DuPont State Forest, nestled near the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina, has witnessed a staggering ten-fold increase in trail traffic since its opening 25 years ago.
Western North Carolina is celebrated as one of the premier outdoor destinations on the East Coast. Enthusiasts from across the globe flock to experience the majestic Great Smoky Mountains, the breathtaking waterfalls of Transylvania County, and the rugged singletrack trails that traverse the ancient Appalachian Mountains.
Among the various trail systems in Western North Carolina, DuPont State Forest stands out as a top attraction. This expansive 12,400-acre forest now hosts over 1.2 million visitors annually. To put this into perspective, although Great Smoky Mountains National Park is less than two hours away and the most visited national park in the USA, DuPont State Forest receives over four times the number of visitors per acre.
A Ten-Fold Increase in Visitation
When DuPont State Forest first opened for public recreation in the late 1990s, it saw around 130,000 visitors annually. Over the past quarter-century, this number has surged ten-fold.
However, the trails in DuPont State Forest were not initially designed to accommodate such heavy traffic. Despite efforts to retrofit many trails over the years, the current pressures remain unsustainable.
Todd Branham, a dedicated local mountain biker and owner of Long Cane Trails, which has been contracted to build and improve trails in the forest, highlights the challenges: “On a Saturday or Sunday in the summer, you can’t even find a place to park. It’s not about going out in that big forest and getting lost anymore. You see people everywhere, and it’s all users. It’s gotten to the point where people are getting frustrated.”
Implementing a New Management Plan
To address this dramatic increase in traffic, DuPont State Forest is developing a comprehensive management plan, its first of its kind. The forest has drawn inspiration from successful management plans across the mountain west.
Extensive community input was gathered during three meetings held in Brevard, Hendersonville, and Mills River. Sara Landry, Executive Director for the Friends of DuPont, noted, “We had a ton of people come to those meetings. We hosted focus groups for each of the different user groups: hikers and trail runners, mountain bikers, equestrians, and hunters and fishermen.”
The forest also hired an external contractor to conduct a detailed trail assessment. Landry explained, “They identified our hotspots, determined which trails are being used and which aren’t, and made recommendations based on that data.”
Recommendations and Upcoming Changes
The draft management plan, previewed in April during a public information session, is set to be released soon. While Singletracks has not yet obtained a copy of the final plan, Kirsten McDonald, Information and Education Supervisor for DuPont State Forest, anticipates no major changes.
Landry outlined the key considerations for sustainable trail management: “They looked at social sustainability, user safety, economic feasibility, and ecological impact. Some trails will become off-limits to horses, others to mountain bikers. For example, mountain bikers will get Hooker Creek, Ridgeline, Rocky Ridge, and Grassy. Additionally, certain trails like Ridgeline will become directional—open only to mountain bikers going downhill and hikers going uphill.”
While the planned trail changes may seem to disadvantage mountain bikers based on numbers alone, the goal is to ensure a positive experience for all users while maintaining the forest’s ecological balance.
Conclusion
DuPont State Forest’s management plan aims to balance the needs of its diverse visitors while preserving the natural beauty and integrity of the trails. As visitation continues to grow, these measures are crucial in ensuring the forest remains a cherished destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
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