Equine State Trail - Public Input Survey
In 2023, the General Assembly authorized the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to add the Equine State Trail to the State Parks System. This authorization occurred during the “Year of the Trail” and furthers the development of North Carolina as the “Great Trails State.” The Equine State Trail is the 14th state trail to be authorized since the State Trails Act passed in 1973.
State trails are linear corridors protected from vehicular traffic which provide public access for non-motorized recreation or transportation and offer a wealth of opportunities for North Carolina. These trails are authorized by the General Assembly to provide iconic experiences in North Carolina's natural landscapes. They serve to promote healthy living, revitalize communities, provide environmental benefits, and enable people to visit areas of natural, historic, and cultural significance. Once authorized, the trail becomes a unit of the North Carolina State Parks System, giving the parks system responsibility and authority to plan the general corridor within which the trail will be located.
This survey is part of the initial master planning process. The master plan will identify a five-to-ten-mile-wide corridor for the Equine State Trail as well as outline potential opportunities and constraints, define segments within the corridor, and gather input from the public and stakeholders.