Harold D. Ritter Park - NC | YEAR OF THE TRAIL | 2023

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Harold D. Ritter Park

Location

301 W. Lochmere Drive
Apex
NC
27518

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Join the Brackenfest 2.0 and pedal your way toward

Join the Brackenfest 2.0 and pedal your way towards preserving nature! 🚴‍♂️🌳

THIS SATURDAY, help us secure the land and kickstart the creation of 2-3 miles of inclusive trails for our entire community. Let's match or surpass last year's success to make Bracken Preserve even better!

Learn more and register by following the link under our bio.

@oskarblueswnc @thehubpisgah @conservingcarolina @earthmountainbicycle @cedarmountainoutpost @squatchbikes @lookingglassrealty @noblebraubrewing @185kingstreet @_sylvansport @3oakhandcrafted @sycamorecycles
#Brackenfest2 #PreserveAndExpand #GreatTrailsState #GTS #YOTT #YearofTheTrail

🌿🌟 Celebrate North Carolina's Year of the Tr

🌿🌟 Celebrate North Carolina's Year of the Trail with Kid-Friendly Adventures! 🚴‍♂️🌲

1️) Fairy Trail at Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville 🧚‍♀️
Step into a world of enchantment along the 300-yard Fairy Trail! Open seasonally from June to August, this magical path, crafted by volunteer Mary Martin in 2017, beckons families into a miniature realm of make-believe. Discover fortune-telling fairies, yoga-practicing gnomes, and endless laughter from young explorers. Let the Fairy Trail inspire your own scenes of wonder!

📍 Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville, NC 28792

2️) Saxapahaw Island Trail, Saxapahaw 🏝️
Just a short walk or drive from Saxapahaw, this island paradise is perfect for kids and families. Explore a 1.3-mile walking loop around the island, offering riverfront fun, wildlife spotting, picnicking, and shady hammock naps. Let kids play on swing sets, slide down a 45-foot-long wooden fish, ascend the spider climber, and unleash their creativity at the fort creation station.

📍 Saxapahaw Island Park, Graham, NC 27253

3️) Flytrap Trail at Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach 🌱
Embark on a captivating half-mile journey along the Flytrap Trail at Carolina Beach State Park. Winding boardwalks guide you through pocosin wetlands, where you can seek out the Venus flytrap, North Carolina's official carnivorous plant, and other carnivorous wonders like pitcher plants and sundews. Kids can become explorers as they search for these unique plants in their natural habitat.

📍 Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach, NC 28428

Adventure awaits on North Carolina's trails! Which one will you explore first? 🌄👣

Read the full article on @ourstatemag by following the link under our bio.

#YearOfTheTrail #KidFriendlyAdventures #FamilyFun #NorthCarolinaTrails 🌟🚴‍♀️

🌟🌄 Thank You to everyone who joined us at th

🌟🌄 Thank You to everyone who joined us at the Ten to Try: Trails Preview event on August 31st! 🚴‍🎬

James Mieczkowski, content development producer at @mypbsnc and executive producer of Ten to Try: Trails, led an insightful discussion featuring:

🌍 Randy Johnson - Author & Travel Writer/Editor
🌟 Vivianette Ortiz - Executive Director, Aventureros en las Carolinas
🎬 Matt Chenet - Series Producer
🎥 Jeremiah McLamb - Producer/Director

If you missed any part of the Ten to Try: Trails discussion or wish to revisit it, you can watch the recording by clicking the link provided in our bio.

Your feedback holds immense value to us, the filmmakers, our production partners, and PBS North Carolina. Please spare a moment to share your thoughts about the event by participating in our brief audience survey, also linked under our bio.

Remember, Ten to Try: Trails is now available for streaming online and on the PBS App - Thank you for being part of this incredible journey, celebrating the beauty and wonder of trails that connect us all! 🌟🌲🚶‍♀️

#TenToTryTrails #Trailblazers #PBSNorthCarolina #YearOfTheTrail

Dogs love #YearOfTheTrail just as much as we do! 🐾

This week’s #YearOfTheTrail selection is the Blue Ridge Conservancy Trail located here in Blowing Rock. This 2.2 mile loop meanders up and around the BRC Campus, winding through diverse forests and delighting hikers with bold rock outcroppings mixed in with lush wildflower segments throughout.

