About State Trails

A state trail is a linear corridor on land or water, separated from vehicular traffic, providing public access for non-motorized recreation or transporation. All state trails must be authorized by the General Assembly.

Currently, there are 11 state trails in North Carolina:

• Dan River State Trail crisscrossing the North Carolina and Virginia border as it journeys from the Blue Ridge Mountains to Kerr Lake
• Deep River State Trail from Jamestown to Moncure
• East Coast Greenway State Trail, part of the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway that connects 15 states
• Fonta Flora State Trail, which circles Lake James in Burke and McDowell counties and extends west to Asheville
• French Broad River State Trail in Transylvania, Henderson, Buncombe and Madison counties
• Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail in Henderson, Rutherford and Buncombe counties
• Mountains-to-Sea State Trail stretching from Clingmans Dome to Jockey's Ridge State Park
• Northern Peaks State Trail beginning in Boone and ending at Mount Jefferson in Ashe County
• Overmountain Victory State Trail that will follow 225 miles of the National Historic Trail that passes through North Carolina
• Wilderness Gateway State Trail connecting Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail and South Mountains State Park with the towns of Valdese and Hickory
• Yadkin River State Trail in Wilkes, Surry, Yadkin, Forsyth, Davidson, Rowan and Davie counties

These trails share legal status as components of the state parks system. This distinguishes them from other regional and local trails and pathways. These trails offer opportunities for regional connectivity and public access to some of North Carolina's most significant and scenic landscapes.

State trails epitomize partnerships. While a state park is operated and managed by the Division of Parks and Recreation, a state trail is comprised of multiple connected sections and each section of the trail is sponsored by a state or federal agency, local government or private landowner.

Section sponsors build, maintain and manage their section of the trail. This includes location, design, surface, permitted uses and amenities. Section sponsors retain authority on lands under their jurisdiction. They are encouraged to showcase places of natural, scenic, historic and cultural significance; to feature the diversity of natural communities and landscapes in the state; to consider the needs of both long- and short-distance hikers; and to employ recognized standards of sustainable trail design and construction. Often, and ideally, section sponsors are supported by dedicated volunteers.

The overall trail corridor planning and coordination are the responsibility of the Division of Parks and Recreation. The Division will provide guidance, coordination and assistance for the multiple section sponsors, whose individual and diverse sections link together to form the state trail. Working together on connecting sections of a state trail is a way for communities to leverage their investments in trails to maximize the value for their citizens.

Enlarging the state parks system is important, but potential new park units — including state trails — must be selected carefully to ensure that they fulfill the purposes of the system and justify the considerable public investment in planning, coordination, acquisition and management.

Before the General Assembly authorizes the creation of a new state trail, the Division may develop a feasibility plan or a conceptual plan. The conceptual plan basically identifies the planning area and potential partners, stakeholders and section sponsors; determines whether the proposal meets the criteria for the establishment of a new unit; and evaluates the feasibility of implementing the proposed trail.

The Division of Parks and Recreation has developed criteria to evaluate potential new state trails. This provides a system for evaluation, as well as a mechanism to remove unsuitable trails from consideration.

Three minimum criteria are used for the initial evaluation of proposed state trails:

1. Statewide significant natural, cultural, scenic and recreation value;
2. Sufficient potential length and beauty to attract varied and significant use from regions outside the local area; and
3. Minimal and surmountable incompatible features, such as roads, intrusive development or large water bodies.

If a potential state trail meets these basic requirements, then the feasibility of inclusion as a state trail is based on:

• Local public support for the general concept of a public trail and the availability of trail volunteers;
• Presence of viable section sponsors committed to the design, construction, maintenance and management of the trail; and
• Environmental and economic sustainability of the trail route.

Constructed trail within the planned corridor is not part of the state trail until it is designated by the Secretary of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Section sponsors may apply for designation once the trail is completed. Criteria for designation include public access, developing an emergency management plan, outlining amenities provided to the public and inspection by a regional trails specialist.