Funded by the N.C.  Department of Natural and Cultural Resources  and the N.C. Science Network, the N.C. Science Trail features more than 60 science-focused sites, including state parks, aquariums, gardens, nature centers and science museums. The trail currently features two Western North Carolina sites — Highlands Biological Station in Macon County and Gorges State Park in Transylvania County. However, more sites are expected to be added to the trail in the future.

The trail is fashioned after other cultural and food-based trails like the Blue Ridge Heritage Trail, the N.C. Civil Rights Trail, and the N.C. Oyster Trail and features program offerings, special events, citizen science opportunities and science travel itineraries for children and adults. It launched during and in partnership with the 2023 N.C. Science Festival. It partners with the citizen science organization Science Across North Carolina and the Great Trails State Coalition, the organization managing the 2023 Year of the Trail activities throughout North Carolina.

To bring the trail to life, a grant from the state through the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources was awarded in August 2022 to InSitu Explorers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing access to science education for all N.C. residents.

Learn more at go.ncsciencetrail.org/website .