Alternative Maps
In addition to the base map featuring the main trails and icons, there are also additional maps with more tools, trails, future features, and more.
- Feb 2024 Work Day Trails
These are the trails that are the focus for the clear the corridor effort. - 5k New Year’s Resolution Run
Parking Lot → Greenway → left on Red Outer Loop culvert → right on Red Road → 2nd left on trail → right into Orange → continue on purple (Hoyle Creek Trail) → continue back to parking lot - 10k New Year’s Resolution Run
Greenway down to waste water fence → blue loop → greenway → left on far Red Outer Loop → left on High Line trail → Left on Red Outer Loop → left on Red Road → right on new Red Outer Loop → Tributary trail → right on Orange → right into purple (Hoyle Creek Trail) → follow back to parking lot - Map of Burke County for looking around the park's surrounding area
- Map with Measuring Tool for measuring path distances on the map
- Volunteer Maintenance Map (with descriptions of job, tools needed, etc)
- Wildlife Map (with color-coded mappings of all uncommon wildlife sightings with quantity and more. Click info icon in map for more info.)
About the Park
The Friends of the Valdese Rec would like to welcome you to Valdese Lakeside, a 325 acre municipal park. We hope that enjoy your visit to Valdese Lakeside Park! This park would not exist without funding from grants and community donations, plus all the volunteer hours.
- Nov 2021 - Phase 1 Complete celebration was held for 4000 linear ft of greenway, restrooms, wildlife viewing platform, parking and entry road.
- May 2022 – Dog Park opened
- July 2022 – A 160-foot bridge over McGalliard Creek to complete the 2-mile greenway from Valdese Lakeside Park to McGalliard Falls Park opened.
- April 2023 – The 2-mile greenway from Valdese Lakeside Park to McGalliard Falls Park was completed with crushed cinder paving.
- July 2023 – The kayak launch and fishing pier opened.
Planning to go out on the water? Duke Energy manages the water level and publishes information about this. The kayak launch and fishing pier is just a couple hundred feet down the greenway.
Want to see all the wildlife found at the park? The park is home to a variety of species. A generous sampling of the park wildlife can be seen on the zakklab site.
Trails
The park is home to a number of trails. Tap the trail name to see more information.
Greenway
- Easy Trail
- 2.0 Miles
The most prominent trail in the park, running adjacent to the lake and its tributary throughout. Featured sights include:
- 0.1 Miles in: Place to launch kayaks and see water views of Table Rock.
- 0.2 Miles in: 4 Picnic Tables along a hillside with the bottom one having a water view.
- 0.5 Miles in: A shallow stepdown into the water called The Fox Den. Across the water there are often birds such as the Great Blue Heron.
- 1.3 Miles in: McGalliard Creek Bridge to McGalliard Falls Park.
- 2.0 Miles in: McGalliard Falls Park
Rostan Creek Trail
- Easy Trail
- 0.35 Miles
The creek runs to the left side for the majority of the trail. A third of the way in, a good photo opportunity can be found on the left side, with access to the creek and an unusual tree overhang.
Outer Loop
- Intermediate
- 2.0 Miles
The beginning and end of the trail can be a little steep. There are various elevation changes throughout the trail.
Lakeside Loop
- Easy-Moderate
- 0.6 Miles <<<<<<< HEAD The trail takes you on a loop around the lake higher than the Meditation Point trail.
=======
The trail takes you on a loop around the lake higher than the Meditation Point trail.
upstream/master
Meditation Point Trail
- Very Easy
- 0.1 Miles
4 feet wide, freshly built, and level. Has great water views and a rock halfway along the trail that you can go down and sit on and fish or take photos.
Hoyle Creek Trail
- Easy-Intermediate Trail
- 1.3 Miles
This trail spurs off the Outer Loop Trail and runs all the way to Lovelady Road.
Throughout the trail there are many places to see the creek and a picnic area with a table and chairs. Halfway through the trail there is a beaver dam but rainfalls do wash it away frequently. The last part of the trail walks very close to the creek and there are some ups and downs and turns. At the very end you reach Lovelady Rd, where you cross the bridge to get back to Lake Rhodhiss Drive.
Shade Seeker
- Intermediate Trail
- 0.2 Miles
- Connects from Hoyle Creek back to Outer Loop.
Throughout the trail, you gain/lose 150 feet in elevation making the climb the most difficult part of the trail.
Tributary Trail
- Moderate/Strenuous Trail
- 1.1 Miles
A difficult trail starting along Hoyle Creek and going up to Outer Loop. The width and terrain of the trail varies. There are many shortcuts along the trail as it maximizes distance in its area.
About FVR
Founded in April 2015, the Friends of the Valdese Rec is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit corporation. Our mission is to support the Valdese Parks and Recreation Department with volunteer hours and fundraising for the betterment of the Department, while at the same time benefiting the town, the citizens and the environment.
History
The driving force in starting Friends of the Valdese Rec was to acquire 300 acres of land at Lake Rhodhiss between the Wastewater Plant and McGalliard Falls and construct a park with trails, kayak launch, disc golf, playground and picnic areas. The Town of Valdese successfully closed on the property at the end of January 2018, with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony from within the park in March.
You can read more of the history at FVR's web site.
About This App
Introduction to the App
Here are some of the features available in this app:
You can track your location in the app by tapping the hiking man icon in the app and your location will be shown on screen. On supported devices, your orientation will also be shown.
The menu in the top right corner will open a menu that allows you to change what trails you can see on the map, toggle different markers on and off, as well as changing the map overlay image.
The icons you see on the map are clickable and will tell you about that location.
The info button icon in the top left corner provides more information about the park along with summaries and pictures of all the trails here.
Offline Use
You can install the app on any device and it works offline:
**On iOS:**
In Safari, tap the center icon along the bottom and scroll down until you find "Add to Homescreen"**On Android:**
In Chrome, Tap the bottom prompt that says "Add to Homescreen"
What's New
Donate to the Park
Help us with our mission to support parks, recreation and programs in Valdese.
Friends of the Valdese Rec, Inc is a 501c3.
Wildlife Key
Bobcat - Cyan
Coyote - Orange
Deer - Tan
Fox - Red
Heron - Blue
Egret - White
Geese - Gray
Turkey - Purple
Birds (Crow, Owl, other small Birds) - Yellow
Nutria - Dark Brown
Mink - Pink
Beaver - Black
Otter - Lime
Skunk - Green
Notifications
Any informational events that have been captured by the app will appear here.