Gamelands are usually managed primarily for hunters, but in North Carolina, several of the state’s 20 gamelands have become popular with hikers, runners, mountain bikers, and paddlers. One of its most celebrated gamelands—the Green River Gamelands —contains over 14 miles of trails, and the Green River is one of the most beloved whitewater stretches in the Southeast. Last year, the outdoor community held the Green River Games, an olympiad of outdoor sports and adventures in these mountain lands.
The state is currently rewriting its plans for managing the Green River Gamelands and six other gamelands across the state. Logging is common on gamelands because many hunters prefer the open habitat it creates, but the state is also considering an expansion of recreational opportunities and facilities at the Green River. Trail and road improvements, parking lots, footbridge construction are among the options being considered. Read Karen Chavez’s full story in the Asheville Citizen-Times here.
