N.C. Complete the Trails Program

Historic legislation passed in 2022 provides an unprecedented level of funding for state trails in North Carolina. This legislation created the $29.25-million Complete the Trail Fund (CTF). These funds will also go to small communities to support development of trails that will connect communities to the state trails.

The legislation requires that the funds be distributed by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to a nonprofit partner for each state trail. To be the recognized partner, an organization must have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DPR and an approved 3- to 5-year plan for deploying the funds to develop the state trail.

The fund also grows DPR's trails planning program with a second state trails planner and a specialist to assist with MOUs between DPR and our state trail and community partners.

There are 12 state trails authorized by the N.C. General Assembly: eight land-based trails and four paddle trails. The planned mileage for the system is over 2,900 miles. Over 30 state parks, state natural areas, and state recreation areas host or are adjacent to state trail segments.