At Just Three Feet Tall, This Cave Was a Tight Squeeze for Daniel Boone
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Daniel Boone once hid from hostile Indians in an 80-foot-long cave on a steep slope facing the serpentine Yadkin River in Boone’s Cave Park.
At least that’s how the legend goes.
“There’s no documentation to show that he lived there, but we do know he spent some time there,” says Charles Parnell, recreation director for the Davidson County Recreation Department. “We know he spent time hunting and fishing in that area, and supposedly he stayed there before moving on.”
The cave – the park’s namesake – is easy to find, although the entryway is only two or three feet high.
“We recommend that people take a flashlight and be very cautious, but it’s available for them to explore,” Parnell says.
Boone’s Cave Park also offers plenty of other places to explore, with hiking trails and 110 acres of pristine natural areas, including secluded rolling forestland with mixed hardwood trees and more than 100 native wildflowers.
A picnic shelter features a great view of the Yadkin River, which is a popular place for fishing, canoeing and kayaking.
The county is working to provide better access for boaters, Parnell says, and it’s also in the process of adding a primitive camping site.
Students from Davidson County Community College recently rebuilt a log cabin, a replica of a cabin from Daniel Boone’s time, to replace one burned down by vandals.
About 250 people a week visit the park during the warm months, and about 100 visit each week when the weather gets cold.
“We’ve even had a couple of weddings out there,” Parnell says. “You can do a lot of bank fishing there as well as just enjoy the natural setting of the park.”
Story by Rebecca Denton
Photo by Todd Bennett
