[gentle music and water splashing] - The Green River Game Lands is an 18,000 acre tract of public land in a gorge cut by the Green River.

- And inside of it you have around 20 miles of trails, and some gravel roads, and just all kinds of undiscovered little spots that take a little work.

But if you're gonna do it, you're gonna get rewarded.

- John Grace moved to this area from Indiana when he was 10.

- I always loved it, and I've been kayaking this river for longer than I want to admit, 25 years at this point.

And the Green River is an amazing river for paddling, and fishing and even tubing, and things like that.

- The river includes an area called The Narrows, which has Class V rapids that are famous among whitewater rafters and kayakers.

Saluda's Green River Adventures offers kayak trips down two sections of the river.

And there are several tubing businesses along the river as well.

Grace started an annual kayaking event here called The Green Race, as he explored the old logging trails and roads, and the paths used by hunters in the woods around the river, Grace saw the potential for a network of recreational trails.

In 2012, he started a mountain biking and trail running event here called The Green River Games as a way to create and maintain them.

- We managed to clear off and connect 13 miles of trails right here with just volunteers and trail crew.

- Since they traverse canyon walls, many of the trails are steep and rugged with intersections that are not always well marked.

- So just be ready to do a little self-navigating, and have plenty of water and plenty of food because you're probably gonna be out there a little longer than you think.

- The Green River Cove Trail is a fairly moderate route that runs along the river for about 6 1/2 miles.

It has a number of places you can access the water to dip your feet in on a hot day, or get your dog a drink.

The nearly two mile out and back trail that's moderately challenging runs along Cove Creek to the 50 foot Little Bradley Falls.

Two shorter trails run along the same stream to the top and the bottom of the 75 foot Big Bradley Falls.

An easy three quarters of a mile trail near Flat Rock descends to Lower Big Hungry Falls.

- It really is sort of an outdoor lover's paradise.

It's steep, rugged but just full of waterfalls, and amazing country.

- The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission manages the Green River Game Lands for hunting and fishing, but opens it to other activities.

- Pretty much if it's an outdoor activity, you can do it here.

- Conservation groups continue to secure land to grow the property managed by the commission.

- It's constantly being added to little bits at a time.

- State game lands like this are managed very differently than state parks.

- When you think of a state park, or something like that where you've got a nice bathhouse, and some tent spots and whatever, that's not what you're gonna get here.

You're gonna get wild, you're gonna get bears, you're gonna get snakes, you're gonna get rugged.

- But like a state park, or any wilderness area Grace says you should just enjoy the place and leave no trace.

- You're gonna go to an undiscovered wild place.

And if you're willing to put in just that little bit of extra effort and be up for a little bit of adventure you're gonna have one of the most rewarding places in Western North Carolina that you can go have a trek.

- The Green River Cove trailhead is at 3851 Green River Cove Trail in Saluda.

For more information, check out conservingcarolina.org.

And for more information about the Year of The Trail go to greattrailsnc.com and look for more Year of the Trail stories on North Carolina weekend throughout 2023.