In April 2017 before the leaves started peeking, I took a picture of the N. Toe River from the new bridge at 80 North.  The railroad tracks border the North Toe River Valley and wind through remote areas of this beautiful part of Western North Carolina.  If you come to

Spruce Pine, you can see the river and the railroad tracks from downtown's lower street...and also find them along the old Penland Post Office, or at various landings where one can canoe and kayak.

Used to be that trains came through 26 times a day hauling coal from Kentucky, but now we're lucky if we even see or hear the train once or twice a day.  But the Toe River keeps on tracking along the valley.  It is a valuable resource in our area and has some of the

finest trout fishing and kayaking available.