New trails and parking unveiled at Old Fort post-Hurricane Helene

OLD FORT, N.C. (WNCT) — After months of Helene-related repair work, new trails and additional parking areas have opened in Old Fort, N.C.
Thanks to the USDA Forest Service's Grandfather Ranger District and McDowell County, the 8 miles of trails will provide new connections in the Old Fort Trail system. In total, 20 of the 42 miles under the Old Fort Trail project are now open for hikers, bikers and equestrians.
The new trails include:
Catawba View Trail.
Deep Cove Trail.
Camp Rock Trail.
Jerdon Connector.
Stagecoach.
The Old Fort Trails Project hopes improve the health and wellness of residents, grow the local economy through outdoor recreation, and build community through shared spaces on public lands. New parking areas will also be open at the Gateway Trailhead (new Meadows Parking) and at Camp Grier's Allison Trailhead on Mill Creek Road.
Hazards are still present in the forests due to Hurricane Helene, so be sure to lookout for trees that may be weakened or washouts on access roads while you explore these trails. For more information on trail conditions in the Grandfather Ranger District, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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