Summer Public Meeting Planned

See the First Five Miles: Join Us August 18 in Landrum 

After a year of surveys, studies, and conversations, the Saluda Grade Trail is taking shape. 

Since we gathered in April, the project has moved from planning to design. PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well. and Conserving Carolina are working with SeamonWhiteside on the design for the South Carolina portion of the corridor. The design for the first segment, from the North Carolina state line down to Landrum, is already 60 percent complete. 

Now we want to hear from you again. On Tuesday, August 18, we’re bringing those plans to the Landrum Farmers Market so you can see them up close. 

Join Us: Public Information Session on August 18

Drop in any time that evening; stay as long as you like. 

What: Saluda Grade Trail Public Information Session 
When: Tuesday, August 18, 2026 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM 
Where: Landrum Farmers Market, Landrum, SC
Learn more: www.saludagradetrail.org 

Representatives from PAL, Conserving Carolina, and SeamonWhiteside, the trail design team, will be on hand with visuals to answer questions about trailhead locations, trail widths, and more. 

What to Expect 

At the session, you’ll have the opportunity to: 

Review the 60 percent design plans for the first five miles of the trail. 

Talk with the design team about trailheads, trail widths, and access. 

Learn what happens next, and what construction still depends on. 

Share your perspective on how the trail fits into your community. 

“This information session is an important opportunity for community members to see the latest plans and share their perspectives,” says Laura Ringo, executive director of PAL. 

Where Things Stand: Design, Not Yet Construction 

It’s an exciting and important time to understand where we are in the process. 

A feasibility study confirmed the trail can be built and offered professional recommendations. Final decisions have not yet been made, and construction has not begun. Read the 2025 Saluda Grade Trail Feasibility Study here. 

Three companion plans, shaped by community input, now guide the work: a Community Engagement Plan, an Economic Development Plan, and a Destination Marketing Plan. 

In South Carolina, crews have already begun removing old electrical equipment from the corridor. The construction timeline and order are not yet confirmed and are contingent on pending funding. 

In North Carolina, an asset survey is underway, and we are writing grants alongside Tryon and Saluda to fund two sections: Saluda to Bell Park and Landrum to Tryon.  

If you notice activity along the line this summer, crews are assessing the corridor ahead of track removal, which is a normal part of getting to construction. 

Can’t Make It on August 18? 

There is still plenty of room to shape this trail. Here are three ways to stay in it: 

• Read the plans behind the project. The three 1-page guiding plans above are short by design and provide the clearest picture of where this is headed. 
• See how one town is getting ready. Our first town spotlight looked at how Saluda is preparing for the trail, from downtown plans to leaders thinking years ahead. Read Stops Along the Grade here. Stay tuned for our next spotlight, which showcases how Inman is preparing for the project. 
• Sign up for updates. We send periodic notes on design milestones, funding, and public meetings. Sign up for our newsletter here.  

A Trail Shaped by Community 

What makes the Saluda Grade Trail unique is not only the landscape it will connect but also the communities shaping it. 

The planned trail travels through scenic Upstate South Carolina and into the mountains of Western North Carolina, passing through Inman, Campobello, Landrum, Tryon, Saluda, and Zirconia. PAL and Conserving Carolina are partnering to spearhead this effort. 

We hope you’ll join us on August 18 to review the plans, ask questions, and continue shaping the trail.