Surry County: Cycling Routes, Music and Regional Cuisine

More than 500 miles of officially designated routes make the Surry Scenic Bikeway a distinctive feature of a trip through Surry County. The bikeway includes four major loops as well as connecting and feeder routes. Beyond cycling, the scenery, culture and regional specialties offer other possible areas of focus.

Cycling Routes and Scenery

Pilot Mountain State Park is located in Surry and Yadkin counties. The park is centered around a distinctive geological pinnacle. Bean Shoals Access provides access to three hiking trails. The history of the Bean Shoals Canal Project is also connected to the landscape: work on the project to build a canal around shallow, rocky river shoals began in the 1820s but was never completed.

Those interested in waterways can find information in the Surry County Four Rivers Map about 100 miles of waterways suitable for kayaking and canoeing, including put-in and take-out points. Surry County also has 36 miles of state-designated trout waters. These are stocked twice a year with brook, rainbow and brown trout. Rolling hills, free-flowing rivers and old forests framed by mountain peaks shape the county’s landscape.

Music, History and Culture

In Mount Airy, the Andy Griffith Museum displays hundreds of objects from Andy Griffith’s career in theater, film and music. Through artifacts and interactive exhibits, the Siamese Twins Museum tells the story of Eng and Chang Bunker. Eng and Chang Bunker moved to Mount Airy with their families in 1854; this historical connection complements the museum’s exploration of their story.

The Old-Time Music Heritage Hall is dedicated to notable figures in Surry County old-time music and houses artifacts, portraits and displays. “Folkways: Music of Surry County” runs continuously there. The Historic Earle Theatre regularly hosts events dedicated to preserving, promoting and protecting Surry County’s musical heritage. The Mount Airy Old-Time Fiddlers Convention program includes contests, jam sessions, dancing, singing, educational offerings and family entertainment. The convention traditionally takes place on the first full weekend in June; check the specific event dates before your trip.

Rural life and architectural history are also part of the cultural landscape. At Horne Creek Farm, visitors can experience rural life in North Carolina’s northwestern Piedmont around 1900; an annual corn-shucking event is among the activities held there. The Gertrude Smith House is a Victorian home with period furnishings and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A guided tour conveys the character of a “living museum.”

Founded in 1789, the Village of Rockford in Surry County is listed as a historic district. Historic buildings and landmarks in the village include Rockford Methodist Church and its “Come Unto Me” fresco by Tony Griffin.

Wine and Regional Specialties

The Yadkin Valley American Viticultural Area was established in Surry County in 2003 and was North Carolina’s first officially recognized American Viticultural Area. The Surry County Wine Trail runs through and around Dobson, Elkin, Mount Airy and Pilot Mountain. The Wine Trail map highlights 16 wineries in and around Surry County as well as three breweries; published figures may change.

Sonker is among the local culinary specialties, a traditional dish passed down through generations in Surry County. Similar to a deep-dish pie or cobbler, it is made with fruit and irregularly shaped dough. The Surry Sonker Trail leads to seven establishments that regularly offer sonker on their menus. The Surry Ground Steak Trail also features eleven family-owned restaurants serving this Surry County specialty. Participating establishments and restaurants may change; check the information before your trip.

For your trip planning, you can compare different interests: the Scenic Bikeway and hiking trails, music and history, or wine and food culture. The named places and offerings provide pointers to help you choose Surry County experiences that match what you want to focus on during your trip.

Discover more destinations: Mt Airy, Elkin, Dobson, Pinnacle, Wilkes, Polk County, Greene County and Cabarrus.

For the regional travel overview: North Carolina.