Groups unite to improve Pisgah National Forest trail

An unusual collaboration between two trail user groups has resulted in an improved trail in Pisgah National Forest.

Mountain bikers and members of Back Country Horsemen volunteered their time recently to complete work on a reroute of a section of the Lower Trace Ridge Trail near North Mills River campground.

“It is no secret that trail user groups around the nation have been at odds about access, trail impact and user conflicts,” said Greg Leister, president of Pisgah Area Southern Off-Road Bicycling Association. “The significance of us working together is to show all forest users that two very different trail groups can come together for the common good of our national forests.”

Both groups are already individually active with trail maintenance around Western North Carolina, but this is the first time they have come together to work on a specific project.

The 1.5-mile reroute was necessary to address erosion issues – steep trail grades were allowing sediment to foul streams — as well as to improve usability.

“The completion of the project will help to protect our natural resources and improve use and safety,” said Patty Matteson, acting public affairs officer for the USFS, National Forests in North Carolina. “We’re really happy about it and about the partnership between Back Country Horsemen and SORBA.”

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2 Comments

  1. Robyn Lay

    This is wonderful news! I think we all need to work together to keep the trails we love more usable and to combat nature’s awesome forces. Everyone benefits from trail improvement! Thanks for sharing the article.

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