Burke County, North Carolina, November 5, 2019 – Burke County and Lake James State Park are announcing that a new section of the Fonta Flora State Trail at Lake James State Park will be open for use beginning Saturday, November 9th.
Seven miles of new trail winds its way through the Long Arm peninsula, adjacent to the Paddy’s Creek section of the park. The trail begins at NC 126 at Linville River Campground and extends to the site of the future Cove Bridge which is part of the Park’s forthcoming Visitors Center project. Trail users can access the trail from the newly constructed Linville River Trailhead at the Campground. The State Park will enforce its wet weather closure policy on this section of trail and all users must obey the closures when in effect. The trailhead and access from the road were generously donated to Burke County by campground owner Mr. James Crooks at no cost. The County asks all users to be respectful by driving slowly through the campground, staying on the trail as marked, and only parking at the designated trailhead. The dumpsters onsite are for the campground only, so please take all trash with you when you leave.
Burke County constructed the trail in partnership with North Carolina State Parks. The project was funded by a $100,000 Federal Recreation Trails Program grant administered by NC Parks and matched with $42,609 of Burke County funding from the Duke Energy Comprehensive Relicensing Agreement for the Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project. The County has additional grant funding and match to connect this trail section with existing sections of trail at Fonta Flora County Park. These projects are scheduled to go out to bid in the near future.
Burke County is located in Western North Carolina and is a local government Unit. Lake James State Park is located in Western North Carolina and is part of the State Park System administered by North Carolina State Parks. The Fonta Flora Trail is a designated State Trail that is planned to extend from Downtown Asheville to Downtown Morganton.
