EXH 06
Mountains-to-Sea Trail
Fonta Flora Trail
on land or water, separated from vehicular traffic,
The planned Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) stretches
The Fonta Flora State Trail (FFST) will be
providing public access for non-motorized recreation
approximately 1,400 miles across the state from
approximately 100 miles long and connect Morganton
or transportation. All state trails must be authorized
Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains
to Asheville when it is complete. The NC General
by the NC General Assembly, and as units of the
National Park on the NC/TN border to Jockey’s
Assembly authorized the trail in 2015, and its route
NC State Parks System they are distinguished from
Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks. The MST was
includes a loop around Lake James and connections
other regional and local trails. While NC Division of
proposed in 1977 and authorized by the NC General
through Lake James State Park, Marion, Old Fort, Black
Parks and Recreation is responsible for the planning,
Assembly in 2000. Approximately 660 miles of
Mountain, and Pisgah National Forest. Approximately
coordination, and creation of a state trail, section
the trail are constructed and designated with 300
16 miles of the Fonta Flora Trail are constructed
sponsors build, maintain, and manage their sections
continuous miles located in Western North Carolina.
and designated. A section of the FFST in western
of trail.
The McDowell County section of the MST spans
McDowell and Burke Counties co-aligns with the
approximately 22 miles and is located primarily on
Overmountain Victory National Historic and State
Four state trails are located in McDowell County: 1)
public lands managed by the National Park Service
Trail. McDowell County has approximately 5 miles of
Mountains-to-Sea, 2) Overmountain Victory National
and US Forest Service.
existing and approximately 33 miles of planned FFST
The North Carolina Trails System Act (GS 143B135.90) defines a state trail as a linear corridor
STATE TRAILS
Historic Trail, 3) Fonta Flora, and 4) Wilderness
trail within its boundaries.
Gateway (see map, page right).
26 — Discovery & Analysis
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
Wilderness Gateway Trail
The planned Overmountain Victory National Historic
The Wilderness Gateway State Trail was authorized
Trail (OVNHT) is approximately 330 miles in length
in 2019 and is planned to meander along the border
and is located in portions of Virginia, Tennessee,
of Rutherford and McDowell counties before passing
North Carolina, and South Carolina. The section
through Burke and Catawba Counties. The trail will
located in North Carolina was authorized as a NC
connect Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail near Chimney
State Trail in 2019. The trail commemorates the route
Rock State Park, Box Creek Wilderness Area, South
the patriot militia marched as they mustered to fight
Mountains State Park, the Town of Valdese, and City
and defeat the British-led loyalist army at the Battle
of Hickory. A section of the Wilderness Gateway
of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780. In McDowell
State Trail within McDowell County will co-align
County there are approximately 26 planned miles
with the Overmountain Victory National Historic and
along two routes of the OVNHT stretching from Little
State Trail, and it will follow a portion of the Upper
Switzerland and Heffner Gap along the Blue Ridge
Catawba River paddle trail in Catawba County.
Parkway to Lake James. A short section of the trail is
Approximately 35 miles of the trail are proposed
also located in the southeastern corner of the County.
within McDowell County.
DESTINATION MCDOWELL TOURISM MASTER PLAN