Murphy – The town has received a $24,000 planning grant to come up with ideas for a “Valley River Heritage Trail” that some see connecting Murphy’s River Walk and Andrews, along with communities in between.
The grant was awarded in partnership with Made By Mountains Partnership and the Building Outdoor Communities Scoring Committee. The town was notified on Jan. 23 and formally accepted the grant at the town council’s February meeting.
The work from the planning grant will be performed by Sara Posey Davis, a licensed real estate agent in Cherokee County with experience in grant writing.
The town is starting with a blank slate, so anything could result from it, but the aim is to double-down on the success of Murphy’s River Walk system of trails.
Made By Mountains, also known as Made X Mtns, works to expand the outdoor industry and economy across North Carolina’s Appalachian region and catalyze rural economic development. It celebrates, supports, and builds a stronger sense of pride around the region, its people and the “extraordinary outdoor recreation industry and culture that these mountains have made.”
It builds outdoor communities by driving equitable outdoor economic and community development. It grows outdoor businesses by connecting entrepreneurs to training, funding, mentors and peer networks. And it amplifies outdoor culture by creating a network of storytelling, collaboration and camaraderie.
The website greattrailsnc.com reports that 2023 was the Year of the Trail in North Carolina, with the state putting resources into building more trails throughout the state. N.C. Trails records 12 state trails – Dan River, Deep River, East Coast Greenway, Fontana Flora, French Broad River, Hickory Nut Gorge, Mountains-to-Sea, Northern Peaks, Overmountain Victory, Roanoke River, Wilderness Gateway and Yadkin River.
There are lots of gaps in the state trail system, including a region in western North Carolina that includes Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties.
Cherokee County is surrounded by trails, including the Appalachian Trail, but outdoor access in the county is surprisingly undeveloped compared to neighboring counties. Of several trails included at the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce website, cherokeecountychamber.com, just two are actually in the county.
The Ramsey Bluff Bike Trail System, located at the Hanging Dog Campground area, is an under-utilized venue for mountain biking, hiking and cross-country running. The 8-mile labyrinth of trails is a group of connected loops, allowing a variety of combinations for repeat visitors to explore.
The trail difficulty ranges from easy to moderate and range from 1,500-1,900 feet in elevation. The trail system has two good access points with parking: the Upper Parking area above the Boat Launch, and Iceberg Hill on Ramsey Bluff Road. Restrooms are near the Boat Launch trailhead.
River Walk in Murphy has about 3 miles of easy walking trails between Konehete Veterans Park along the Valley River to the L&N Depot by the Hiwassee River bridge.
Some have proposed the old, unused railroad right of way between Murphy and Topton be converted into a hiking and biking trail. As recently as 2015, studies to revive the railroad showed an economic boost to the county if rail service was restored.
State funding is being made available for shovel-ready trail plans, Davis said, so local officials are hoping to develop a plan using this planning grant.
The existing River Walk Trail in Murphy was built primarily on easements provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Extending the trails would require acquisition of land or easements from private property owners.
The plan is to reach out to private property owners to determine their level of interest in being part of a trail expansion, Davis said. That data will be compiled into a report and used to determine the best route available.
The planning grant opportunity originated through the Building Outdoor Communities Initiative sponsored by Mountain BizWorks and Appalachian Regional Commission. Murphy Main Street Director Laura Lachance said the program aims to increase outdoor recreation assets and related businesses.