This is a video I produced for The Great Trails State Coalition in partnership with the NC Horse Council - you can view it here and elsewhere for free. Below, I wanted to dive deeper into my own perspective on the importance of partnerships and collaboration for trails on public lands and facilitate additional discussion on the topic. Additionally, a brand new episode of Pisgah Podcast gives even more perspective.
If you’ve ever been there, you likely know that Pisgah National Forest is unique, especially from a mountain biking perspective. Many of the trails weren’t purpose-built or created with the intention of recreation, much less mountain bikes ever being on them - after all, mountain biking is the new kid on the block. The sport is now around half a century old, but that pales in comparison to how long others, specifically hikers and horseback riders, have used trails. While the rugged fall-line trails in Pisgah are a blast to ride, they pose a great challenge for land managers.
The popularity of trail use everywhere has exploded in the last few decades, especially the last few years. Places that used to be well-kept secrets have turn-by-turn directions available on multiple apps, and it’s never been easier to share experiences online. Pisgah National Forest isn’t isolated from that explosion of use - it’s experiencing it firsthand.
Located only a short drive from multiple major metropolitan areas and as one of the first stopping-off points for travelers coming from anywhere south of North Carolina, Pisgah sees a lot of traffic. Couple that with typically mild temperatures year-round, and it’s become quite the “go-to” for folks looking to get away from places like Charlotte, Atlanta, Florida, and even the Northeast United States and South America. There’s a reason multiple major brands in the outdoor industry have moved here, and multiple World Cup racers call it home. Seth and I and our families live here for many of the same reasons…it’s a good place to be.
While it was not that long ago, a little further off the beaten path and less well known, the secret’s out. Good trails, good food, easy access, year-ish-round riding, and an airport nearby - with all of the good also comes a lot of traffic and…growing pains. With that growth, it’s critical to remember that when you have a lot of incredible resources, there’s also a lot you stand to lose without proper stewardship.
