A well-loved trail in need of repair:
The South Mills River area (also known locally as “Turkey Pen”) experiences significant visitor traffic year-round, drawing users in for horseback riding, fishing, backpacking, mountain biking, and trail running adventures in Pisgah’s multi-use backcountry.
The section of South Mills River trail that drops from Turkey Pen Trailhead down to the river is steep, wide, and heavily used, making it susceptible to erosion issues. Additionally, two of the more steep sections of trail were showing wear.
Collaborative and ongoing improvements:
Starting with Pisgah Project Day in 2022, we partnered with Trail Dynamics and Pisgah Area SORBA to fortify the pitch (the steepness or grade of a trail) nearest the trailhead as it provided easy access for machinery and for volunteers. With each subsequent Pisgah Project Day in 2023 and 2024, more and more sturdy rock has been used to replace exposed, eroding soil. Drainage structures were also fortified moving down the trail.
The dedication and commitment of Trail Dynamics, local professional trail builders, cannot be overstated. Their willingness to provide high-quality, professional trail building services at no cost to The Pisgah Conservancy for consecutive Pisgah Project Day projects on South Mills River trail is a generous testament to their commitment to Pisgah and its trail users.
In November 2023, our seasonally-bolstered Trail Crew tackled the pitch closest to South Mills River, selecting black locust wood as the erosion control material of choice. Over the course of two weeks, they constructed 19 locust box steps (with waterbars for drainage) where a rut had previously begun to form to remediate eroded sections of trail and provide drainage to prevent future trail degradation.
This project is a great example of our ability to bring together a variety of resources, from volunteers, to contractors, to partners, to our in-house Trail Crew, to make long-lasting improvements to the Pisgah Ranger District’s trail network.
Outcomes:
- 0.5 miles of trail improved between Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead and the first trail bridge over South Mills River
- Hundreds of feet of significant rock armoring installed to stabilize trail tread and prevent future erosion
- Nineteen locust box steps constructed with waterbars for drainage
