In 2010, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s Kids in Parks program partnered with the Mount Airy Parks and Recreation Department to make their Ararat River Greenway Trail an official TRACK Trail. Now, as visitors enjoy a walk along the greenway, they can use the brochures to turn their outdoor stroll into a self-guided adventure. Whether looking for things hiding in nature, learning about the birds, or reading about the river’s restoration, visitors utilizing the TRACK Trail brochures will have the opportunity to connect more meaningfully with the natural world. The TRACK Trail Trailhead Sign can be found along the greenway trail in the HB Rowe Environmental Park. From the HB Rowe parking lot, walk down the main gravel trail until you reach the paved greenway trail… the trailhead kiosk will be on you’re right.
Mount Airy’s Ararat River Greenway Trail runs from Riverside Park, through the HB Rowe Environmental Park, to Tharrington Park near the elementary school. The 2.2 mile long (one way) paved path offers residents of, and visitors to, Mount Airy the ability to exercise in a natural setting. The Ararat River Greenway Trail has several picnic shelters and benches found along the trail, restrooms located at Riverside and HB Rowe parks, canoe and kayak put-ins/take-outs at each of the three parks, and TRACK Trail Adventures to help connect visitors with the resource. Whether by foot, bike, canoe or kayak, visitors will enjoy the sights and sounds found along the greenway during their visit.
The Mount Airy Ararat River Greenway project began in 2002 with several purposes in mind – improvement of the water quality of the Ararat River and improvement of the health of the citizens of Mount Airy. Working together with local organizations, an unhealthy section of river was restored back into a vibrant habitat for fish, salamanders, turtles, aquatic insects, birds and more.
The HB Rowe Environmental Park was dedicated in 2010 as a result of a land donation by Erika Rowe in memory of her late husband, Henry B. Rowe. The Ararat River Greenway project was made possible because of this donation as well as state and local grant funding. Partners included the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, Clean Water Management Trust Fund, Division of Water Quality and the City of Mount Airy, the Resource Institute and Pilot View Resource Conservation and Development. The HB Rowe Environmental Park has a pedestrian bridge connecting the middle school to the greenway, as well as paved trails, river and greenway access, restrooms and an outdoor pavilion/classroom.
Location Details
Adventures for Ararat River Greenway
Birds of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Difficulty:
Nature's Hide & Seek
Difficulty:
Mount Airy's Ararat River: Nature's Hide & Seek Winter Edition
Difficulty:
Animal Athletes
Difficulty:Directions
Longitude: -80.597140700000
From Hwy 52 N:
Turn right on Business 52, turn right on Hamburg Street, park entrance is on the left.
From Hwy 77 N:
Turn right on Exit 100 (Mount Airy), turn right on Hwy 89 East, continue for approx. 7 miles, turn right onto Renfro Street, go straight and turn left on Hamburg Street, park entrance is on the left.
GPS Directions:
217 Hamburg Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030
Partners
The TRACK Trail program is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.
The Mount Airy Ararat River Greenway TRACK Trail is made possible by a partnership between Mount Airy’s Parks and Recreation Department and Kids in Parks.