May Polk Trails Newsletter
May Workdays
for the Recreation Complex Trail:
Phase One of reopening allows for volunteering! We will be holding work days on the following days from 9 am - 12 pm:
Thursday, May 14
Wednesday, May 20
Saturday, May 23
Tuesday, May 26
Thursday, May 28
Please call Neal if you have any questions: 828-808-6928. If you have your own tools, please bring them so we do not have to share equipment.
AmeriCorps Trail Coordinator Position NOW OPEN for 2020-2021 Service Year!
The Polk County Parks & Recreation Department was awarded another term of service from Conserving Carolina's Project Conserve, and the application deadline is MAY 15! The position description can be found  HERE .
For more information on Project Conserve or to apply, visit the  Project Conserve website .
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April Trails E-Meeting Notes
  • Most area trails are open, though bathroom facilities are closed.
  • All local organized hikes have been cancelled. If you are interested in recording yourself on a hike, pointing out things of interest as you would guiding a hike, email lbaird@polknc.org. We can post these on the Trails website or Facebook page.
  • We are planning summer camp and are seeking volunteers to pick one week to come hiking with us at an area trail. Email Laura if you are interested: lbaird@polknc.org.
  • Rec Complex Trail: most of the remaining work is bench-cutting. We are looking into renting a machine for a weekend to aid with the hard work.
  • Little White Oak Mt. Grants: The deadline for PARTF has been extended until June 1. The commissioners will be voting on the application on May 18, and information regarding the grant will be on our trails website for review.
  • Alexander's Ford: the new trail put in by NPS looks great, with markers on the trees denoting the National Historic Trail. It is not officially open yet, but should be soon. For the time being, equestrian use is not allowed, as there are some muddy spots that need to be fixed to make sure equestrian use is sustainable on the trail. If you have any input on allowing equestrian use in the future (whether it be yea or neigh), please email us to let us know your thoughts.
  • Tom Raymond/ICC Loop: Don and Mark cleared 7-8 trees from the loop but it could still use some tidying up. Let us know if you'd like to spend a few hours cleaning up the trail.
  • SCLT: the Youth Hike challenge can be completed on your own, since the community-led hikes have been suspended. Want to participate? Download the Activity Log HERE. A workday is being organized for the Little Park in Saluda, which has a few large oak trees down from the recent storms. Contact Chuck Hearon if you are interested in helping: chearon@skyrunner.net
  • Conserving Carolina: Invasives removal is still taking place at Norman Wilder and check out the plants from the PAC office that have been moved to the Columbus branch of the Polk County Library!
  • Green River Gamelands Trails: the bathroom facilities and the Big Bradley Falls trail are closed but the other trails are open. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND that turkey hunting season is open until May 11...wear blaze orange if you can and be mindful of hunters please.
  • The next trails meeting is May 25. Stay tuned for a reminder email.
Pick up your copy of the...

Paddle Trail Guide
for the
Broad & Green River
Featuring:
-Access point and river information for the 1st, 2nd, and Main Broad & Green River
-Boating access information for Lake Lure, Lake Adger, Moss Lake & Lake Bowen
-Suggested trips
-Locally made with local knowledge

From the Polk County Parks & Recreation office!
(105 N. Peak St., Columbus, NC 28722)
The Next Trails Committee Meeting is scheduled for
May 25th.

Join Polk County Parks & Recreation to discuss current and future trails projects. Our next meeting will be held on Monday, May 25th at 6:00 pm. The meeting will take place from your comfiest spot in your house. Join in on Zoom:

Topic: Trails Committee Zoom Meeting
Time: May 25, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 457 308 8514

The limit is 40 minutes, so if we get cut off, just join back in by clicking the link again!!
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Spring has sprung! If you would like to have a photo featured on the Polk Trails Facebook page, email the image to us and include a short description.

Preferred content: In Polk County and on publicly accessible land.


Polk Trails regularly updates a calendar of outdoor events in the area.

  • We will update the calendar accordingly when we hear of things being reopened and restarted.

Access can be found on our website here .
The AmeriCorps Trails Coordinator works for Polk County Parks & Recreation through a grant from the  Polk County Community Foundation . The Trails Coordinator manages trail work days, various partnerships and other trail related initiatives in the county.
E-Mail contact information for us: trails@polknc.org
Visit the Polk Trails website and Facebook page below.

The Polk Trails website offers
  • Description, images, parking, and some maps for trail systems.
  • Events calendar.
  • Information on how to adopt-a-trail.
  • A Nature Navigators page (Polk County Middle School hiking club).
  • Links to maps and other resources.
  • Other general information.