The 20-mile Burke River Trail will follow the south side of the Catawba River, dipping down to the towns of:
- Drexel
- Valdese
- Rutherford College
- Connelly Springs
- Rhodhiss
- Hildebran
- Long View
The hiking and biking trail will be a mix of natural surface, crushed cinder and paved as it wanders along the river banks and into downtowns.