IMBA and the Tarheel Trailblazers are working with State and National Parks on designing a brand-new 16-mile trail system on the NC/SC border. This project is particularly noteworthy because it takes place not only on National Park land (Kings Mountain National Military Park) but also involves land within both NC and SC State Parks.
If you’ve ever driven along I-85 between Greenville, SC and Charlotte, NC you’ve no doubt noticed the mountain that seems to appear out of nowhere just south of the interstate. That’s Kings Mountain, and the area surrounding it is absolutely beautiful and wild. There’s currently a 16-mile hiking loop through the area called the King’s Mountain Hiking Trail that’s popular with groups of weekend backpackers.
The two state parks near Kings Mountain both offer camping facilities and coincidentally, two weeks ago a friend and I camped at Kings Mountain State Park for the first time. The camping facilities and trails at the park are excellent, but I couldn’t help but wish there was a place to mountain bike. The park is about a 3-hour drive from Atlanta, making it a great destination for a weekend trip. It’s also less than an hour from Charlotte.
No word yet on when construction will begin or when the trails will be open for riding. Pulling off a project like this takes a ton of planning, especially when multiple agencies are involved. Hats off to all who are working to make these new trails a reality!
