Hickory – The City of Hickory and the Northwest North Carolina Mountain Bike Alliance invite the public to attend a ribbon cutting for the Lake Hickory Trails on Friday, June 1, at 11:00 a.m., at the beginner loop trailhead.
The ceremony will celebrate the completion of the Lake Hickory Trails, a system of mountain biking trails at Hickory City and Rotary-Geitner Parks, which include a 1.8-mile beginner flow trail, a 4-mile intermediate loop, a pump track for both advanced and beginner riders, and an advanced jump line for more skilled riders.
In early 2017, Hickory citizens, Kirk Brittain and Brad Stevens, approached the City, seeking to adopt the trails between Hickory City Park and Rotary-Geitner Park, and spearhead an effort to improve the existing trails so that mountain bikers of all skill levels could enjoy them. Brittain and Stevens are both members of the Northwest North Carolina Mountain Bike Alliance (The Alliance), a 501(c)(3) chapter of SORBA, the Southern Off Road Bicycle Association. The project and funding were run through The Alliance for its expertise in this arena, and non-profit status. Brittain and Stevens raised over $100,000 locally from corporations, small businesses, and the public to fund the project. Some of the major sponsors include the Broyhill Family Foundation, HSM Solutions, Rock n Road Bicycles, Defeet International, Vesco Toyota Lift, Corning, and the Beaver Foundation. Professional trail contractors, Terra Tek Trails, were hired to build the trails to create what is now called the Lake Hickory Trail System.
“We are very excited for the completed mountain biking trails to be open for citizens to enjoy. The Lake Hickory Trails offer some of the best mountain biking in the state, and are sure to be a popular destination for both local and regional bikers,” said City of Hickory Parks and Recreation Director Mack McLeod.
“Our goal was to fully utilize the excellent terrain and features available at the existing trails to create a mountain biking trail system crafted for riders of all skill levels, a trail system to attract riders from all around to Hickory. We are very proud of what has been built through this partnership with the City of Hickory and the Northwest North Carolina Mountain Bike Association,” added Brittain. “The word is already spreading about these trails, and I can’t wait for others to discover all they have to offer.”
Attendees of the ribbon cutting are advised to park in the VFW Post 1957 parking lot, located at 1615 12th Street Drive NW, and walk down to the beginner loop trailhead. Utility vehicles will be on-hand to assist those unable to walk to the trailhead.
For more information about the Lake Hickory Trails, please contact the Hickory Parks and Recreation Department at (828) 322-7046. For trail status updates, follow the Lake Hickory Trail System Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/LakeHickoryTrails/ To find out more about The Alliance, please go to www.ridenwnctrails.com for details about the work being down in Northwest North Carolina.
