Great Trails State
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the GREAT TRAILS STATE A Guide for Exploring the Trails of North Carolina With an abundance of trails and diverse COASTAL PLAIN | DUCK TRAIL landscapes, North Carolina is a unique gem in the southeastern United States. Whether you’re interested in climbing a mountain, paddling along a river, or biking along a coastal greenway, exploring the trails will allow you to experience the diverse landscapes and communities of North Carolina. Photo Credit: of Duck Town Cover: Yadkin River Greenway; Alta Planning + Design REGIONAL & STATEWIDE TRAILS MOUNTAINS-TO-SEA STATE TRAIL www.ncmountainstosea.org The Mountains-to-Sea State Trail (MST) is a Regional & continuous off-road trail that will stretch about 1,000 Statewide Trails miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks. The trail is a Explore a whole region of North Carolina or even the charming mixture of natural surface through remote entire state by using a few of the statewide and regional wilderness and paved greenways through cities and trail systems. The Mountains-to-Sea State Trail, East Coast towns, representing the diversity of North Carolina. Greenway, and Carolina Thread Trail are all currently under Over 600 miles are already developed and in use. development, but the completed sections are open for use. These trail systems seek to connect existing greenways EAST COAST GREENWAY and to offer an expanded trail network that allows for the www.greenway.org exploration and appreciation of nature. The East Coast Greenway is a shared-use trail system that will provide a continuous route along the eastern coast from Canada to Florida. In North Carolina, the current route runs through the Triangle, Sandhills region, Fayetteville, and the Cape Fear River. Currently, about twenty-five percent of the trail is on traffic-free greenways in NC, offering safe and accessible corridors for users of all abilities and ages. CAROLINA THREAD TRAIL www.carolinathreadtrail.org The Carolina Thread Trail is a regional network of over 220 miles of greenways, blueways, conserved corridors, and trails that connect 15 counties and two states. The vision for the Carolina Thread Trail originated from a regional process that identified open space preservation as a top priority. Activities offered along this trail include hiking, biking, and paddling. PIEDMONT | AMERICAN TOBACCO TRAIL Photo Credit: Dave Connelly TRAILS PARKS IN STATE COASTAL PLAIN | DISMAL SWAMP Photo Credit: Dismal Swamp State Park Trails in State Parks Conservation, recreation, and MOUNTAINMOUNTAIN PIEDMONTPIEDMONT COASTALCOASTAL PLAIN PLAIN education are hallmarks of the STATE STATEPARKS PARKS STATE STATEPARKS PARKS STATE STATEPARKS PARKS state BICYCLINGpark BICYCLINGsystem. The North ChimneyChimney Rock Rock CarversCarvers Creek Creek Clis ofClis the ofNeuse the Neuse CrowdersCrowders Mountain Mountain Eno RiverEno River DismalDismal Swamp Swamp CarolinaWALKING/HIKING stateWALKING/HIKING parks system encompasses more than 225,000 Elk KnobElk Knob Falls LakeFalls Lake GooseGoose Creek Creek EQUESTRIANEQUESTRIAN acres of land and seeks to GorgesGorges Haw RiverHaw River Jones JonesLake Lake preserve the natural resources GrandfatherGrandfather Mountain Mountain JordanJordan Lake Lake Lake WaccamawLake Waccamaw of the state while offering HangingHanging Rock Rock Kerr LakeKerr Lake MedocMedoc Mountain Mountain outdoor recreation opportunities. Lake JamesLake James LumberLumber River River MerchantsMerchants Millpond Millpond Hundreds of miles of trails Lake NormanLake Norman Mayo RiverMayo River PettigrewPettigrew with varying levels of difficulty MountMount Jeerson Jeerson OcconeecheeOcconeechee Mountain Mountain SingletarySingletary Lake Lake can be found within the state MountMount Mitchell Mitchell RavenRaven Rock Rock CarolinaCarolina Beach Beach parks. Aside from activities like MorrowMorrow Mountain Mountain WeymouthWeymouth Woods Woods Fort FisherFort Fisher hiking and biking, there are also New RiverNew River WilliamWilliam B. Umstead B. Umstead Fort MaconFort Macon equestrian, paddle, and accessible Pilot MountainPilot Mountain HammocksHammocks Beach Beach trails for persons with disabilities. South SouthMountains Mountains Jockey’sJockey’s Ridge Ridge Visit www.ncparks.gov Stone StoneMountain Mountain saoC WALKING/ saoC BICYCLING HIKING EQUESTRIAN PADDLE NORTH CAROLINA’S LONGEST TRAILS LONGEST CAROLINA’S NORTH North Carolina’s Photo Credit: ITRE Longest Trails NEUSE RIVER TRAIL (LONGEST GREENWAY) The Neuse River Trail offers scenic views of the Neuse River, winding wetlands, boardwalk, historical sites, interpretive signs, and agricultural fields. Open to cyclists and pedestrians, the Neuse River Trail is the longest greenway trail in North Carolina, spanning 28 miles with connections to the Raleigh Capital Area Greenway System. The trail is a section of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail, and a portion of it is designated as the East Coast Greenway. NEUSE RIVER PADDLE TRAIL (LONGEST PADDLE TRAIL) If strolling the Neuse River Greenway