Get Outside for N.C.’s Great Trails State Day on Oct. 21

Fall in North Carolina is like sweet tea with a slice of lemon.

When light hits a glass of tea just right, the drink's colors of tan, yellow and orangey-red illuminate in a way that's reminiscent of changing leaves in sunlight. And, a sip of that ice-chilled goodness is refreshing like a warm, breezy fall day.

Maybe that comparison is a little over the top, but you get the point. Fall in North Carolina is lovely and the perfect time for Great Trails State Day on Saturday, Oct. 21.

For this special day, people across the state are encouraged to get outside and enjoy North Carolina's recreational resources.

Great Trails State Day is the keynote event of the 2023 Year of the Trail campaign to promote outdoor recreation on the state’s trails, rivers and greenways in rural and urban areas from the beaches to the mountains. The campaign promotes North Carolina as “THE” state of “great trails,” according to its website. It's also the largest celebration of trails and outdoor recreation in the state's history.

Year of the Trail's goal is to showcase the state’s beauty, encourage healthy recreation and stimulate local economies. In N.C., trails are the “backbone” to a “growing $28 billion outdoor recreation industry," according to the site.

The American Tobacco Trail, a 22.6-mile path, once a railway used in N.C.'s tobacco industry, runs through parts of Wake, Durham and Chatham counties.

The Year of the Trail website also includes a trail finder database. Plus, a blog with stories about how to engage with the state's trails and parks, such as historical locations and tips for getting children interested in hiking.

A sampling of events for Great Trails State Day include a Halloween-themed 5K “Monster Dash” at Carolina Beach and a bike ride in downtown Goldsboro. A full day of canoeing, hiking and cooking out is planned for Lake Devin in Oxford.

Moore County, known for its tall pines and golf, is hosting the Pinecone Pathways Special Edition Treasure Hunt. Participants will search for 10 glass-blown pinecones hidden along county trails.

This special edition event was added to the calendar after the original hunt for 200 pinecones in March was a big hit.

Each pinecone is an original creation from Starworks, a glass studio in Star, N.C., and correlates to a prize. For the treasure hunt on Great Trails State Day, the grand prize is a ticket to the 2024 U.S. Open practice round at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club.

If you participate in Great Trails State Day, be sure to take a selfie. Organizers are compiling an album featuring people’s experiences so tag your picture @greattrailsnc.

For more information about North Carolina’s vast network of trails and events in the coming months, visit The Year of the Trail website.