable — shelf fungi growing on tree trunks, open views across the surrounding meadows, and occasional glimpses of the New River through the trees. The trail also passes a T-junction where the loop continues in one direction and the River Run Trail branches off — giving hikers the option to extend their outing for a fuller experience of the US 221 Access.

A Kids in Parks TRACK Trail

The Hickory Trail doubles as the park’s Kids in Parks TRACK Trail — part of a multi-state initiative that turns outdoor walks into accessible, educational adventures designed especially for families. Free brochures are available at the kiosk just outside the visitor center entrance, covering different themes like animal exercises, nature scavenger hunts, and ecosystem connections.

For families with younger hikers, the TRACK Trail format adds a layer of engagement that turns the loop into a small adventure rather than just a walk in the woods. And the loop’s natural variety — forest, river edge, meadow, pine thicket — gives kids plenty of distinct landscapes to notice and explore.

A Pairing-Friendly Loop

What makes the Hickory Trail especially worth knowing about is how easily it pairs with the other US 221 Access trails for a fuller day on the water. The shorter, ADA-friendly Dogwood Trail makes a great warm-up before the Hickory loop, while the longer River Run Trail extends the loop into a roughly 2.4-mile combined hike that takes in the river’s edge and the meadows above it.

Wildlife is genuinely abundant along the route. New River State Park has documented more than 144 bird species across the park, alongside river otters, beavers, foxes, deer, and the elusive hellbender salamander — the largest salamander in the United States.

Good to Know

Trail length: 1.0 mile (loop)
Difficulty: Moderate (per the park rating)
Surface: Natural, well-maintained
Trailhead: Near the visitor center and parking area at the US 221 Access
Habitats covered: Oak-hickory forest, river edge, mountain meadow, and pine thicket
TRACK Trail: Free Kids in Parks brochures available at the trailhead kiosk
Connects to: The River Run Trail at a T-junction — easy to extend for a longer hike
Pairs well with: The Dogwood Trail (ADA-friendly) and the River Run Trail for a fuller day at the access
Family- and dog-friendly — leashed dogs welcome
Located within New River State Park at 358 New River State Park Road, Laurel Springs, NC

A US 221 Access Favorite

The Hickory Trail is the kind of well-rounded loop that earns its place as a regular stop at New River State Park. The terrain is varied, the river view is rewarding, the TRACK Trail program adds a meaningful family layer, and the natural pairing with the Dogwood and River Run Trails makes it easy to build a fuller outing. Whether you’re a family with young hikers exploring the TRACK Trail, a curious traveler new to the New River, or a regular settling into a familiar loop, the Hickory Trail is one of the most rewarding short hikes you can make in this corner of Alleghany and Ashe Counties.