While Daniel Boone is often celebrated for his pioneering spirit in the Kentucky wilderness, his roots run deep in North Carolina (1752-1773). Long before blazing a trail through the Cumberland Gap, a young Boone honed his wilderness skills in the foothills of the NC Mountains.
Daniel's neighbor in the foothills, Benjamin Howard, grazed cattle in the area that would one day become Watauga County. Howard's enslaved shepherd, Burrell, is said to have been a host and guide for Boone during his explorations in the mountains. Daniel Boone's journey here laid the groundwork for his future exploits, leaving an enduring legacy in the town that would one day bear his name.
Follow our itinerary to embark on an expedition through Daniel's lasting impact in Boone's Blue Ridge.
There's no better way to start a trip to the Boone area than a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Access the Blue Ridge Parkway in Deep Gap (from Highway 421) and travel south on the scenic road to our first stop.
This parkway overlook is known as a site along the route Daniel Boone himself once frequented. Local knowledge suggests that Boone built this trail from his home in Ferguson, NC by following Elk Creek to its headwaters and nearby Sandpit Branch.
Keep traveling south on the Blue Ridge Parkway, winding around the rolling hills and vast overlooks on the way to Blowing Rock. Exit the Parkway at one of two access points in Blowing Rock and head to Main Street.
A pyramid-shaped marker made of local stone and masonry, next to the 1888 Blowing Rock Museum, honors Boone's impact in the area. The Highway Marker plaque depicts Alonzo Chappel's illustration of Boone and his hunting dog. Above the plaque is a cast metal Bear sculpture. Nearby Yonahlossee Road (Hwy. 221 from Blowing Rock to Linville, also known as the "Little Parkway") is named for the Cherokee word for "Bear."
Spend an afternoon shopping in downtown Blowing Rock, grab a bite at one of their fabulous eateries, and check out The Blowing Rock - NC's Oldest Attraction.
Alternative Route: Start your cruise on the Parkway in Linville and reverse these stops to extend your drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoy sights like the Linn Cove Viaduct & Price Lake.
End the day in Boone at a historic Bed & Breakfast, a retro Tourist Court, or a roadside Motor Lodge.
Start the day at a great café and fuel up with breakfast or brunch in downtown Boone, where depictions, monuments, and markers honoring Daniel Boone are aplenty. Take a stroll through downtown, or take the car and find parking near each of these sites.
Sculptor, Sherry Edwards, created this statue of Daniel Boone with his dogs, which marks the approximate location of Benjamin Howard's herders' cabin. Boone was said to have used the cabin while hunting and exploring in the area, as Benjamin Howard's enslaved herder, Burrell, reported to Thomas Isbell in 1845.
Parking: App State Parking Deck (5-minute walk), or another Boone site: Rivers Park (11-minute walk).
Just a few hundred yards down Rivers Street from the statue is another monument to Boone's time in the area at Rivers Park. The obelisk-like monument that stands today is a 2005 reconstruction of the 1912 iteration. The original monument was ordered by Boone's first Mayor, a cousin to Rebecca Bryan, Daniel's wife. This version incorporated stones from Howard's cabin's chimney, which was near today's Duck Pond.
Follow Burrell Street (named for the Burrell mentioned above) up to King Street and turn left towards the Watauga County Courthouse. A staircase leads to a cast iron D.A.R. plaque on the wall marking Daniel Boone's Trail from NC to Kentucky.
Enjoy shopping, art galleries, and even a few breweries downtown, too.
Inside the doors of Boone's downtown post office, you'll find a large mural by Alan Tompkins depicting frontiersmen and local residents ready to embark on a journey. Commissioned in 1940 as part of the New Deal Art movement, the mural was restored in 2014.
Head out of downtown Boone and drive a short distance to Sugar Grove to find another Boone Highway Trail Marker at the Western Watauga County Library. A bronze tablet here commemorates the Buffalo Trail along with the illustration of Daniel Boone and his dog.
Finish the day back in Boone, tour the historic cabins at Hickory Ridge History Museum, and catch a showing of Horn in the West, a revolutionary war-time outdoor drama. The drama is one of three in North Carolina by the same playwright, all of which describe the lives of early Americans, and runs annually from late June to mid-August.
Pro Tip: Make sure to head to the Dan'l Boone Inn for a classic Boone family-style dining experience.
What better way to cap off an adventure delving into Daniel Boone's roots than hiking to exalted Appalachian peaks? Named for a hunting cabin once used by Boone and others, the community of Meat Camp serves as a gateway to Elk Knob State Park, a pristine wilderness boasting breathtaking vistas.
Enjoy the scenery while driving through the Meat Camp community on the way to Elk Knob State Park. At the park, find hiking trails, diverse ranger-led programs, and primitive camping sites. To enjoy spectacular 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains, try the strenuous Summit Trail.
Today, a new generation of trailblazers is working to connect these majestic peaks. The Northern Peaks State Trail is in development, promising to link Elk Knob State Park with Boone’s Howard Knob Park and Rivers Park, where Daniel Boone's cabin monument stands. As you hike today, you’re not only experiencing history but also becoming part of the story.
Request a Boone Area Visitor Guide for more information about the area.
Learn more about Daniel Boone's childhood and early adulthood from N.C. Daniel Boone Heritage Trail.