North Carolina Update: Where Things Stand on the Grade

When we shared design plans in Landrum this summer for the first five miles, many of you asked about the North Carolina section of the trail. We are glad you did. Here is a look at the progress happening north of the state line. 

A Foundation of Planning 

A lot of groundwork must happen before any part of the trail can be built, and much of it is already in place: 

• A feasibility study confirms the corridor is well suited for a trail; 
• An economic development plan guides decisions about parking, trailheads, and gathering places; 
• A community engagement plan lays out how residents take part and how our towns and counties work together; and, 
• A destination marketing plan shapes how we share the trail with visitors. 

Together, these documents give both states a shared starting point. 

Two States, Two Timelines 

North Carolina and South Carolina work under different regulations and funding sources, so the two halves of the project will move at different paces. 

South Carolina is moving into design and construction. We expect the first five-mile segment, from the North Carolina state line through Landrum, to be fully permitted and ready for construction in late spring 2027. You can read more about that work in our South Carolina Design Update. 

In North Carolina, we will also build the trail in sections, and we have identified two priorities for the first phase of design and construction: Landrum to Tryon and Saluda to Bell Park. Conserving Carolina is actively seeking federal funding for both. 

Many of you have asked how long it will take. Once funding is in place for these priority sections, we anticipate 1.5 to 2 years for design, followed by 1 to 2 years for construction. 

Planning Alongside Our Towns 

A trail is only as good as the places it connects, so we have been working with the towns along the corridor on their master planning. In Saluda, that conversation is well underway, and you can read about it in Stops Along the Grade: Saluda. In Tryon, plans are taking shape for downtown parking and McCown Street Park, and we will share that story in an upcoming post. 

Deciding Which Tracks Stay 

We are conducting an asset survey to identify items along the corridor that are worth preserving with the hope that some can find a home in our local depots and museums. Next, the rails and other track materials will need to be removed and salvaged. 

Not all of the track will go, though. The Saluda Grade was the steepest standard-gauge mainline railroad grade in the United States, and some of what remains in the ground helps tell that story. We are working with local communities, historians, and the NC Steering Committee – a group of local officials, municipal staff, and community stakeholders – to decide which sections should stay in place to honor the railroad’s past. 

Students Help Tell the Story 

Preserving some of the track is one way to keep the corridor’s history alive. Gathering its stories is another, and we are happy to have partners in that work. 

This school year, Conserving Carolina is partnering with Polk County Schools on “Stories of the Saluda Grade,” a student-led heritage project supported by the Stuart and Margaret L. Forbes Endowment Fund at the Polk County Community Foundation. Students will learn from local experts about the railroad, the people who built and worked it, and the communities that grew along the grade. They will walk the corridor on guided field trips and interview longtime residents with a deliberate effort to include community voices whose histories run through this landscape. 

This partnership is one of several community efforts to capture the grade’s history and heritage, and we look forward to sharing more. 

Highway 176 

We have also received questions about the Highway 176 closure between Tryon and Saluda. NCDOT is the official source for that information, and we encourage you to see their recent update and follow their progress online at NCDOT.gov. 

Stay Connected 

We are always updating our Saluda Grade Trail FAQs page with answers to questions we receive. Please look for future blog posts for more information. Signing up for our email newsletter will keep you updated on future announcements and events. 

The planned Saluda Grade Trail will travel through scenic Upstate South Carolina and into the mountains of Western North Carolina. The route passes near charming small towns including Inman, Campobello, Landrum, Tryon, and Saluda. PAL and Conserving Carolina are spearheading this effort. These organizations share a commitment to serving their communities and providing places for outdoor recreation.