Year of the Trail

Spotlighting Fonta Flora State Trail

As we wind down the Year of the Trail, let’s check in on an ongoing project that will have a huge impact on the hiking and biking community in western North Carolina – the Fonta Flora State Trail.

Though the spark of the idea for such a project goes back much further, the Fonta Flora State Trail was established officially in 2015. Eight years later, the goal to connect Asheville to Morganton, with a lap around Lake James for good measure, is about a third of the way complete. To date, 30.4 miles of dual use (hiking and biking) trail are complete and open to the public. Those completed sections include 20 miles within Lake James State Park (as shown on the map). With 60 miles remaining before the full vision of the Fonta Flora State Trail is realized, it’s an exciting time to imagine the future of outdoor recreation in Burke, McDowell and Buncombe counties.

To stay up-to-date on trail section progress, openings and volunteer opportunities, check out Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail at fontaflorastatetrail.com.