Upper Triad Topography (Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham: home, living, best)

[doggydad]

I have tried Google earth but still can't get a good idea of what the topography is like in the Winston/Salem and Greensboro area. We would like to see some rolling hills but don't particularly wish to live IN the mountains. Anybody know?????????

thx,
doggydad's wife

[silverwing]

Originally Posted by doggydad

I have tried Google earth but still can't get a good idea of what the topography is like in the Winston/Salem and Greensboro area.

A webcam from Forsyth County (where Winston-Salem is located)

http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/envaffairs/hlymetdata/viscam1.htm (broken link)

http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/envaffairs/hlymetdata/viscam.htm (broken link)

(That's Pilot Mountain sticking up to the left of center)

You really don't get a sense of going UP until you get past Mt. Airy and toward Virginia (about 50 miles north of W-S)

[JAS]

That describes the Triad -- rolling hills.

I prefer the Triad's landscape to that of the Triangle area (Raleigh/Durham). The Triad has more hardwood trees than RDU and seems to have more hills since it is closer to the mountains. Plus, the mountains of western NC and VA are a very short drive away - my family does day trips all the time into the mountains.

[mm34b]

Forsyth County is in the northwestern piedmont of North Carolina, about 50 miles east of the Blue Ridge Escarpment. The topography is characterized by rolling hills punctuated by knobs, ridges and valleys. The average elevation in the county is 870 feet above sea level, with the highest and lowest elevations being 1105 feet near Rural Hall and 700 feet where the Yadkin River enters Davidson Co. to the south.

Guilford County has an average elevation of around 800 feet above sea level. The range in altitude however is almost 500 feet, from a high of about 1000 feet above sea level in a couple of spots in the Northwest corner of the county, to a low of about 500 feet where Alamance Creek lies under Lake Mackintosh the Southeast corner of the county. This NW to SE gradation reflects the general sloping of the piedmont region of North Carolina.

[Prichard]

Greensboro is somewhat flat for the most part - with sporatic mild rolling hills. I used to do some running in Greensboro and it wasn't all that much different than runing in Central Florida, maybe parts of northern Florida. Atlanta is much hillier. I don't recall seeing any real hilly areas in Greensboro. Don't know about the other two cities.

[Tarheelhombre]

Winston-Salem is at the very eastern edge of the foothills. ON clear days, you can see Pilot Mountain and other mountains to the west from the city.

[Michael37611]

You'll find rolling hills North of Greensboro
North of Greensboro you have the smaller communites of Oakridge,
Summerfield, Stokesdale, and then Rockingham county communities
these are smaller, more country settings
Then you hit the Virginia line, Close enough to drive to work to Greensboro or Winston and then go home to the peace of country living
South of Greensboro you have the smaller communities of Pleasant Garden, Level Cross (Home of Richard Petty) Randleman, Ramseur, Franklinville, Climax
again smaller country areas close enough to the big cities where you can have the best of both worlds

[ttsinternet]

please advice your comment, which is the best brand for surveying items?
are welcome comments.

[Local Knowledge]

Winston-Salem definitely has rolling hills - even our downtown! The tallest buildings downtown "change" depending on where you're standing! I'm spoiled by the character our topo has, even though sometimes I forget until I travel to flat places.