Trail doesn’t satisfy, users can paddle the river instead. With canoe launches along the river, a quick trip can be made to relax and view wildlife or a several-day camping adventure can be had from Falls Dam to New Bern. A main feature along the 142 mile paddle trail is the Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, with breathtaking riverside cliffs that soar 70 feet above the water. MOUNTAINS-TO-SEA STATE TRAIL: BALSAM TO STONE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK SEGMENT (LONGEST HIKING TRAIL) This 270-mile segment of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail provides stunning mountain vistas and dramatic waterfalls. As you hike some of the most challenging terrain in the state, you will be able to see four states from the top of Waterrock Knob, walk through the ghost forest at Graveyard Falls, and immerse yourself in the history of this place and its people. The route follows part of the Blue Ridge Parkway and passes through Pisgah National Forest, Biltmore Forest, Mount Mitchell State Park, and Grandfather Mountain State Park. PIEDMONT | NEUSE RIVER TRAIL These are just a sampling of North Carolina’s greatest trails. Explore These were selected based on input from residents and visitors about their favorite trails, trail length, and a desire to feature a NORTH CAROLINA’S TRAILS variety of trail types across the state. North Carolina is fortunate to have many great trails, and this booklet may be updated in future years to feature more of them. Ararat/ Roanoke Canal Taylor Dan River Neuse River Greenway Trail/Roanoke Trail Trail River Paddle Trail 25 29 14 Rocky Knob 36 MTB Park 7 Haw River 23 Art Loeb 28 Paddle Trail 5 Trail 15 26 9 Nags Salem Deep River 10 Crabtree 40 Head Creek Paddle Creek Path Tsali Greenway 31 Greenway Trail 37 Tar River Recreation 4 Black Creek/ 30 33 Paddle Trail Area 27 32 White Oak 3 PIEDMONT Greenway 17 MOUNTAIN 21 Walnut COASTAL 22 Mallard/ 8 Creek 20 24 Clark's Creek Greenway PLAIN 18 19 2 Greenway 16 Bearwallow 6 Cape Fear 1 Mountain 35 River Trail 34 Trail Murphy Little Brevard Thermal All 13 Riverwalk and Tennessee Greenway Belt Rail American Trail Trail Canoe Trail River Greenway 38 39 FEATURED TRAILS Camp Emerald 11 Lejeune Isle Bike Jackrabbit Little Sugar Lumber River Trail Path 1 6 11 Trail Creek Greenway Paddle Trail 12 Dupont Hanging Rock Gary Shell 2 State Forest 7 State Park 12 Cross-City Trail French Broad Uwharrie Neusiok 3 River Paddle Trail 8 National 13 Trail and Greenway Recreation Trail Dismal Swamp Mount Mitchell Bicentennial 14 Canal Trail and 4 State Park 9 Greenway Paddle Trail Yadkin River American Duck Trail and 5 Greenway and 10 Tobacco Trail 15 Boardwalk Paddle Trail Explore The rest of this booklet is organized by the state’s three NORTH CAROLINA’S TRAILS distinct regions—Mountain, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain— and features five trails within each region. Get ready to start exploring the great trails of North Carolina. 14 7 5 9 15 10 4 3 PIEDMONT MOUNTAIN COASTAL 8 PLAIN 2 6 1 13 FEATURED TRAILS Jackrabbit Little Sugar Lumber River 1 6 Trail Creek Greenway 11 Paddle Trail 11 Dupont Hanging Rock Gary Shell 2 State Forest 7 State Park 12 Cross-City Trail 12 French Broad Uwharrie Neusiok 3 River Paddle Trail 8 National 13 Trail and Greenway Recreation Trail Dismal Swamp Mount Mitchell Bicentennial 14 Canal Trail and 4 State Park 9 Greenway Paddle Trail Yadkin River American Duck Trail and 5 Greenway and 10 Tobacco Trail 15 Boardwalk Paddle Trail OTHER NC TRAILS MOUNTAIN REGION MOUNTAIN 14 7 15 5 9 10 4 3 PIEDMONT MOUNTAIN COASTAL 8 PLAIN 2 6 1 13 11 12 As its name suggests, the Mountain region is MOUNTAIN REGION characterized by mountain ranges that weave through the western part of the state. The region 1 Jackrabbit Trail showcases a number of natural features, including Dupont State waterfalls, valleys, lakes, rivers, and streams. In 2 Forest the fall, make your way up to one of the 6,000- French Broad foot peaks to enjoy scenic views of foliage and 3 River Paddle Trail wild flora. Forests and parks are plentiful in the and Greenway Mountains region, including the Pisgah National Mount Mitchell Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and 4 State Park the Nantahala National Forest. Yadkin River 5 Greenway and Paddle Trail Photo Credit: Alta Planning + Design MOUNTAIN REGION MOUNTAIN MOUNTAIN REGION MOUNTAIN Photo Credit: WNCOutdoors Credit: Photo Photo credit: WNCOutdoors 1 2 Jackrabbit Trail Dupont State Forest A regional favorite, the Jackrabbit Mountain Distance Do you enjoy hikes with a reward at Distance Recreation Area and Trail offers adventure 13.7 miles the end of the trail? Look no further 83.4 miles for all skill levels with its looping network of Surface Type than Dupont State Forest! Best known Surface Type hiking and mountain biking trails running Dirt for its many waterfalls, this multi-use Dirt along the edges of a peninsula jutting into Location recreational forest will satisfy a variety Location Chatuge Lake. Trails are defined by unique 105 Cherokee Point of outdoor pursuits.