2023 has been dubbed the ‘Year of the Trail’ in North Carolina
Robbinsville – The Year of the Trail in North Carolina will be in 2023 and Graham County plays a prominent part.
Why? Here are some examples:
* Appalachian Trail: The trail extends about 2,200 miles from Springer Mountain, Ga., to Mount Katahdin in Maine, of which Graham County has 22 miles. The strenuous trail enters Graham County near the Nantahala Outdoor Center at Wesser and bisects the county northwesterly, crosses N.C. Hwy. 143 at Stecoah Gap and continues to Fontana Dam before entering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Swain County.
* Bartram Trail: The Bartram Trail follows the approximate route of naturalist William Bartram in the 1770s. The most established section runs 115 miles from north Georgia to Cheoah Bald in Graham County, where it intersects the Appalachian Trail.
* Big Snowbird Trail: This trail climbs 2,600 feet along the creek with numerous scenic cascades and waterfalls such as Big Falls, Middle Falls, and Upper Falls.
* Benton MacKaye Trail: This 288-mile trail goes from Springer Mountain in north Georgia to Big Creek Campground near Sterling, N.C. in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The Graham County portion crosses the Cherohala Skyway in Graham County near the state line and crosses the Joyce Kilmer/Slickrock Wilderness Area, descends to Tapoco, follows U.S. Hwy. 129 north to N.C. Hwy. 28, to the Twenty-Mile Ranger Station before entering Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Swain County where it parallels the Appalachian Train on the North Carolina side to Sterling.
* Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and Slickrock Wilderness trails: A 3,800-acre tract that includes old growth forests, this area and the trails within it are among Graham County’s crown jewels.
* Santeetlah Bike Trail: This is a 15-mile trail open to mountain bikes, horses and hikers. Some parts of the trail follow the Lake Santeetlah shoreline. The primary trailhead is located at the intersection of N.C. Hwy. 143 and Snowbird Road.
* Santeetlah Lake trails: The south portion, recently rededicated, is 8.5 miles long, with Carver Cemetery at one end and the intersection of Snowbird and Santeetlah roads at the other. It passes through scenic woods and follows the lake shore for most of the way. Motorized vehicles are not permitted, but the trail is wide enough for two horses to walk abreast and suitable for offroad bicycles. It connects with the shorter Santeetlah Lake Trail North, a 3.3-mile loop trail considered a moderately challenging route.
* Sassafras Creek Trail: This primitive trail features Sassafras Falls but has not been maintained.
* TRACK Trail at the CCC Camp NCF-24: A quarter-mile out-and-back hike to an observation deck overlooking the old CCC camp, called Camp Santeetlah back in the day.
* Tsali Recreation Area: Named for a Cherokee Indian leader from the 1830s, this area is located on the northeastern corner of Graham County and offers 40 miles of trails in four loops for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding
The Graham County Travel & Tourism board of directors is planning ways to take advantage of the county’s prominent place among the state’s robust inventory of trails.
It is partnering with Hometown Strong (hometownstrong.nc.gov), a statewide effort focusing on counties that are already engaging with the state on several projects or have local projects in which the state can help bring to fruition.
Graham County Travel & Tourism Director Daniel Allison said the county will become widely known for its trails, he said during the board’s Dec. 1 meeting.
A focused event is in its infant stage and will encompass a single weekend in mid-October – the peak of fall leaf season. More details will emerge as they develop.
He said Graham County Travel & Tourism plans to be close partners with other similar agencies in the county, including the Robbinsville Tourism Authority, which is planning a Cigar Box Guitar festival in 2023.
“Something good for Robbinsville is good for all the county,” Allison said.