A lot is happening in the trail building world. From Georgia to Virginia, trail crews are planning new paths through our forests. Here’s a quick glance at this trail renaissance.
Spearhead Trails, Southwest Virginia
An entire system of multi-use trails is in the works for several counties in Southwest Virginia in an attempt to attract tourist dollars and jobs associated with hikers, bikers, ATVers, and equestrians. The proposed trails are currently undergoing a feasibility study to project the economic impact to the region.
High Country Trails, Western North Carolina
A network including 389 miles of new hiking trails has been mapped by the High Country Council of Governments in Western North Carolina. The trails would stretch across Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany and Wilkes counties in North Carolina. $25,000 has already been approved for the project from the state and local governments.
Fat Tire Heaven, North Georgia
A new trail system is in the works for Georgia’s Chattahoochee National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service and local biking and equestrian groups are in the process of building the Dry Creek Trail System, 25 miles of shared use trails in the Conasauga River District in northwest Georgia. Construction of the singletrack is scheduled to begin this month. The trail system will connect to the popular Pinhoti Trail, one of the few long-distance mountain bike trails available in the Southeast.
Downtown Singletrack, Asheville, N.C.
The Southern Off-Road Biking Association (SORBA) plans to build a five-mile trail system at Richmond Hill, a 171-acre park five minutes from downtown Asheville. Kid-friendly features and some technical fun is included in the master plan.
