It’s time to get your boots on and get out on a trail. We’re at Chestnut Mountain Nature Park. Let’s go check it out.

Located in Canton, North Carolina, Chestnut Mountain Nature Park is an awesome cross-section of conservation and community recreation. It all got its start when the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchased the 450-acre Chestnut Mountain property in 2020 in an ambitious endeavor to pair permanent protection of habitat and water resources with the creation of a conservation-friendly, community-centric space for outdoor recreation.

While all that was happening YouTube sensation Seth Alvo was starting his quest to build a premiere mountain bike park near his home town. The city of Canton helped him make the connection with the Conservancy – and now a few years later Berm Park is here for everyone to enjoy.

Essentially a “park within a park”, the Berm Park Skills Course consists of over a mile of bike trails for riders to boost their skills in a safe environment. Whether you’re a pro-level rider, a weekend warrior, or a middle aged guy trying not to hurt yourself – there’s something for everyone here.

In total Chestnut Mountain features 9 miles of biking trails, 8 miles of hiking trails, as well as picnic areas and some gorgeous surprises to check out.

Nestled in the center of Turnpike’s loop, among some of the park’s largest oak trees, sit two treehouse overlooks offering views on either side of the trail. It’s a great spot for that Ingles picnic with its covered overlooks and shaded picnic tables. And it even has a couple of tree swings.

This is a great place to get out into nature, unplug, and relax. Yes, the park contains a world-class mountain biking destination – but there’s more to it than that.

This place is such a beautiful blend of protecting nature, while allowing all of us to enjoy it. From biking to hiking to just spending time beneath the trees, it’s a great spot to visit any time of year.