The Blue Ridge Conservancy Trail is a relatively short but moderately strenuous hike. It begins with a short Pollinator Walk before leading up the mountain. While it doesn’t offer any overlook views, this is a great trail for exercising, dog-walking, and for those who are interested in viewing native wildflowers and some really unique rock structures.

This is a fairly low-traffic trail, which will offer some great leaf looking this Fall for those who want to avoid the congestion on those busy days on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is plenty of parking at the trailhead, and great signage as well.

Reposted from @blowingrocknc
#greattrailsnc #yearofthetrail #greattrailsstate #northcarolina

It's "Creek Week" in Rowan County, NC! 🚣‍♀️ Check out the events that will be hosted during this week-long celebration of Rowan County's waterways.

🚣 Free Kayak Launch at Lake Corriher
📍Lake Corriher Wilderness Park
When: Sept. 17 from 8am - 5pm

🎣 Kids Fish Free at Lake Corriher
📍Lake Corriher Wilderness Park
When: Sept. 17 from 8am - 5pm

🌊 Creek Crawl and Exploration
📍Lake Corriher Wilderness Park
When: Sept. 17 from 2pm - 3:30pm

🥾 Stanback Educational Forest Hike
📍Fred and Alice Stanback Educational Forest and Nature Preserve
When: Sept. 18 from 5:30pm - 6:30pm

🌊 Water Wednesday
📍City Lake Park
When: Sept. 20 from 4pm - 6pm

🧽 Town Creek Cleanup
📍Town Creek Park
When: Sept. 22 from 5pm - 7pm

🗑 Heroes Branch Litter Cleanup
📍Heroes Creek Branch
When: Sept. 23 from 8:30am - 10am

See more details as well as our full list of events by visiting the link under our bio.

#greattrailsnc #yearofthetrail #greattrailsstate #northcarolina #creekweek #rowancounty #rowancountync

🌟 It has been an EPIC year of adventure in Nort

🌟 It has been an EPIC year of adventure in North Carolina! 🌄🚴‍♂️

The counties with the most events for the Year of the Trail are turning up the excitement! From jaw-dropping coastal trails in Dare County to greenways in Wake County, and everything in between, it's time to explore the Tar Heel State like never before. 🗺️👟

Let's make 2023 the year of unforgettable trails and outdoor fun! 🎉🌲

#greattrailsnc #yearofthetrail #greattrailsstate #northcarolina #NCAdventures #ExploreNC #TrailBlazers

Celebrate the inaugural Great Trails State Day on

Celebrate the inaugural Great Trails State Day on Saturday, October 21st, and join thousands of others on North Carolina’s amazing and diverse trail networks that span from the mountains to the coast.

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.

Read more by following the link under our bio.

#yearofthetrail #greattrailsnc #greattrailsstate

Raleigh, NC – The NC Division of Parks and Recreat

Raleigh, NC - The NC Division of Parks and Recreation (NCDPR) recently awarded $3,025,636 in grants for 13 land acquisition projects through the Complete the Trails Program Fund (CTF). These grants will leverage more than $13 million in matching funds to help local nonprofit partners acquire land for state trails projects in nine North Carolina counties. Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) was awarded two land acquisition grants, for $125,000 and $144,000 respectively, to expand the corridor for the Northern Peaks State Trail (NPST). These grants will allow BRC to protect an additional 48 acres on The Peak in Creston, which will eventually become part of Elk Knob State Park and the NPST.

“We are very excited about the two land acquisition awards that BRC received from the Complete the Trails Program,” says NPST Coordinator Jordan Sellers. “That type of funding is crucial to completing our state trails and we thank the NC General Assembly for supporting our work in this way. These acquisitions will continue protection along the Amphibolite Mountains, expand Elk Knob State Park and expand the NPST corridor. Thank you to BRC’s Land Protection Director, Eric Hiegl, for making this happen.”

