Conservation through Recreation
The Haw River Trail provides public access to Alamance County’s most important natural feature. Built on the idea of conservation through recreation, the land and paddle trails allow the community to explore and appreciate its river while helping to conserve and protect this important resource.
The Big Picture
The planned Haw River Trail (HRT) corridor extends approximately 80 miles along the Haw River from Haw River State Park on the Rockingham-Guilford County line through Alamance County to Jordan Lake State Recreational Area in Chatham County. The HRT is part of the state-wide Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) which allows hikers to travel across the state from Clingman’s Dome to Jockey’s Ridge. Approximately 40 miles will pass through Alamance County once complete. Our goal is to work with willing landowners to continue creating a corridor for the Haw River Trail, preserving the open space and viewshed around the Haw River.
Photo credit: Heather LaGarde20
Miles of Land Trail Complete
40
Miles of Paddle Trail Complete
15
Recreational Parks & Trailheads Open
Benefits of the HRT
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Water Quality
Preservation of undeveloped land along our rivers and streams can help slow and filter polluted water before it gets to lakes, rivers, and aquifers, keeping these drinking water sources cleaner and making treatment cheaper.
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Land Preservation
The conservation efforts of the Haw River Trail preserve farmland and open space valued by local residents. Preserving our rural landscapes is increasingly critical, requiring active effort from the community.
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Wildlife Habitat
The Haw River corridor is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including endangered and threatened species that depend on the habitat and water purity provided by the river corridor to survive.
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Tourism
Nature-based recreation is a sustainable, non-destructive industry capable of producing substantial revenue for small business owners, hotel and restaurant purveyors, and local governments- as well as jobs for local residents.
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Property Value
Proximity to nature trails can increase the value of property. Trails and parks are an attractive feature to prospective residents and business developers. Thriving communities often spring up based on nature trails and associated tourism.
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Family Legacy
Much of the land along the Haw River has belonged to members of our community since the 1700s, often held by the same family for generations. Conserving your land as a part of the Haw River Trail ensures that the legacy continues.
A Little History
The concept and drive behind the Haw River Trail are the product of the vision and hard work of local citizens, organizations and governments dating back more than a decade. Funding from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to Elon University, with match provided by Alamance County, City of Burlington and City of Graham, supported the establishment of the first Haw River Trail Coordinator position. With the sponsorship of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council and Elon University, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by 12 governmental agencies agreeing to support and collaborate to promote conservation and recreation in the Haw River corridor. Partnership agencies operate and manage the trail system, with each agency responsible for operation and management of parks, paddle accesses, and trails on the land it owns.
