New trail complete near Asheville
A new trail in the budding Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Trail loop has been completed, getting the system one step closer to its planned 20-mile expanse.
The Wildcat Rock Trail is located in Gerton, about 30 minutes southeast of Asheville. Its completion adds 3 miles to the loop, extending its existing segments to 11.5 miles. The trail was built over a four-year period, with multiple trail-building organizations contributing to the project. Construction of a 2.5-mile connector between Bearwallow Mountain Trail and Wildcat Rock Trail will begin this year, as well as a 3-mile segment linking the upper terminus of Trombatore Trail to Hickory Nut Gap at U.S. 74A.
Groups contributing to the Wildcat Rock Trail include Benchmark Trails, Trail Dynamics, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, North Carolina Conservation Corps, American Conservation Experience, the Conserving Carolina Rock Crushers Trail Crew and Carolina Mountain Club’s Friday Crew.
