North Carolina

Top 10 Trails in North Carolina

Posted 09/23/21 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, North Carolina, Top10, Trail Destinations

North Carolina's Neuse River Trail | Photo by TrailLink user protoolned

North Carolina abounds in natural beauty with its vast wilderness areas, Appalachian Mountains and scenic Atlantic coastline. Providing access to these treasured outdoor places is a growing hub of interconnected trails, including the Carolina Thread Trail, extending into neighboring South Carolina; the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, a developing 1,200-mile footpath; and the East Coast Greenway, linking communities by trail from Florida all the way to Maine. With such a plethora of exciting routes crisscrossing the Tar Heel State, perhaps it’s no surprise that the state legislature recently designated 2023 as the “Year of the Trail.”

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North Carolina's Neuse River Trail | Photo by TrailLink user protoolned

Top 10 Trails in North Carolina

Posted 09/23/21 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, North Carolina, Top10, Trail Destinations

North Carolina abounds in natural beauty with its vast wilderness areas, Appalachian Mountains and scenic Atlantic coastline. Providing access to these treasured outdoor places is a growing hub of interconnected trails, including the Carolina Thread Trail, extending into neighboring South Carolina; the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, a developing 1,200-mile footpath; and the East Coast Greenway, linking communities by trail from Florida all the way to Maine. With such a plethora of exciting routes crisscrossing the Tar Heel State, perhaps it’s no surprise that the state legislature recently designated 2023 as the “Year of the Trail.”

Heartland Trail in Ohio | Courtesy Rails-to-Trails of Wayne County

2021 Trail Grants Awardees Support Community Connections On and Off Trails

Posted 03/15/21 by Mary Ellen Koontz in Building Trails | Tagged with Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Washington

RTC has announced the recipients of its 2021 Trail Grants Program, awarding a total of $145,000 to support 11 trail projects across the country that have been strategically designed to support local and regional economic, health, social, environmental and active transportation goals.

Thermal Belt Rail Trail bridge over Highway 74 | Photo by Dana Bradley

North Carolina’s Thermal Belt Rail Trail

Posted 02/11/20 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails, Trail Use, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Best Of, Funding, Health and Active Living, Healthy Aging, Heritage and Restoration, History Happened Here, North Carolina, RTC in Action, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Businesses, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Today, the 13.58-mile Thermal Belt Rail Trail lies where the old Southern Railroad, and later the Thermal Belt Railway, once ran. The trail has been a boon for Rutherford County on a number of levels.

Schuylkill River Trail through Valley Forge National Historical Park | Photo courtesy Montgomery County Planning Commission | CC BY SA 2.0

Pathways for Patriots: 10 Rail-Trails with American Revolution Sites

Posted 07/03/19 by Maggie McAden, Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Circuit Trails, Connecticut, History Happened Here, IHTC, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, TrailNation

The Fourth of July is a holiday celebrated with barbecues, fireworks and family. It is also a time to reflect on our country’s history, and what better way to do that than by exploring a historical rail-trail? From battle sites to hidden histories, rail-trails are an accessible way to celebrate our nation’s birthday and uncover pivotal moments in our past. Here are 10 Rail-Trails with American Revolution Sites.

Katy Trail State Park | Photo by Aaron Fuhrman

RTC’s 2018 Doppelt Grants Invest in 9 Trail Projects, Filling Critical Gaps in Trail Funding

Posted 05/22/18 by Eli Griffen in Building Trails, America's Trails | Tagged with California, Connected Systems, Demand for Trails, Funding, Hall of Fame, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Trail Communities

Since 2015, RTC’s Doppelt Fund has awarded nearly a half-million dollars in grants to nonprofits and government agencies working to develop and improve multiuse trails. This year, RTC is awarding the most annual funds yet to the most awardees, with more than $140,000 going to 10 worthy recipients.

Trails are a great place to spy a variety of beautiful birds, including the bald eagle! | Photo courtesy Boyd Dwyer | CC BY-SA 2.0

Nine Great Birding Rail-Trails to Crow About

Posted 05/15/17 by Suzanne Matyas in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of, California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, Trail Destinations, Wild and Wonderful, Wisconsin

Whether you’re an avian aficionado, ornithologist, fan of fowl or simply a person who enjoys the subtle sight of a feather stretching across the wind, you’ll want to check out these nine great birding trails!

Photo © TrailLink.com

Mile for Mile, North and South Carolina Grow Rail-Trail Networks

Posted 09/17/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with North Carolina, South Carolina, Statements of Support, Urban Pathways, Walkability and Bikeability

A healthy rail-trail rivalry is developing in the Carolinas, with both the Old North State and the Palmetto State taking great strides this month to boost active transportation networks in their growing communities.