Fonta Flora County Park and Connector Trailhead

Amazing trails and great views. The trails are one of the best weve ever hiked. This park does have water access so you could swim on Lake James.

Great trails for anyone looking to get out and way from the city. Trails are easy enough for just about anyone and the views are beautiful. Will most definitely be coming back.

Beautiful hike. The views per effort ratio is fantastic. Small elevation changes with stunning long range mountain views over the lake. There are even some small beachy areas is you want to take a dip. About a 4 mile loop in all. This was a great hike for my 25 week pregnant self, my dog, and my husband 10 days after minor knee surgery. And when you done, loop around the lake to the Fonta Flora Brewery Farm about 10 minutes away for a well deserved beverage.

This place is amazing. Make sure you have a trail map if you don’t know the area, plenty of water and snacks and watch out for those roots. Views are stunning. There will be benches to sit and look for the many variety of mushrooms.

This is an excellent trail system for moderate hikes at various distances. Well marked mostly shaded with great overlook views of Lake James along with access to the waterline.

So this is a newer one and I tried it for the first time during the last part of the summer. It was BEAUTIFUL! It is a multi-use trail. The trail starts in a nice parking area (be careful of the sharp, steep curbs though!). From there, I went through an open area. It was currently just sort of a mud pit, BUT it looks like they are building something there.Type of trail: flowy, no huge ascents or descents, but just a nice trail with no hike your bike spots. There aren’t really any super technical spots so I would give the tail an easy rating. Pretty much anyone could do it (given you’ve ridden trails before).Aesthetics: as you wind your way around Lake James, you will sometimes see gorgeous views of the lake, but mostly you will see a beautifully planned trail through an old growth forest. I was absolutely amazed at the beauty.Summary: visit this trail!

Very fun trail for hiking and biking. It is narrow so be aware of oncoming traffic but otherwise there are beautiful views and it is well marked and maintained.

Beautiful trail. I really enjoyed my walk with nature. And the bridges are beautiful. Awesome trail!

Its a very beautiful and peaceful place to enjoy nature

Trail is very slippery when wet. Trail is well shaded by trees and is well maintained.

Trails are great but trail markings not so much. Theres nothing on the trails to tell you where they go when they fork or if they are foot traffic only. You cant follow the blazes or youll end up on the wrong trail.

Beautiful place to hike or bike.

Was a nice trail. Trail is shared with mountain bikes. The riders were all polite and observant of walkers. Trail leads down by lake. The county park is still in development. Like the metal tree. Looks like will be a great place when finished.

Great ride/hike. Has connector trails so you can keep a loop. Cant wait to see where it goes

Well maintained trailhead with great beginner friendly trails.

A great walking trail with beautiful views

Quick flow, rollercoaster trail. made for a fun afternoon and love the detour to the beach for a dip in between runs.

Where is the covered bridge that was pictured. Thats beautiful. Thanks for sharing and adding your photos. Really nice of you. Thanks

Great trail. Well kept and great for hiking, walking, and trail riding. Not really steep grades just nice and flowing . . .

Pretty Cool trails and has individual bathrooms and water at trailhead

A gloriously beautiful trail!

Nice views all around

Nice and easy hike with amazing views.

If you go the south point way you will get lost and you will just go farther and farther away from the lake . I dont think i would go back because the trail that we went on took a long time and we had to be picked up by another family member i think we would have passed out if we walked back . So then we went back and went the other way the better way the Linville Access Way we where able to see lake james and it was so much better than our first expeirence i recommed that when you go and see the first like sign thing choose Linville Access and go right and your expeirence will be a ton better .

Its really exciting! There is this one spot that is breathtaking where you can see the part of the lake but its really beautiful. Going with your family is even better. You dont get lonely during the trip if you go with family members. Other than that, its really really nice.

Great trail system, scenic views of lake James

Totally loved the trails.

Great trails follows around the lake.

Really enjoyed the trail

Great getaway!

We went on Saturday morning. There was about 4 groups of bikers that had between 10-30 bikers in each group. We had to keep stepping off the trail for up to even 5 mins to let them all pass then they would all stop of the trail making it impossible for us to pass. They alway were just flying down the trail, with no regard for anyone else on the trail. Very rude of them and the damage they cause by riding in such large groups will ruin the integrity of the trail. They totally ruined the experience and we probably wont ever go back.

Got great milk shakes

Great trail with awesome views of the lake!

Great hiking trails

Good views and a potentially good hiking trail. However, too many bikers to worry about (at least on the weekend). To advertise the 3 mile trail as hiker friendly is incorrect. Id say the only way to fix it is to allow one or the other.

Beautiful place

Amazing trails and views! We were super impressed!!

Great hiking and biking trail! Not difficult at all but is a great scenic path through a beautiful western NC landscape.

Beautiful place!!

Very easy entrance & easy trail. They definitely need a better parking lot because the design is horrible. Wasnt able to go as far because of all the mud but, definitely will go back again!

Great place for mountain biking

Great walk through the woods and by the lake.

Nice park, great trails. Needs a picnic area and bathrooms but a great beginning.

Love it so peaceful!

Beautiful hiking trails with nice facilities!

Well built, clean and easy to find.

The Fonta flora trail was an excellent trail that we would be easy and on occasion moderately difficult but quite easy to walk for family. The trail is in excellent condition and the county in the state of done a great job with setting up the trail heads and maintaining the trails overall. The beauty of the trail was great complemented by the awesome views of the lake James. I would recommend this to anybody.

Great new county park. Clay, mostly tree covered trails. Will share with mountain bikes. Some babbling brooks. You cross 3 bridges and 1 stream by big safe rocks. The country should take a bow for a great new park and trail.

Great for hiking and mountain biking. Good views of the lake. Well maintained.

This was awesome ! My 1st time trail riding was pretty cool tooo ! Was told it was a hiking trail also but, a local walked it for a whole 2 hrs she said with her dog. I guess what ever way works for people lol

Great place to mtn bike, a bit confusing to run, a few trail intersections that didnt seem to match map at trailhead

Great bike trail

An easy walk in the cool woods with a great view of Lake James. They have created easy parking and a lovely entrance. We will enjoy bringing friends and family. Just remember there are no restroom facilities.

Beautiful walk in the woods. Easy grade. Wide trail bed. Good for walkers or bikes.

It is a great place to go hiking. It is well marked and has wide well kept trails that would be good for trial running.

I had an excellent time. Its beautiful and well done!

Great mountain biking trails. Smooth and fast.

Trail rough and a lot of blowdown of trees in woods. Hard sharing with bikers. They come up so fast over hills with low visibility.

A wonderful new place for a day hike. Cant wait for the Lake James loop to be completed

The addition of the restrooms great

Great access to the Fonta Flora trail system and also the Mountains to Sea Connector trail. The trails take you down to Lake James and several lake access areas or you can take the MST and Connector all the way to Shortofftn, Table Rock, or the Linville Gorge and river. Currently about 8-10 parking spaces but no restrooms as of summer 18

Hats off to the trail builders, great flow, wonderful drainage, all-around excellent trail system for any ability or skill level.

Excellent

Just enjoy!

Nice winding wavey trail. I would rate it as a moderate hike.

Amazing work at Fonta Flora trail.

Fun ride, but crowded.

Nice trail around Lake James.

Nice vibes

Great trail to run, bike, cycle

Great place for day hiking and mountain bikes.

Great place to hike.

A nice easy walk in the woods.

Beautiful place

Love the tail

Wonderful place

Very nice trail

My favorite spot in the Lake James area!

Closed restrooms

Safe great walk

Love it

Great place to hike, nice trails

I love this place!

Very good trails.