0263-GCG-FoothillsConservancy ESG23 12-13 - Flipbook - Page 18
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
Wilderness
Gateway State Trail
Progress Update on the 170-mile trail system
The Wilderness Gateway State Trail (WGST) is a
planned, 170-mile trail system that will link over 55,000
acres of adjoining conservation lands in the South
Mountains across Catawba, Burke, McDowell and
Rutherford counties. These trails are primarily located
in rural areas that have not previously bene昀椀ted from
trail-based outdoor recreation tourism.
On January 19, 2023, Foothills Conservancy of North
Carolina acquired six valuable acres for permanent
conservation in Valdese. This property, across
from Valdese Children’s Park on E. Main Street, will
eventually be transferred to the Town of Valdese
for expansion of the Children’s Park and for future
development of the WGST.
“Projects like this support healthy lifestyles for local
citizens and economic development through tourism
in Valdese, all in association with the Wilderness
Gateway State Trail, for which Foothills Conservancy
is the lead organization,” said Tom Kenney, Land
Protection Director. “Preserving this property also
helps protect water quality in the area, as this land
Throughout 2023, FCNC Trails Program Director, Shane
Prisby, has been actively developing partnerships
in Catawba County with local government staff,
the Carolina Thread Trail and other stakeholders to
advance trail planning and connectivity between
the WGST and other local trail systems there. On a
300+ acre parcel of land on the Henry Fork River in
Catawba County that FCNC transferred to N.C. State
Parks in 2022, Shane will design a multi-use public trail
corridor in the coming years in consultation with North
Carolina State Trails staff, and work with partners to
develop connections with local trails in the area.
In the western section of the South Mountains range,
the Pinnacle Mountains span the border between
Rutherford and McDowell counties and feature a
collection of rugged and uniquely shaped peaks.
FCNC preserved the 960-acre Pinnacle Mountains East
property in 2022, and secured the 1,460-acre Pinnacle
Mountains West property in 2023. Within this 2,500acre area, Shane has been working diligently to lay out
over nine miles of the WGST trail corridor.
The new trail will climb its way up to the nexus point
of the Pinnacle Mountains, Windy Gap. The goal is
to create a new experience for users who wish to
challenge themselves and experience the unique
beauty of the South Mountains by venturing deep into
this peaceful yet formidable landscape.
adjoins Micol Creek, a direct tributary stream of Lake
Three sources of grants, the McDowell County
Rhodhiss in the Catawba River Basin,” he added.
and Rutherford County tourism and development
authorities and the Community Foundation of
This project is one of several ongoing conservation
Western North Carolina, have provided the funding
and trail development efforts underway for the WGST
for FCNC staff to design and lay out the trail in this
by Foothills Conservancy.
area, underwrite various permits required before
trail construction can begin, and complete an
archeological survey for a 10-mile section of the WGST
called Wolfpen Loop, located on Bobs Creek State
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