GREAT TRAILS STATE DAY

North Carolina IS The Great Trails State!

Celebrate the second annual Great Trails State Day on Saturday, October 19th, 2024, and join thousands of others in celebrating North Carolina’s amazing and diverse trail networks that span from the mountains to the coast.

The inagural Great Trails State Day was October 21, 2023, as part of NC’s Year of the Trail. On this day, thousands of people across North Carolina joined events and explored trails in The Great Trails State. This year, and every year on the third Saturday in October, you’re invited to join in the fun!

Call a neighbor or friend, lace up your shoes or boots, get on a bike, borrow a kayak, or saddle up your horse and get outside on a trail! And, don’t forget to smile and say, “hello!” to others you may see out there!

There’s truly a trail for everyone, everywhere, in North Carolina – from easy and accessible to challenging and even thrill-seeking. Every trail is an adventure for exploration, movement, health, and joy.


Find your trail here on our “Find a Trail” page, and find a Great Trails State Day event on our events page here!

While you’re out there, don’t forget to share your trail experience with us – take a photo with a friend on your favorite trail! We’ll be creating an album to commemorate this great day in this great year in The Great Trails State! Tag us @greattrailsnc and #greattrailsstateday2024

Are you interested in planning a Great Trails State Day event? The possibilities are limitless and don’t need to be complicated – partner with a local outings group, church, senior center, or other organization to share the fun.

Here are a few other ideas:

  • Guided hike/walk/paddle/ride or meet up
  • Paddle expo day
  • Bike rodeo
  • Scavenger hunt
  • Trail tracker completion challenge – see our template here
  • Tours
  • Facebook live event
  • Have a picnic on a trail

Tools and Assets:

For more information, contact: info@greattrailsnc.com

Great Trails State Day News: 2024 Farm Act Officially Designates Third Saturday in October as Great Trails State Day

GREAT TRAILS STATE DAY is a special day just for North Carolina to celebrate our diverse networks of all types of trails – walking, cycling, running, paddling, climbing and equestrian.

This year, Great Trails State Day will occur on Saturday, October 19.

Look for events across the state or find a trail on your own. No matter where you are in North Carolina in October, it’s a beautiful time of year to be outside exploring our beautiful state on a trail!

Great Trails State Day was first celebrated on October 21, 2023, as part of NC’s Year of the Trail. Now, with official designation, Great Trails State Day will happen every year on the 3rd Saturday in October!

Last year on Great Trails State Day, thousands of people across North Carolina joined events and explored trails in The Great Trails State.

Make your plans to join the fun this year. Call a neighbor or friend, lace up your shoes or boots, get on a bike, borrow a kayak, or saddle up your horse and get outside on a trail! And, don’t forget to smile and say, “hello!” to others you may see out there!

There’s truly a trail for everyone, everywhere, in North Carolina – from easy and accessible to challenging and even thrill-seeking. Every trail is an adventure for exploration, movement, health, and joy.

Why is it Important to Celebrate NC Trails?

Trails provide free access to healthy recreation, safe transportation alternatives, and contribute to the quality of life in communities of all sizes, making places desirable for residents, visitors and businesses. Trails are an important economic driver, serving as the backbone of North Carolina’s outdoor recreation economy, which reached $14.6 billion in 2022. As the 5th top state for tourism, North Carolina attracts visitors in large part due to our diversified natural landscapes, from the mountains to the coast.

    Wherever you are in The Great Trails State and no matter how you choose to get out on a trail, be sure to follow Outdoor NC’s Leave No Trace Principles – preserving the beauty of trails and minimizing impacts keeps things great for generations to come!