2023 NC Year of the Trail celebrates North Carolina's vast network of trails, greenways, and blueways which showcase our diverse landscapes - grand mountain vistas, quiet rivers, vibrant urban greenways, coastal forests, and the rolling hills of the piedmont. Rutherford County is proud to participate in this statewide effort -- and is kicking off 2023 by celebrating NC First Day Outdoors, an event encouraging everyone to get outside and try a trail!
Lake Lure & the Blue Ridge Foothills is inviting everyone to participate in their First Day Outdoors contest by getting outside on one of the amazing trails Rutherford County has to offer (like the Thermal Belt Rail Trail, Purple Martin Greenway, Buffalo Creek Park, or Broad River Paddle Trail). All you have to do is pick your trail, pick your activity, snap a picture, and tag @visitlakelureblueridgenc (IG) or @LakeLureBRF (FB) when you post it. Walking, biking, hiking, running, horseback riding, and even paddling are all acceptable trail activities.
You can also participate in Chimney Rock State Park's First Day Hike and kick off the new year at Chimney Rock State Park. A Park Ranger will offer an informative discussion about the Park's history while the group strolls, hikes, or bikes up to the 3.2-mile entrance road. Usually restricted to motor vehicle traffic only, there will be no cars in your way if you show up for this special, early morning hike.
Jan. 1st, 2023, 8-10am | Chimney Rock State Park Entrance | Old Rock Cafe 431 Main Street Chimney Rock, NC 28720
How to Enter the Contest:
Five winners will be chosen to receive a Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority canvas tote swag bag that includes:
2023 NC Year of the Trail celebrates North Carolina's vast network of trails, greenways, and blueways which showcase our diverse landscapes - grand mountain vistas, quiet rivers, vibrant urban greenways, coastal forests, and the rolling hills of the piedmont. Rutherford County is proud to participate in this statewide effort -- and is kicking off 2023 by celebrating NC First Day Outdoors, an event encouraging everyone to get outside and try a trail!
Lake Lure & the Blue Ridge Foothills is inviting everyone to participate in their First Day Outdoors contest by getting outside on one of the amazing trails Rutherford County has to offer (like the Thermal Belt Rail Trail, Purple Martin Greenway, Buffalo Creek Park, or Broad River Paddle Trail). All you have to do is pick your trail, pick your activity, snap a picture, and tag @visitlakelureblueridgenc (IG) or @LakeLureBRF (FB) when you post it. Walking, biking, hiking, running, horseback riding, and even paddling are all acceptable trail activities.
You can also participate in Chimney Rock State Park's First Day Hike and kick off the new year at Chimney Rock State Park. A Park Ranger will offer an informative discussion about the Park's history while the group strolls, hikes, or bikes up to the 3.2-mile entrance road. Usually restricted to motor vehicle traffic only, there will be no cars in your way if you show up for this special, early morning hike.
Jan. 1st, 2023, 8-10am | Chimney Rock State Park Entrance | Old Rock Cafe 431 Main Street Chimney Rock, NC 28720
How to Enter the Contest:
Five winners will be chosen to receive a Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority canvas tote swag bag that includes:
August 25th - Leadership and community members of the town of Lake Lure cut the ribbon on a newly-constructed parking and access area at Buffalo Creek Trailhead that more than triples available parking and links adventurers and outdoor athletes to the beloved and rugged bike and foot paths of Weed Patch Mountain and surrounding wild areas adjacent to Lake Lure and Chimney Rock State Park.
The project was funded through the support of matching donations of $40,000 from both the Town of Lake Lure and the Rutherford County TDA, as well as financial gifts from the Rumbling Bald Resort, and from proceeds from the annual "Rumble" bouldering competition held in the area by the Carolina Climbers Coalition. Wilderness trail access and the economic boon for Lake Lure and the surroundings are among the key objectives for those who have advocated for this and other projects in this part of Western North Carolina.
This trailhead parking project is one of more than a dozen envisioned in an ongoing cooperation between the municipalities in Rutherford County and the county's Tourism Development Authority as part of the Rutherford Bound initiative.
The redesigned trailhead area also provides areas for picnicking equipped with ADA-compatible picnic tables.
Rutherford County is home to a myriad of walking, hiking, and biking options, including easy-going rides along area Greenways. The Rutherford Bound Master Plan continues to build and improve opportunities for both residents and visitors to enjoy outdoor recreation opportunities for all ages and skill levels.
For hikers and cyclists looking for a pleasant, easy trip (or for families with young children), the Purple Martin Greenway (PMG) is the perfect place to explore wildlife, creeks, waterfalls, and local plant life along the two-mile, paved trail. The PMG is kid, pet, and bike friendly and features shady trails and a picnic shelter alongside Cleghorn Creek. The Greenway connects Kiwanis Park and Crestview Park and runs parallel to Main Street in downtown Rutherfordton, NC.
Thermal Belt Rail Trail (TBRT)
What began a decade ago as a grassroots effort to develop a Rail Trail along the out-of-service Old Southern Railway tracks has now emerged as a popular 13.5 mile paved trail spanning four municipalities, thanks to a concerted community effort from Rutherford County. Currently, as part of the Rutherford Bound initiative, the Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority is working to provide extensive enhancements along the Thermal Belt Rail Trail, including public art and gateways inviting users to visit the various communities along the trail, improved aesthetics, additional landscaping, pocket parks and more.
Visitors to the TBRT enjoy a flat path with numerous access points along the trail, allowing users to either choose a short journey or complete the entire 27-mile round trip. A natural canopy provides lots of shade along the way and seven devoted parking areas ensure a seamless transition onto the trail. Recently, the Thermal Belt Rail Trail was featured on PBS: North Carolina Weekend as an example of how Rail Trails can connect communities and engage citizens.
Last fall, the Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority (RCTDA) successfully led a stakeholder effort to form the Rutherford County Trails Collaborative.
Representatives from the RCTDA, Rutherford County, Chimney Rock State Park, Foothills Conservancy of NC, Conserving Carolina, the Rutherford Outdoor Coalition, Carolina Climbers Coalition, and RHI Legacy Foundation identified a simple goal for the Collaborative: to guide trail infrastructure development projects in Rutherford County.
The group got off to a strong start by completing a comprehensive inventory of all trails (both future and existing) in Rutherford County. The trails were grouped into four categories: 1) state-designated; 2) regional; 3) local; and 4) paddle trails. Each of these categories has distinct funding opportunities from a variety of sources.
Next, the Collaborative identified needs for each trail listed in the inventory. The need categories include: 1) planning; 2) design and engineering; 3) construction; and 4) enhancement/maintenance. Based on the results from the trail inventory, categorization, and the needs assessment, the Collaborative created a master list to help prioritize future projects, as well as a comprehensive list of potential grant funding.
Moving forward, the Collaborative plans to meet every other month to update group members on trail projects in the County. Additionally, an Implementation Action Plan will be developed for each fiscal year to identify specific trail infrastructure projects based on prioritization, needs, and potential grant funding sources.
