2013 Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests Non-motorized Trail Strategy acohen NFsNC 1/1/2013 Produced by the National Forests in North Carolina in conjunction with Trail Strategy Collaborators from the following organizations: American Endurance Riding Conference, Andrews Valley Initiative, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Back Country Horsemen of North Carolina, Back Country Horsemen Great Smoky Mountains, Back Country Horsemen of Big Creek, Back Country Horsemen of Pisgah, Benton MacKaye Trail Association, Big Ivy Amblers, Blue Ridge Horseman's Association, Boone Area Cyclists, Inc, Buncombe County Parks Greenways and Rec Services, Cane Creek Cycling Components, Carolina Mountain Club, Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, Cherokee Choices, Cherokee National Forest, Cradle of Forestry Interpretive Association, Foothills Conservancy, Foothills Trail Conference, Friends of DuPont Forest, Friends of Panthertown, Gorges State Park, Graham County Recreation, Graham Revitalization Economic Action Team, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, High Country Hikers, Hot Springs Mountain Club, Jackson Macon Conservation Alliance, Macon County Horse Association, McDowell Tourism Development Authority, McDowell Trails Association, Mountain High Hikers, Nantahala Area Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association,, Nantahala Hiking Club, NC Bartram Trail Society, NC Division of Parks and Recreation, NC High Peaks Trail Association, NC Horse Council, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, NC Youth Camp Association Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Association, Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail National Park, Partners of Joyce Kilmer, Piedmont Triad Regional Council, Pisgah Area Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association,, Pisgah Group of Sierra Club, Pisgah Trailblazers, Riverwalk Murphy, Southern Appalachian Bicycling Association, Sierra Club- WENOCA group, Smoky Mountain Bicycles, Southeast Endurance Riders Association, Tarheel Trailblazers North Group, The Hub & Back Country Outdoors, The Wilderness Society- Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards, Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club, Trail Dynamics LLC, Western North Carolina Alliance, WildSouth, Western North Carolina Outdoors, Yancey County Economic Development Commission Table of Contents Trails on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests ............................................................................. 1 Purpose of the Strategy ........................................................................................................................... 1 Current State of the Trails ....................................................................................................................... 2 Collaborative Process.............................................................................................................................. 4 Trails Strategy Goals............................................................................................................................... 5 USDA Forest Service Trail Management Direction ............................................................................... 6 Trail Fundamentals ......................................................................................................................... 6 Trail Management Objectives (TMO) ............................................................................................ 7 National Quality Standards for Trails ............................................................................................. 7 Trail Sustainability .................................................................................................................................. 8 Environmental Sustainability .......................................................................................................... 8 Social Sustainability........................................................................................................................ 9 Financial Sustainability ................................................................................................................... 9 Volunteers ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Trail Proposal Evaluation ..................................................................................................................... 11 Nantahala National Forest Districts ...................................................................................................... 12 Cheoah District ................................................................................................................................. 13 Cheoah District-West- Trail Complex Vicinity Map........................................................................ 14 Cheoah District-East- Trail Complex Vicinity Map ......................................................................... 15 Cheoah District – Collaborator Comments ....................................................................................... 16 Joyce Kilmer - Slickrock Wilderness Trail Complex ................................................................... 17 Snowbird Trail Complex............................................................................................................... 20 Santeetlah Lake Trail Complex .................................................................................................... 21 Yellow Creek / Cheoah Bald Trail Complex ................................................................................ 22 Tsali Trail Complex ...................................................................................................................... 23 Cheoah District -District-Wide Comments ................................................................................... 25 Nantahala District ............................................................................................................................. 27 Nantahala District – West - Trail Complex Vicinity Map ................................................................ 29 ii Nantahala District - Collaborator Comments ................................................................................... 31 Appletree / Nantahala Gorge Trail Complex ................................................................................ 32 Wine Springs / Wayah Bald Trail Complex ................................................................................. 33 Standing Indian Trail Complex ..................................................................................................... 34 Highlands Trail Complex .............................................................................................................. 35 Panthertown Trail Complex .......................................................................................................... 36 Nantahala District -District-Wide Comments ............................................................................... 39 Tusquitee District .............................................................................................................................. 40 Tusquitee District – West - Trail Complex Vicinity Map ................................................................ 41 Tusquitee District – East - Trail Complex Vicinity Map .................................................................. 42 Tusquitee District - Collaborator Comments ................................................................................... 43 Benton Mackaye Trail Complex ................................................................................................... 44 Hanging Dog Trail Complex ........................................................................................................ 45 Fires Creek Trail Complex ............................................................................................................ 46 Jack Rabbit Trail Complex ........................................................................................................... 50 Chunky Gal / Southern Nantahala Trail Complex ........................................................................ 52 Tusquitee District - District-Wide Comments .............................................................................. 53 Pisgah National Forest Districts............................................................................................................ 54 Appalachian District ......................................................................................................................... 55 Appalachian District – West - Trail Complex Vicinity Map ............................................................ 57 Appalachian District – Central - Trail Complex Vicinity Map ........................................................ 58 Appalachian District – North - Trail Complex Vicinity Map ........................................................... 59 Appalachian District – Southeast - Trail Complex Vicinity Map..................................................... 60 Appalachian District - Collaborator Comments ............................................................................... 61 Harmon Den Trail Complex ......................................................................................................... 62 Hot Springs Trail Complex ........................................................................................................... 63 Shelton Laurel Trail Complex .....................................................................................................