Existing Trails & Bikeways in the Foothills Region
Haywood County already has some great places to walk and bike that we will build upon in this planning effort. Some of those places are below:
- Waynesville Greenway System
- Lake Junaluska Walking Trails
- Haywood County "Walk Bike Play" Map
- Chestnut Mountain (Note: This park is still being developed. Some trails are open for hiking and mountain biking.)
Related Plans, Programs & Organizations
Regional and Local Plans
Haywood County Parks and Recreation Plan Update (2022)
Town of Canton Bike and Pedestrian Plan (2019)
Haywood County Comprehensive Bicycle Plan (2011)
Town of Waynesville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan (2010)
Hellbender Regional Trail Plan (2020)
Chestnut Mountain Nature Park Master Plan (2020)
Land of Sky Regional Council Blue Ridge Bike Plan (2013)
Great Trails State Plan
NCDOT is developing the Great Trails State Plan in coordination with NC State Parks and Recreation. This comprehensive and visionary plan builds upon existing trails and planned projects with recommendations for new projects to achieve the ultimate goal: a trail network connecting every county in North Carolina. The recommendations for Haywood County include a shared-use path from Jackson County through Waynesville, Clyde, Canton, and eastward to the western boundary of Buncombe County.
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Great Trails State Coalition
The Great Trails State Coalition consists of 45 member organizations--including non-profits, government agencies, and businesses--advocating for increased investment in all types of trails across NC. The Coalition's website highlights the economic, health, transportation, and environmental benefits of trails.
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Additional Resources & Studies
Trails Research Searchable Benefits Library. Headwaters Economics compiled 120 studies on the impacts of trails in a single library, searchable by type of benefit, use, year, and region. Findings include:
- "Trails can generate business impacts and create new jobs by attracting visitors, especially overnight visitors.
- Local trail users often use community trails multiple times per week, and trails are a valuable part of residents’ quality of life.
- Trails are often associated with higher property value, especially when a trail is designed to provide neighborhood access and maintain residents’ privacy.
- Trails are associated with increased physical activity and improved public health, especially in rural places without other safe places to exercise."
Evaluating the Economic Contribution of Shared Use Paths in NC
Shared use paths, also known as greenways, provide a shared space for bicycle and pedestrian travel outside of the roadway. This project’s objective was to design and test an approach for measuring the economic contributions of greenways in North Carolina. The study found that, on average, every $1.00 of trail construction in North Carolina supports $1.72 annually from local business revenue, sales tax revenue, and benefits related to health and transportation.
Shared use paths, also known as greenways, provide a shared space for bicycle and pedestrian travel outside of the roadway. This project’s objective was to design and test an approach for measuring the economic contributions of greenways in North Carolina. The study found that, on average, every $1.00 of trail construction in North Carolina supports $1.72 annually from local business revenue, sales tax revenue, and benefits related to health and transportation.