Help Create The New
Saluda Grade Trail

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Vision Vision

Explore the Trail

A new rail trail that travels all the way from the rolling countryside of Upstate South Carolina, through historic and vibrant small towns, and into the spectacular mountain scenery of Western North Carolina. 

That’s the vision for a planned new rail trail along the route of the historic Saluda Grade Railroad. 

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The planned Saluda Grade Trail would run for 31.5 miles, from Inman, SC to Zirconia, NC. The trail would welcome folks out for a stroll, as well as bikers, hikers, joggers, wheelchairs, strollers, and other forms of exercise and play. 

In June 2025, we bought the land for the trail from Norfolk Southern and we are excited about bringing the Saluda Grade Trail to our communities!  

Will you help create the Saluda Grade Trail? We need to demonstrate overwhelming public support for the trail, in order to ensure support from our local decision-makers and to make a strong case for state, federal, and private funding. As we move toward the fundraising stage of this project, we anticipate that we will need to raise significant funds from local donors to match potential state and federal grants. 

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Recent News

Spring Forum Recap: A Regional Roadmap Takes Shape

On April 23, neighbors, partners, and leaders came together at Polk County High School. Here's what we shared, what we heard, and where we go from here.

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Walking the Grade: A Town, a Trail, and the Work of Becoming

Six stops, four hours, and a community's vision for what happens when a railroad takes on a new life.

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Recent News
Spring Forum: What to Expect

Project leaders from Conserving Carolina and PAL are looking forward to hosting the Saluda Grade Trail’s Community Information Session this week at Polk County High School.

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Our Partners

Two nonprofits are partnering to create the Saluda Grade Trail—Conserving Carolina in North Carolina and PAL: Play, Advocate Live Well in South Carolina.  

 

 


 

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