Directions to Turtle Island - East Entrance

Click here for a hand-drawn map (302Kb).

No busses allowed past end of Wes Randal Rd.

From Winston Salem, NC:
Proceed north on Hwy. 421 towards Boone, NC. When you get to the top of the mountain, look for the Blue Ridge Parkway stone overpass. From the overpass proceed one mile and turn left onto OLD Hwy. 421. Proceed four and three tenths of a mile on OLD Hwy. 421 at which point you will see Elk Creek Rd. on your left, at the bottom of the hill. There is also a sign in this location for the community of Triplett. Take this left onto Elk Creek Rd. and proceed exactly four miles to the next turn, a right onto Wes Randal Rd. Proceed four tenths of a mile and turn left onto Lonnie Carlton Rd. Proceed up this steep rugged mountain road nearly two miles until you arrive at the covered bridge at the Turtle Island "parking lot". Congratulations for surviving our "driveway"! Park and walk through the bridge and up the road to our Base Camp, which is two hundred yards up the road. Welcome! Respectfully enjoy our home and be safe.

From Boone, NC:
Travel South on Hwy. 421. From the intersection of Hwy. 194, and Hwy. 421, where there sits a Hardees, a gas station, and Clyde Jones Auto Parts, proceed away from town towards Wilkesboro, NC, traveling a distance of three and a half miles to a stop light. At this light, turn right onto OLD Hwy. 421. [After traveling two hundred feet you will see a B.P. gas station on your right to verify that you have taken a correct turn.] Proceed one and nine tenths of a mile along this OLD Hwy. 421 and turn right at the bottom of the hill onto Elk Creek Rd. [There is a community sign for Triplett pointing out this right turn onto Elk Creek.] Proceed down Elk Creek Rd. exactly four miles to your right turn onto Wes Randal Rd. Proceed four tenths of a mile and turn left onto Lonnie Carlton Rd. Proceed up this steep rugged mountain road nearly two miles until you arrive at the covered bridge at the Turtle Island "parking lot". Congratulations for surviving our "driveway"! Park and walk through the bridge and up the road to our Base Camp, which is two hundred yards up the road. Welcome! Respectfully enjoy our home and be safe.

Turtle Island Preserve
1443 Lonnie Carlton Rd.
Triplett, NC 28618
(828) 265-2267

Directions to Turtle Island - West Entrance

(Off the Blue Ridge Parkway/Bamboo Gap Exit)

The Blue Ridge Parkway exit will be closed at Bamboo Gap for the duration of 2008! Do not make plans to use these directions during this time.

Important note: These are NOT directions to the more commonly used East entrance of Turtle Island that some of you may know. This entrance is ONLY to be used if you are planning to hike all of your belongings into the camp since there is no passable way to get to the main camp area using a motor vehicle from this entrance. Most people prefer to use the east entrance. Use ths entrance only if you are requested to do so.

From Winston-Salem area:

  • Hwy 421 North through Wilksboro, NC
  • From Wilkes County you climb, climb, climb the mountain on Hwy 421.
  • When you get to the top of the mountain, the Blue Ridge Parkway has an overpass over Hwy 421. This is the only overpass. You can't miss it.
  • Just as you go under the overpass, be in the left lane and turn left onto the Parkway entrance.
  • At the top of the entrance onto the Parkway (the T intersection) turn right going South on Parkway.
  • One half mile past mile marker 285, turn right off of Parkway at Bamboo Gap
  • See asterisked directions below


From Blowing Rock area:

  • Hwy 321 from Hickory
  • Go North on the Blue Ridge Parkway
  • Pass Aho Gap
  • Cross Gasken Bridge
  • Left off Parkway at Bamboo Gap between mile marker 286 and 285
  • Go to asterisked directions below.


From Boone, not going on Parkway:

  • East on Hwy 421 (towards Wilksboro). At the edge of town see Hardees on left at the light.
  • Go about 1.7 miles from Hardees, cross the South Fork of the New River
  • Take a right at traffic light onto Bamboo Rd. (first right after crossing the river)
  • Go about 3 miles and look for Little Laurel Rd. on the left.
  • Left on Little Laurel Rd.
  • Stay on Little Laurel Rd., almost 4 miles, until entrance to Turtle Island.
  • Go to asterisked directions below for details of last 4 miles on Little Laurel.


Asterisked Directions (continued from all points above):

  • From Parkway exit, turn right on Little laurel Rd. You will pass under a stone bridge, which is the Parkway.
  • At 1.3 miles from Parkway, you will pass Little laurel Rd. EXT. on the right. Do not take it! Continue straight on Little Laurel Rd.
  • Look for log house on the right about a mile past the EXT.
  • Go one half mile past the log house, down hill on a gravel road to Turtle Island Preserve�s West entrance.
  • Our West entrance is a hidden trail on the left side of the road marked only by two red stakes (which you walk between to find the hidden entrance trail)
  • Park on side of the road where you will be met by the staff of Turtle Island.
  • Walk in from entrance gate and parking area.

Directions to Turtle Island from Hickory/Lenoir off of 321 - East Entrance

*** This is a remote, scenic, "back-way" or "short-cut." ***

  • After leaving Lenoir and heading toward Boone on HW 321, Look for HW 268. (its approx.4.5 miles from Lenoir) It crosses 321 at BP a gas station near a flashing light intersection and a sign for the Patterson School. This right turn off of 321 puts you onto 268 Eastbound.
  • Go .8 miles (eight tenths of a mile) on 268 and take a right to stay on 268 East. This right puts you immediately onto a short bridge.
  • After going 2.8 miles from this turn and bridge you will see the historic Patterson School on your left.
  • Go a half-mile past the school to a left turn off of 268. The turn is in a curve of 268 and there is a sign there directing you toward Green Rock Baptist Church. It is State Rd. 1504
  • Go just over 6 miles until you see the Todd-Historic-Country-Store on the left side of the road. There is a small church on your right and a cemetery straight ahead. At this store/church/cemetery you take a right onto Buffalo Cove Rd.
  • Go 3.4 miles to a Left turn onto Triplett Rd. This left is 100 feet after crossing a bridge and you will see the Ferguson Volunteer Fire Department at the left hand turn onto Triplett Rd.
  • Follow the curvy Triplett Rd for 7.3 miles, saddling a creek almost the entire way until you see Wes Randall Rd. going off to the left in a sharp curve off of Triplett Rd (which has now turned into "Elk Creek Rd")

    • ***If you miss the turn for Wes Randall
    you will begin the climb back up Elk Creek Rd***

  • Once on Wes Randall go .4 of a mile to a Left onto Lonnie Carlton at a row of mailboxes. Go 2 miles on Lonnie Carlton until you arrive at the East Entrance of the preserve. Park in the lot and walk under the covered bridge. Base camp is 200 yards ahead.