Burnsville Quilt Block Trails (Temporarily Offline) Updated 11/3/25

​

Burnsville and Yancey County are home to nine quilt block trails in the North Carolina mountains. These self-guided driving trails take folks into the countryside to view colorful quilt blocks adorning barns, buildings and churches.

Quilt block trails are a great social distancing activity for exploring the scenic byways and country roads of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Burnsville’s nine trails showcase approximately 150 blocks, one of the largest concentrations anywhere in the United States.

Of course, people often ask – what are quilt blocks?

They are large wooden squares designed, built and painted by volunteers. They are patterned after the colorful squares which adorn traditional mountain quilts.

Each block’s design is inspired by its location. For example, the “Sneakers” block on Burnsville’s old gymnasium features a flower with sneakers for its petals.

Below are brief descriptions of all nine trails in and around Burnsville, along with links to a basic driving map for each trail.​

​

Consider an overnight stay to enjoy multiple trails and explore other activities available in and around Burnsville. View a comprehensive lodging listing by clicking here.