About the Saluda Grade Trail

Across the United States, inactive rail lines have found new life as vibrant rail trails. Now, we have the opportunity to create a beautiful new trail along the historic Saluda Grade rail line!

The planned new trail will be similar to the popular Swamp Rabbit Trail or Virginia Creeper Trail, both outstanding success stories. In each case, the trail has become the heart of the community—treasured by local residents and a destination for visitors. Rail trails like the proposed Saluda Grade Trail grow local economies, expand opportunities for outdoor recreation, and improve people’s health.

The planned Saluda Grade Trail will run for 31.5 miles, from Inman, SC to Zirconia, NC. The trail will welcome folks out for a stroll, as well as bikers, hikers, joggers, wheelchairs, strollers, and other forms of exercise and play. There is also potential for an equestrian path. However you like to get around, the trail will invite you to enjoy the beautiful countryside of Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina.

Along the length of this famous rail line, you will be able to experience the pastoral countryside of the rolling Piedmont, the Pacolet River gorge with its plunging waterfalls, and the spectacular scenery around the Green River. You can also enjoy small town charm and unique local businesses in historic downtown Campobello, Inman, Landrum, Tryon, and Saluda.

Explore the Saluda Grade Trail

We Bought the Railroad! So What Happens Next?

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

And we’ve reached a major milestone! With funding from the states of North and South Carolina and other generous funders, we now own the land! In June 2025, the Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy bought the rail line to create a new rail trail. However, we still have a lot of work ahead to design the best trail for our communities, raise funds for construction, and build the trail. Will you help make it happen?

Strong public support is essential to securing the state and federal funding we will need to build the trail. We also anticipate that we will need to raise substantial donations from local donors to match potential state and federal grants. Sign up for emails about the Saluda Grade Trail and we’ll let you know how you can support the trail. We’ll also follow up with updates about this project.

Benefits of the Saluda Grade Trail

The Saluda Grade Trail would make our communities better places to live in so many ways. It would:

Expand outdoor recreation, providing a 31.5-mile linear park where people can easily get out to exercise and play.
Improve health by encouraging physical exercise in the great outdoors.
Grow local economies by strengthening local businesses and attracting tourists.
Keep local history alive as people engage with the Saluda Grade railroad—which took feats of engineering, daring, and will to cross the steep Blue Ridge Escarpment.
Support wildlife by creating a corridor that links protected natural areas.
Provide transportation options, so people can bike or walk instead of always driving.
Connect to more trails, as part of a vision for a network of hiking paths and greenways spanning hundreds of miles.
Improve quality of life—where we can all enjoy good health, economic opportunity, community, and a connection with nature.

Learn More about the Benefits of the Trail

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

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About the Saluda Grade Trail

We Bought the Railroad! So What Happens Next?

Benefits of the Saluda Grade Trail

Help Us Realize the Saluda Grade Trail

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