Explore Boone’s Public Parks and Greenways
Updated By Chris Murphy
When you visit Boone, you’re sure to spend some time in the area’s beautiful natural setting. Whether you’re walking the charming downtown streets or hiking Grandfather Mountain, Boone offers many locales to enjoy the great outdoors. For a more low-key outdoor adventure, visit one of the local parks and greenways in Boone. Aside from the state parks, Boone features local parks with family-friendly playgrounds, paved walkways, picnic spaces and more.
Boone’s Public Parks
Boone has five public parks: Junaluska, Boone Jaycee, North Street, Clawson-Burnley and Jimmy Smith.
Both Junaluska Park and Boone Jaycee Park are perfect for a day of grilling and picnicking. Fire up the on-site grills and enjoy hamburgers, hotdogs and more at the conveniently located picnic shelters and tables. Clawson-Burnley Park also offers picnic shelters, perfect for if you’ve already prepared your food and are looking for a scenic spot to eat.
Junaluska Park offer basketball courts, a ball field and playground equipment for some friendly competition. Let the little ones burn off some energy at Boone Jaycee Park’s playground, featuring swing sets, play stations and a sand box. North Street Park also has a play area and swing set for families to have some fun.
Jimmy Smith Park is a smaller green space with a bench dedicated to local educational leader James Smith.
Boone’s Greenway Trail
Boone’s Greenway Trial is a hidden gem in the mountain town. The paved trail covers over six miles roundtrip with plenty of places to stop off and enjoy the natural setting. As you walk the Greenway Trail, you’ll pass picnic areas, historic ruins, covered bridges and more.
Clawson-Burnley Park is right off of the Boone Greenway Trail, making it a great pit stop for a picnic.
Click here to read more about the Boone Greenway Trail.
Other Parks in Boone
The Watauga County Parks and Recreation Department boasts several facilities for outdoor fun, including multi-purpose athletic fields, parks, tennis courts, basketball courts an outdoor pool and more. While many of these facilities are for locals, visitors can also take advantage of the free spaces.
The Tot Lot, located at 231 Complex Drive, features state-of-the-art playground equipment. The play areas are divided for children ages 2–5 and 6–11 so everyone can play safely.
In addition to the traditional parks, Boone also has a park that offers more thrills. The Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park is a 185-acre park in Boone offering eight miles of trails for cyclists. The trails feature four dedicated skills areas while the park boasts three shelters, picnic areas and an adventure playground.
More Information about Public Parks in Boone
Junaluska Park is located at 175 Summit St., Boone.
Boone Jaycee Park is located at 527 Oak St., Boone.
North Street Park is located at 567 North St., Boone.
Clawson-Burnley Park is located at 355 Hunting Hill Lane, Boone.
Jimmy Smith Park is located at 920 Rivers St., Boone.
Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park is located at 285 Mountain Bike Way, Boone.
All picnic shelters and tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance reservations cannot be made.
Images from Town of Boone
