Third Saturday in October designated Great Trails State Day

Recently passed legislation encourages North Carolina residents to get moving on trail systems across the Tar Heel state.

The third Saturday in October will be North Carolina’s Great Trails State Day, thanks to the N.C. General Assembly’s 2024 Farm Bill. The bill recently passed unanimously in both the N.C. House and Senate. It became law with Gov. Roy Cooper’s signature. This year, Great Trails State Day will occur on Oct. 19.

North Carolina’s diverse muscle-powered trails — walking, cycling, running, paddling, climbing and equestrian trails — provide the backdrop for the day. The celebration will encourage people to get outside and exercise.

Great Trails State Day was celebrated for the first time in 2023 as part of the Year of the Trail Celebration. About 75 activities were hosted across the state, including trail maintenance, guided hikes and paddles, scavenger hunts and more.

“We can’t wait to see the creative ways North Carolinians will celebrate Great Trails State Day this year,” said Palmer McIntyre, director of the Great Trails State Coalition. The organization will host a Great Trails State Conference in September.

McIntyre invites local trail organizers and recreation departments to post their Great Trails State Day activities in the organization’s calendar of events.

Trails provide free access to healthy recreation and safe transportation alternatives, according to a news release from the coalition. Trails contribute to the quality of life in communities of all sizes. Trail access is desirable to residents, visitors and businesses; adjacency to trails boosts property values and spurs economic development, the release said.

Trails serve as the backbone of North Carolina’s outdoor recreation economy, which reached $14.6 billion in 2022, up from 11.8 billion in 2021.

North Carolina, now the fifth most-visited state, attracts visitors to its diversified natural landscapes and trails from the mountains to the sea. North Carolina State Parks saw a four percent increase in visitation in 2023.

Representing 104 nonprofit, local government, and industry partners, the Great Trails State Coalition advocates for increased N.C. investment in muscle-powered trails statewide.

The coalition hosted the 2023 NC Year of the Trail campaign, a celebration of outdoor recreation and trails. That same year, the coalition secured funding for the $25 million Great Trails State Program. The program provides competitive grants to local governments and nonprofits for trail projects across NC.

Find local trails at www.greattrailsnc.com.