Blue Ridge Parkway - NC | YEAR OF THE TRAIL | 2023

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Blue Ridge Parkway

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Milepost 294
Blowing Rock
NC

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It was an exciting morning in Randleman with the r

It was an exciting morning in Randleman with the ribbon cutting of the new Worthville Rd boaters access area on the Deep River State Trail!

#yearofthetrail #yottnc #greattrailsnc #greattrailsstate #blueways #kayak

Greenways play a vital role in The Great Trails St

Greenways play a vital role in The Great Trails State. By providing accessible recreation opportunities, greenways enable people of all abilities to enjoy the many benefits of spending time outdoors.

These paths are typically wide, flat, and smooth, making them easy to navigate for people with mobility issues or who use assistive devices like wheelchairs or walkers, and they're also great for strollers!

Greenways often feature accessible amenities like restrooms, benches, and water fountains. They connect parks, businesses, and neighborhoods and are typically located near public transportation, allowing to easily access to them.

#yearofthetrail #ncyott #northcarolina #greattrailsnc #greattrailsstate #getoutside #greenways #accessibility #disabilityawarenessmonth

Thank you to Lucy Crown for sharing these photos from the Reed Creek Greenway in Asheville!

Ty Caldwell knows the blueways of Western North Ca

Ty Caldwell knows the blueways of Western North Carolina better than most, having grown up on the river. A world-class whitewater kayaker and instructor, he gained the skills necessary to run Class V rapids all over the world after learning on the whitewater trails of North Carolina.

Follow along with @mypbsnc and Ty for an exciting trip down the Cheoah River! A link to the fantastic video is in our bio!

#yearofthetrail #ncyott #greattrailsnc #greattraailsstate #getoutside #whitewater #kayak

Trails at the beach? You bet! If you're on the Out

Trails at the beach? You bet! If you're on the Outer Banks, check out Jockey's Ridge State Park for a unique experience. There are trees, grasses, and plenty of sand dunes too!

#yearofthetrail #ncyott #greattrailsstate #northcarolina #greattrailsnc #getoutside #trails #obx

Happy International Forest Day! Did you know that

Happy International Forest Day! Did you know that the Cradle of Forestry is right here in The Great Trails State?

The Cradle of Forestry in America, in Pisgah National Forest, outside of Asheville, is the birthplace of modern science based forest management.

The Biltmore Forest School was established in this area in 1898 by the chief forester for George Vanderbilt and the Biltmore Estate, Dr. Carl Schenck, and was the first school of forestry in the United States.

It set the precedent for forest management and conservation in the years to come. Now, much of the site is preserved, and visitors can see historic buildings and hike the Pink Beds trail loop through the forest.

#internationalforestday #yearofthetrail #greattrailsnc #greattrailsstate #ncyott #northcarolina #biltmore

It's great to see organizations working together t

It's great to see organizations working together to add to and improve trails in North Carolina!

Last month, folks braved the weather and came together and joined Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail at Jones Lake State Park and Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest in Bladen County for a ribbon cutting at this bridge on section 13 of the @mountainstoseatrail

The new bridge was constructed with funding from the Complete the Trails Fund and was the first project to be completed with it. As part of the 2021 North Carolina budget, the Complete the Trails Funds marks a significant investment in trails by the State of North Carolina and provides much-needed funds for our 12 official state trails, including the MST. Funding from this program will allow organizations to continue improving and expanding the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and other trails across the state!

Thanks to everyone who came out, including Senator Brent Jackson, who helped approve funding for projects on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and all other authorized state trails.

Photo by: Stephanie Barnhill Neal

#yearofthetrail #greattrailsstate #greattrailsnc #ncyott #trails #northcarolina #mountainstoseatrail

Now that it's officially spring, it's time to spri

Now that it's officially spring, it's time to spring into action! Great trails don't build or maintain themselves, and it's important to get involved and advocate for more trails of all kinds for all people and all abilities in The Great Trails State!

With the weather beginning to beckon us to get outside, we want to encourage everyone to get outside and onto the trail. Join a local trail organization working to better trails in your area, take a friend out on a trail for the first time, or try a trail that's new to you!

Tell us and everyone else about the benefits that trails bring to you and how you're springing into action by tagging us in your posts and sharing your stories.

#yearofthetrail #ncyott #greattrailsstate #greattrailsnc #northcarolina #trails #spring

Happy first day of Spring! With warmer weather on

Happy first day of Spring! With warmer weather on the horizon, where are you planning to get on a trail?

This is the Deep River State Trail in Franklinville. You can walk, bike, jog, or roll down the abandoned rail line that's part of one of North Carolina's State Trails to see rocky boulders, bluffs, and more!

#yearofthetrail #ncyott #greattrailsstate #greattrailsnc #northcarolina #getoutside #trails #spring

📷: @piedmontlegacytrails

Trails are for everyone, and it's not a "one size

Trails are for everyone, and it's not a "one size fits all" when it comes to developing more accessible opportunities. According to Terry Schupbach-Gordon, ADA, while the centerpiece of equality in the world we live in, is not the only measure of an “accessible” trail.

The equipment that one uses can make an enormous difference. Terry looks forward to the day when trail descriptions say more than “ADA accessible,” which she says usually means no elevation and paved surfaces. These are important trails for accessibility, and fine if that is what you are looking but for many, like Terry, there's additional adventure to be found!

This is the Foundation trail in Pisgah National Forest in Old Fort, NC. The trail was built with mountain bikers in mind, but with the right equipment, it is perfect for Terry too. Read more about Terry and how she hikes with wheels in the article she did with Conserving Carolina. You can find it by following the link in our bio.

Great trails and clean water go hand in hand. They

Great trails and clean water go hand in hand. They're both critical for our well-being and for the environment. If you're in the piedmont and looking for something to do over the next week, check out CWEP's regional Creek Week!

There are all sorts of activities happening in various cities and towns and ways to get involved. Follow the link in our bio for more information! @cwep_nc

#yearofthetrail #ncyott #northcarolina #greattrailsnc #greattrailsstate #cleanwater

If you find yourself hiking near the Uwharrie Moun

If you find yourself hiking near the Uwharrie Mountains, tack on this stop — The Pisgah Covered Bridge.

The quarter-mile trail around the creek weaves through the beautiful mountain laurel (blooming now!). Built-in 1911 (for 40 bucks), the bridge is one of two remaining original covered bridges in North Carolina. And it's right there in the Uwharrie National Forest!

Thanks to Brianna at @piedmontlegacytrails for sharing this photo!

#yearofthetrail #ncyott #greattrailsstate #greattrailsnc #northcarolina #trails #takeahike #pisgahcoveredbridge #pisgah #uwharrienationalforest

Happy #waterfallwednesday from the High Shoals Fal

Happy #waterfallwednesday from the High Shoals Falls Trail in South Mountains State Park.

Thanks to @jonathang_78 for sharing this awesome photo!

#ncyott #yearofthetrail #northcarolina #greattrailsnc #greattrailsstate #trails #takeahike

THE OUTDOOR RECREATION ECONOMY GENERATES $11.8 BILLION IN
ANNUAL REVENUE IN NORTH CAROLINA & 130,000 jobs

trails are building north carolina

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

The Great Trails State Coalition is a broad-based group of diverse organizations, agencies, and supporters advocating for increased state investment in all types of trails statewide: hiking, paddle, mountain biking, equestrian, and paved.

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