The outing today is a Davidson County Park, Boone Cave. Once a NC State Park, it got demoted when no evidence emerged linking the site to Daniel Boone. Boone did live in the area when he was a teenager. His parents owned property near the forks of the Yadkin and his journal says he briefly lived in a cave while they built a cabin. The forks of the Yadkin are about 5 miles downriver. There are some stories too. Supposedly, there was an arrow shaped rock found on the property with D. Boone carved into it. I didn't get to see this. There is no way to verify who carved it.
However, I did get to visit the tallest Cottonwood tree east of the Mississippi. At 169 feet (maybe a bit lower now that a couple upper branches were blown off) it is a big tree. Right next to the Yadkin River too. Cottonwoods grow fast. They have deep grooves in the bark and branch early. So they look old but aren't as old as you'd think. It is an impressive tree.
The cave entrance on the right is the large one. You can crawl in and sit upright but not stand. There is a sizeable chamber, about as big as a single car garage but with a low ceiling. There is a passage leading back further but I understand it has been filled in to prevent folks from going in deeper.
The entrance on the left, is a narrow passage but I could see light about 20 feet in.
The old stone steps are still there with a warning.
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