Follow the link under our bio for more details.
Reposted from @northernpeaksstatetrail

culturequeensoutdoors is outside! For this editio

culturequeensoutdoors is outside!

For this edition of "day hikes in NC" founder Jennifer Michelle travels to Carter Falls. 🥾🌳

"This 10 minute, half mile hike, did not disappoint. I was the only one there because of the possible storm and enjoyed every minute of it. Bring your water shoes, snacks and a bag to carry your trash out. LEAVE NO TRACE."

The trailhead to Carter Falls connects in the other direction to a segment of North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Add this hike to your list and enjoy a nice day in the water.

Note: This is a moderate hike with steep decline to access the water feature.

Join them for their next hike, Sep 30. Link in bio to all of their upcoming events!

#culturequeensoutdoors #mst #yearofthetrail #visitnc #culturequeenshike #blackgirlshike #mountaintoseatrail #carterfalls

Have you been thinking about completing the entire

Have you been thinking about completing the entire trail? Or, just curious what it actually takes to do so? 🥾

If you've ever wanted to day hike, section hike or thru hike the MST and you're not sure where to start, join @mountainstoseatrail on Zoom, September 12th at 7pm to hear from a wonderful panel of MST Completers.

Jennifer Browndorf will host this esteemed panel of completers as they share their experiences on planning, packing, hiking and more. They will share what worked, what didn't work and how they dealt with challenges on and off the trail. There will be an opportunity for Q&A so make sure to have your questions ready!

Follow the link below to find more information and register!

bit.ly/MSTbirthday

#mountainstoseatrail #MSTbirthday
Reposted from @mountainstoseatrail

In the month of September, we're celebrating #Year

In the month of September, we're celebrating #YearOfTheTrail by encouraging you to Achieve a Trail Goal, no matter how big or small. We're fortunate to have the Mountains-to-Sea Trail across our state, inspiring goal-setting at any given point. The combined efforts between the Great Trails State Coalition and Great Outdoor Provision Co. @trustygopc this month will surely leave you inspired to #AchieveATrailGoal!

#YOTT #GreatTrailsNC #GreatTrailsState #ExploreGlobal #ShopLocal #TrustyGOPC #GOPC #MST

🌿 Embracing Nature in Education 📚🍃 In a

🌿 Embracing Nature in Education 📚🍃

In a world where technology dominates education, Merrick-Moore Elementary in Durham Public Schools (DPS) is breaking the mold! Meet Stephen Mullaney, the outdoor education guru who champions the idea that nature can be an enriching educational tool.

Stephen's mission? To make every student 'wild in the wild,' all while staying safe and coming back better than ever! 🌲🎒 Stephen and the rest of the staff at Merrick Moore are turning nature into a consistent part of their students' educational journey, and include a section about outdoor learning into every educator’s Professional Development Plan.

"'Wilderness Wednesday' is our thing, and it's epic! From state park rangers to local scientists, everyone's involved in educating students on the environment" 🌄🔬 Through interactive sessions, students gain hands-on knowledge, bridging classroom teachings with real-world applications.

But wait, there's more! Stephen's outdoor lessons are a wild mix – from building trails to exploring ecosystems. “Some of our students' favorite experiences have been developing and building our trails on campus and then being able to use those spaces for classes and to find comfort in being outdoors,” says Mullaney. Students also enjoy outings to Pilot Mountain and sections of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, where they connect classroom learning to real-world environments. 🚴‍♂️🌿

"In the digital age, we're finding the balance. Short outdoor bursts keep students captivated, and nature's allure wins every time!"📱 vs. 🌳

Stephen Mullaney and the rest of the staff at Merrick-Moore Elementary are proving that the great outdoors makes the ultimate classroom. Let's celebrate the Year of the Trail and embrace the magic of merging education and nature! 🌟🌎

Read the whole blog up on our website by following the link under our bio.

#OutdoorEducation #NatureLovers #LearningWild #greattrailsnc #yearofthetrail #greattrailsstate #northcarolina

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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