About This Event
Join us in celebrating the completion of Wolfpen Loop, the first completed section of the new Wilderness Gateway State Trail, spanning 10.5 miles thru McDowell County. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be followed by a guided hike and BBQ lunch.
The Ribbon Cutting ceremony will be held at Lucky Strike Camp Ground. Because the trailhead for Wolfpen Loop can hold a maximum of 15 vehicles, Lucky Strike (located about a mile down the road from the trailhead) has graciously agreed to host the event! They have a brand new stage and plenty of parking. Plus a brand new restaurant!
Location:
Lucky Strike Campground
251 Lucky Strike Dr.
Marion, NC 28752
https://www.luckystrikecampground.com/
Timeline:
9:00 - 9:45 - Arrive and park. Coffee.
10:00 - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Begins
10:45 - Ceremony concludes
11:00 - Shuttle to trailhead for hike (optional)
11:30 - 1:00 pm - BBQ Lunch at Lucky Strike
This event is FREE to attend, but registration is required for the hike and lunch.
About the Trail:
The Wilderness Gateway State Trail (WGST) is a brand-new long-distance trail experience that opens a window into one of North Carolina’s most ambitious and quietly powerful conservation efforts by Foothills Conservancy of NC (FCNC).
Stretching across an 80,000-acre conservation corridor that has been more than 30 years in the making by FCNC, WGST is a planned 170-mile, multi-use trail system that connects the South Mountains to the Blue Ridge Escarpment, linking conserved lands, rural communities, and remote landscapes into a continuous, immersive experience through Catawba, Burke, McDowell, and Rutherford Counties.
WGST is designed as a long-distance, multi-use trail system that offers something for a wide range of users, the trail offers everything from backcountry hiking and endurance treks to family-friendly loops, front-country trail rides, blueway paddle routes, and urban greenways. The trail is both a physical route and a doorway into rugged, often overlooked terrain that redefines the Foothills as wild, mountainous, and deeply connected.
Built with adaptive design at its core, WGST removes barriers without softening the experience. By designing for the most restrictive user, the trail creates a better, more enjoyable experience for everyone. It is your trail, shaped by how you choose to experience it.
More info: FoothillsConservancy.org/WGST
About This Event
Join us in celebrating the completion of Wolfpen Loop, the first completed section of the new Wilderness Gateway State Trail, spanning 10.5 miles thru McDowell County. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be followed by a guided hike and BBQ lunch.
The Ribbon Cutting ceremony will be held at Lucky Strike Camp Ground. Because the trailhead for Wolfpen Loop can hold a maximum of 15 vehicles, Lucky Strike (located about a mile down the road from the trailhead) has graciously agreed to host the event! They have a brand new stage and plenty of parking. Plus a brand new restaurant!
Location:
Lucky Strike Campground
251 Lucky Strike Dr.
Marion, NC 28752
https://www.luckystrikecampground.com/
Timeline:
9:00 - 9:45 - Arrive and park. Coffee.
10:00 - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Begins
10:45 - Ceremony concludes
11:00 - Shuttle to trailhead for hike (optional)
11:30 - 1:00 pm - BBQ Lunch at Lucky Strike
This event is FREE to attend, but registration is required for the hike and lunch.
About the Trail:
The Wilderness Gateway State Trail (WGST) is a brand-new long-distance trail experience that opens a window into one of North Carolina’s most ambitious and quietly powerful conservation efforts by Foothills Conservancy of NC (FCNC).
Stretching across an 80,000-acre conservation corridor that has been more than 30 years in the making by FCNC, WGST is a planned 170-mile, multi-use trail system that connects the South Mountains to the Blue Ridge Escarpment, linking conserved lands, rural communities, and remote landscapes into a continuous, immersive experience through Catawba, Burke, McDowell, and Rutherford Counties.
WGST is designed as a long-distance, multi-use trail system that offers something for a wide range of users, the trail offers everything from backcountry hiking and endurance treks to family-friendly loops, front-country trail rides, blueway paddle routes, and urban greenways. The trail is both a physical route and a doorway into rugged, often overlooked terrain that redefines the Foothills as wild, mountainous, and deeply connected.
Built with adaptive design at its core, WGST removes barriers without softening the experience. By designing for the most restrictive user, the trail creates a better, more enjoyable experience for everyone. It is your trail, shaped by how you choose to experience it.
More info: FoothillsConservancy.org/WGST