Polk Trails Newsletter
March 2023
2023 is the North Carolina year of the trail and we want you to get outdoors this year! Check out all the wonderful trails Polk County has to offer & go for a hike. This is a wonderful opportunity to check out improvements that trails in the area have undergone. Make 2023 your Year of Adventure.

While hiking tag us on Instagram or Facebook using the #pocoyearofthetrail
We are interested in your input regarding Guided Hikes. Click here to answer a short survey so we can tailor hikes to the Community needs.
TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS
This month we are visiting Norman Wilder Forest in between Tryon & Saluda. There are 5 trails that are approximately 2-3 miles.

Norman Wilder Forest is a 185 acre protected forest on the slopes of Little Warrior Mountain. It is composed of mature third growth mixed hardwoods managed by Conserving Carolina. 

This forest is home to a wide variety of wildflowers, birds, and mammals. Drip Falls also provides a unique environment and is a haven for salamanders. There are multiple trails of varying difficulty to explore on the property. 

Conserving Carolina manages kudzu removal on this trail. If you are interested in volunteering with them they meet on Mondays from 9-11. Email them for additional information.
Additional maps & information for Norman Wilder Forest can be found on our website!
Little White Oak Mountain Bike Trail

It's finally starting.....Laura and Craig with Community Trail Design, LLC marked out the trail for the Little White Oak Mountain Bike trail network. We are thrilled that this project will be underway shortly. We will keep the website posted on all the work as it progresses.
TRAILS COMMITTEE MEETING

Monday, March 27th at 6:00pm
Meeting will be at Saluda Outfitters (435 E Main Street, Saluda NC)

We are always looking for new ideas to make our trails better than they already are. Send us your questions and updates via email!

OTHER NEWS

As we start the New Year and you start making plans for gatherings remember that the large picnic shelter at the Recreation Complex can be reserved for private events....birthday parties, showers, family reunions.

In an effort to streamline the process for residents we have created an online form for reservation requests. We will respond to your request with an email confirmation.


MIND YOUR MANNERS
Most trails, if they are open, may not have public facilities that are open, so check ahead of time. Please keep dogs on-leash on any hiking trail, take your trash with you, etc. Thanks for doing your part!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

We are looking for 2 volunteers to host a Polk Trails table on
April 28th at Polk County High School for the Stand By Me Polk event. Event begins at 4:30pm. If you are interested please reach out to us via email!


In March trail work days will be on Friday afternoon from 1-3pm.

March 3rd @ Recreation Complex
March 10th @ Tom Raymond Fitness Trail
March 17th @ Alexander Ford
March 24th @ ICC Library Loop
March 31st @ Recreation Complex


If you would like to help us with trail work, please contact trails@polknc.org and we will let you know when additional workdays are scheduled.

If you'd rather work on your own, feel free to walk a trail, picking up trash and moving small branches from the trails. Please don't cut any branches; if a trail needs more attention, email trails@polknc.org and we will take care of it or bring it to that trail manager's attention.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
We manage trail work days, various partnerships and other trail-related initiatives in the county.

The online calendar has been updated for March

E-Mail contact information for us: trails@polknc.org