FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Premiering Thursday, August 31, the visually stunning show explores ten unique NC trails through the eyes of local nature lovers.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 8/9/2023 — PBS North Carolina announces the premiere of Ten to Try: Trails, which showcases ten spectacular trail experiences across the state. Shown through the eyes of nature lovers, trail experts and outdoor equity advocates, the half-hour show highlights the rich diversity of nature opportunities in the “Great Trail State.” Ten to Try: Trails premieres Thursday, August 31, at 8:30 PM, on PBS NC, as well as online and on the PBS App.
Ten to Try: Trails was produced in partnership with the Great Trails State Coalition and with generous support from the SECU Foundation. The program was produced in honor of North Carolina’s 2023 Year of the Trail initiative, the largest statewide celebration of trails and outdoor recreation in North Carolina history. It commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1973 North Carolina Trails System Act, which instituted a state system of scenic and recreation trails.
North Carolina’s abundant trails offer a broad range of terrains, activities and natural beauty. Proving that there is truly an NC trail for everyone, Ten to Try: Trails takes you to ten scenic locations for hiking, biking, jogging, horseback riding, waterfall chasing and boating. Highlights include an exhilarating mountain bike ride in Cherokee, a peaceful hike along a historic speedway, a scenic climb up an iconic Appalachian peak and a paddleboarding excursion on the coast alongside dolphins, otters and wild horses.
Trail stories from the broadcast presentation and profiles of the people featured in the show will be shared on YouTube and the PBS App. In addition, PBS North Carolina welcomes all to a free virtual screening of the program and a community discussion on Tuesday, August 29, at 7 PM. Register for the event at Eventbrite.
Featured Trails
1. Spearfinger at Fire Mountain Trails
High atop Fire Mountain Trails in Cherokee lies Spearfinger, one of the fastest downhill mountain biking experiences in North Carolina. Longtime trail-riding friends Laura Blythe and Jeremy Hyatt, members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, lead the way down the mountain.
2. Daniel Boone Scout Trail, Grandfather Mountain
The majestic peak of Grandfather Mountain makes up one of North Carolina’s most iconic vistas, and the Daniel Boone Scout Trail is arguably the best route for hikers looking to climb to the top. The trail offers an abundance of biodiversity and scenic views the whole way up. Set off on the trail with local author and avid hiker Randy Johnson, who helped build and manage the mountain’s trails.
3. Three Waterfalls Hike, DuPont State Forest
Nothing draws visitors to DuPont Forest like the beauty of its majestic waterfalls. Roughly four miles long, Three Waterfalls Hike is made up of a series of shorter trails and spurs that take you to every major cascade in the park. Leading the way is nature lover and outdoor equity advocate Vivianette Ortiz Caraballo, cofounder of Latinos Aventureros en las Carolinas, a Latinx hiking club.
4. Little Sugar Creek Greenway, Charlotte
Charlotte is a city full of outdoor opportunity, and its Little Sugar Creek Greenway might just be the perfect urban trail. Popular with trail runners, hikers, bikers and birders alike, the popular footpath links neighborhoods from Uptown all the way to the South Carolina border. Take a jog with Charlotte native Kim Olige, a young man using exercise to mentor the next generation.
5. Uwharrie Trail
The Uwharrie Trail is a well-marked, well-maintained Piedmont trail that runs just under 30 miles point to point. Seldom crowded and with several trailheads and campsites, it’s perfect for day hikes, overnights or extended thru-hikes. Hit the Uwharrie Trail with the Culture Queens, a group of local women who believe the outdoors should be accessible to everyone.
6. Occoneechee Speedway Trail, Hillsborough
Nestled along the banks of the Eno River in a forest of pine and sycamore trees lies an oval-shaped dirt track that makes up one of the most unique trails in North Carolina. The Occoneechee Speedway Trail in the quaint historic town of Hillsborough offers visitors the perfect mix of exercise, nature and history. Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver is the perfect guide for this riverside stroll.
7. Roanoke River Paddle Trail
Winding nearly 140 miles from Roanoke Rapids to the Pamlico Sound, the Roanoke River Paddle Trail offers boaters of all levels options from scenic day trips to multiday adventures. Overnight camping is easy thanks to 16 sleeping platforms along the route. Local outfitter Captain Heber Coltrain leads the way down this scenic river trail brimming with history, wildlife and natural wonder.
8. Rachel Carson Reserve Paddle Trail, Beaufort
The Rachel Carson Reserve Paddle Trail lies just off the port city of Beaufort and offers up-close access to some of the most beautiful and biologically diverse areas in the state, from rich marine habitat to small islands abundant with wildlife. Explore the islands and coastal waters of the trail with reserve site manager Paula Gillikin of the NC Division of Coastal Management.
9. Sugarloaf Trail, Carolina Beach State Park
North Carolina’s coastal trails may not get as much attention as those farther inland, but they have much to offer in the way of ecological diversity and natural beauty. The Sugarloaf Trail, a three-mile loop at Carolina Beach State Park, offers a great alternative to crowded beaches nearby. Join local coastal naturalist Cathy Meyer as she explores her favorite places along the trail.
