Chapter News
What’s happening in The Alliance

Photo Gallery: New Zacks Fork Gravity Trails
This past summer, over a year's worth of planning, volunteering, and contracted trail work led to completion of the Gravity Trails expansion at Zacks Fork Trails in Lenoir. The fundraising effort began in 2021, with some grant writing and the establishment of a budget...
Photo Gallery: New Zacks Fork Gravity Trails
This past summer, over a year's worth of planning, volunteering, and contracted trail work led to completion of the Gravity Trails expansion at Zacks Fork Trails in Lenoir. The fundraising effort began in 2021, with some grant writing and the establishment of a budget...
Schoolhouse Ridge Trail Restoration Complete
This trail, rated “most difficult,” follows the historic alignment in many places, including several steep, rocky sections.
Old Becomes New On Yancey Ridge
New Reroute of Exit Now Open! The Alliance is pleased to share that the newly constructed exit of Yancey Ridge Trail is now officially OPEN! This 1.2 mile section of new trail reroutes the segment that was on private property onto US Forest Service land. The...
Mortimer Trails Project Update: June 2021
Big things are happening in the Grandfather District of Pisgah National Forest! The dirt is really flying around, and we want to provide some updates on the Mortimer Trails Project.
Photo Gallery: Yancey Ridge Trail Renovation
Photos from the volunteer and contracted machine work on Yancey Ridge Trail (TR 259), starting in late 2020 and continuing through the first half of 2021!
USFS: Trails in the Mortimer Area of Wilson Creek improved through partnerships
The public should use caution in the area and avoid active work zones.
Headwaters Hub Now Open at Warrior Creek
On March 13 over thirty volunteers polished out new trails at the Warrior Creek “Headwaters” area at Kerr Scott.
Public comment period open for the Old Fort Trails Project – Trails For All
Please help advocate for these additions by commenting during the 30 day window, which opened February 24, 2021. Comments will help guide managers as they move into environmental review of the proposed trails, with a potential final decision on the trail plans this fall.
Grandfather District Approves the Mortimer Trails Project
We’ve got some good news for you. The Pisgah National Forest Grandfather Ranger District has approved the Mortimer Trails Project. This means that planned relocations of existing trails and construction of new trails are officially authorized to proceed, which will...
Santa Cruz awards The Alliance PayDirt grant for work on Yancey Ridge
This funding will be applied to our work on Yancey Ridge Trail in the Pisgah Grandfather District, part of the larger Mortimer Trails Project in Wilson Creek.
Update on Forest Plan Revision
It is now time to submit comments on the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan. Your comments will impact the decisions the USFS makes on how the forest will be managed for the next 20 years.
Trail Status Updates with Phase 1 Reopening
With the North Carolina stay-at-home order being eased with the Phase 1 reopening, several trail systems in Northwest NC have reopened.
Update on Trail Closures and Alliance Activities
Please look closely at the list of roads and trails before you ride.
Wilson Creek Area Trail Updates
We are excited to provide some updates on some of the trail work in Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River Area of the Grandfather District. Noticeable changes are starting to occur on some trails, and this post is intended to summarize where things are to date.
NICA Athletes Contributing to Northwest NC Trails
2019 has been a great year for the Alliance, and one of the highlights has been the strong youth participation in the maintenance of trails. Student-athletes from the North Carolina Interscholastic Cycling League (NCICL), along with their families and coaches, have...
Alliance Annual Meeting in Boone Dec. 13!
The Alliance Annual Meeting will be in Boone, NC on Friday, December 13 at Bald Guy Brew Coffee Roasting Company (714 Old US 421 S). Doors will open at 6pm, and meeting will commence at 6:30. Drinks and Light Bites will be provided. Bald Guy Brew Coffee will be...
2019 volunteer work starting off at a record setting pace!
Although we are still in early spring, there has been a lot of trail activity in Northwest NC. Volunteers have been busy. To date in 2019, volunteers at events we have organized have contributed over 700 hours of work already! This large number has been bolstered by...
See You Later, 2018!
Many of our local trails will end the year under water.
Lake James State Park Work Day POSTPONED!
With melting snow pack & rain in our forecast we’re postponing our LJSP workday to Sat Jan 5 (9am).
Alliance 5th Anniversary Mountain Bike Raffle
We’re celebrating our 5th year by doing what we love; building and maintaining sustainable MTB trails for everyone to enjoy…we’re also giving away a carbon Santa Cruz or Juliana Mountain Bike!
Trail Prom Success!
Trail Prom 2018 is a wrap! Thanks to the Town of Blowing Rock, our hosts, as well as all the volunteers, sponsors & attendees who made it a really special night out.