Elkin, NC | Grassy Creek | 33.5 Acres
Help us Protect Klondike Forest —
forever.
A beloved forest trail, a clean water source, and a century of history are waiting to be permanently protected.
We need your help by July 1, 2026.
The Story
A Forest Worth Fighting For
Tucked along Grassy Creek just outside downtown Elkin, the Klondike parcel is 33.5 acres of mature forest that thousands of people walk through every year — without ever worrying about whether it will be there tomorrow. But this beautiful forest is not guaranteed to stay.
The property includes the 1.1-mile “Forest Bathing Trail,” part of the 6.8-mile Carter Falls Trails System, which links to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and winds past two vineyards, a campground, and a stunning mural painted on a 100-year-old dam by artist Eva Crawford. Nearby Grassy Creek Vineyard owners estimate thousands of visits each year, and that number keeps growing.
What's also at Stake?
Elkin’s Drinking Water
Grassy Creek is a state-designated High Quality Water source. The Town of Elkin’s water intake sits just downstream.
Local Economy
Trail connectivity draws visitors to local businesses — vineyards, a campground, and the broader Elkin community benefit directly.
The Legacy of Klondike
Klondike Forest is part of a remarkable piece of North Carolina history. In the early 1920s, John Hanes of Hanes Hosiery acquired over 1,000 acres here, building a hunting and vacation retreat. His sister Lucy married Thurmond Chatham of Chatham Manufacturing Company, and the two families shaped both the land and the life of the Elkin valley for generations.
When Chatham Manufacturing divested decades later, Derrill and Lori Rice stepped in to prevent commercial development. Now, Piedmont Land Conservancy has the chance to make that protection permanent.
A new viewing platform on the trail now overlooks the Klondike Dam — 100 years old, and freshly adorned with a mural by renowned local artist Eva Crawford. It was built entirely by EVTA volunteers and stands as a symbol of what community care for this land looks like.
This $10,000 helps secure $218,000 in conservation
Piedmont Land Conservancy has applied for funding from the NC Land and Water Fund, a major state grant with a determination expected in September 2026, as well as a private foundation. Demonstrated local community support in the form of a private match helps these applications be more competitive.
All funds raised through this campaign will go directly to the Elkin Valley Trails Association to support this project. Piedmont Land Conservancy is partnering with the organization to permanently protect Klondike Forest and will acquire the property once funding is secured. If the project is not completed—for example, if grant funding is not awarded—donations will be redirected to similar conservation efforts led by Elkin Valley Trails Association in coordination with Piedmont Land Conservancy.
Protect it.
For good.
The mission of the non-profit Elkin Valley Trails Association (EVTA) is to enrich the quality of life in the region by building and promoting a network of multiuse trails.
Piedmont Land Conservancy protects our region’s natural lands, family farms, and waters for the benefit of all living things through land protection, stewardship of conserved spaces, and connecting people with nature.
Questions?