10. Longleaf Pine Trail, Carvers Creek State Park
The Longleaf Pine Trail is the longest out-and-back among the multiuse trail network at Carvers Creek State Park. Relatively flat and seldom crowded, it’s a great trail for hiking and mountain biking and the perfect route for an afternoon trail-ride for equestrians of all levels. Saddle up with equestrian and literacy advocate Caitlin Gooch as she sets off to discover the trail on horseback.
Featured Trail Lovers
Laura Blythe & Jeremy Hyatt
Friends Laura Blythe and Jeremy Hyatt are members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, based in Cherokee. They often ride the trails at Fire Mountain together. Laura is passionate about encouraging young tribal members to stay fit, and Fire Mountain is her favorite place to get people moving. Jeremy oversees Fire Mountain and its vast network of trails for the tribe.
Randy Johnson
Hiker, photographer and author Randy Johnson helped to build and manage Grandfather Mountain’s trails. He has written widely about the famous peak, including in his award-winning book Grandfather Mountain: The History and Guide to an Appalachian Icon. Johnson believes that the only way to truly appreciate our natural environment is to get outside and experience it firsthand.
Vivianette Ortiz Caraballo
Vivianette Ortiz Caraballo is an outdoor enthusiast, an advocate for the Latinx community and the executive director of Latinos Aventureros en las Carolinas, a Latinx hiking club. She believes in the power of the outdoors to help ground and connect people from various cultures and backgrounds and is passionate about encouraging diversity and access in the outdoors.
Kim Olige
Charlotte native Kim Olige launched the nonprofit Youth Style Fitness to offer the city’s youth more opportunities to stay fit while gaining important life skills like nutrition, mental wellness, conflict resolution and goal setting. Olige, who loves running on city trails, believes fitness can be a tool to help kids learn, grow and release trauma.
Jennifer Michelle
Jennifer Michelle is an entrepreneur, model, coach and the founder of the Culture Queens, a local group that fosters opportunity for women of color to gather in cultural community and outdoor spaces. Whether chasing waterfalls, hiking to ridgetop views or taking on a day hike close to town, Jennifer loves spending time outdoors. There aren’t many North Carolina trails she hasn’t yet tried.
Jenn Weaver
Jenn Weaver is the mayor of Hillsborough, a quaint town in the Triangle with lots of opportunities for outdoor experiences. Weaver enjoys spending time in nature, running and hiking with her family and their dog. She is passionate about protecting and conserving outdoor spaces in North Carolina, including public parks and trails.
Heber Coltrain
Local river guide Heber Coltrain has fished and boated on the Roanoke River his whole life. He knows as much about the river and its rich history and ecology as just about anyone. His outfitting business, Roanoke Outdoor Adventures, helps paddlers with everything from arranging boats and camping gear to route planning, transportation and guide services.
Paula Gillikin
Paula Gillikin is a natural resources manager with the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management. One of her responsibilities is the care of the Rachel Carson Reserve, which includes four islands with over 2,300 acres of land, the surrounding waters and marsh and all the flora and fauna that live and thrive there. The reserve trail is one of her favorite places to paddle.
Cathy Meyer
Cathy Meyer is a coastal naturalist, writer and avid beach hiker who once walked the entire NC coastline with her late husband, Peter Meyer. Their eBook Coastwalk North Carolina chronicles the entire 425-mile adventure across the state’s barrier islands. She cites the Sugarloaf Trail at Carolina Beach State Park as one of her favorite local trails due to its rich ecological diversity.
Caitlin Gooch
Caitlin Gooch is an equestrian, farmer, author and founder of Saddle Up and Read, a nonprofit program that encourages young people to read through equine activities. She has always been around horses and incorporates them into all aspects of her life, including addressing the literacy gap for children of color. She loves riding and discovering new horseback trails in North Carolina.
For additional Year of the Trail stories, visit our YouTube channel.
About the NC Great Trails State Coalition
The North Carolina Great Trails State Coalition is a broad-based group of more than 50 diverse organizations, agencies and industry partners, including Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, East Coast Greenway Alliance, NC Horse Council, Carolina Thread Trail, The Conservation Fund, Fred Smith Company, McAdams, PermaTrack and multiple NC counties. The Coalition advocates for increased state investment in all types of trails in North Carolina—hiking, paddle, mountain bike, equestrian and paved. Learn more at greattrailsstatecoalition.org.
About the SECU Foundation
The SECU Foundation promotes local and community development by primarily funding high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare and human services. The State Employees’ Credit Union Board of Directors chartered the SECU Foundation to help identify and address community issues that are beyond the normal scope of State Employees’ Credit Union. While individual members may not have a large impact, collectively and cooperatively the Foundation can go a long way toward helping solve problems in our neighborhoods, schools and our community at large. Learn more at ncsecufoundation.org.
About PBS North Carolina
As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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