Lower Heartbreak Trail, a Critical Trail Connection into Old Fort, N.C., Reopens in Pisgah National Forest
It’s back, and just in time for spring! The Lower Heartbreak Ridge Trail, one of McDowell County’s most popular and most critical trail connections between Pisgah National Forest and Old Fort, has reopened. Severely damaged by Hurricane Helene, the trail is vital to our outdoor recreational economy.
Read more about this pivotal project below in a statement from our friends at the U.S.D.A. Forest Service.
Forest Service News Release
Lower Heartbreak Trail, a Critical Trail Connection into Old Fort, N.C., Reopens in Pisgah National Forest
(Nebo, N.C.) — The Lower Heartbreak Ridge Trail, a popular route connecting Pisgah National Forest to the town of Old Fort, N.C., reopened this month after an 18‑month closure due to Hurricane Helene, restoring critical access to the region’s outdoor economy.
“The trail is part of a community-led effort to strengthen rural prosperity by expanding recreation infrastructure and drawing visitors to the area,” said James Melonas, forest supervisor for the National Forests of North Carolina. “We’re thankful for the steady local support behind this project.”
The 3‑mile trail opened in April 2024 and quickly became a central piece of a 42‑mile trail initiative designed to support businesses in Old Fort and improve access for residents. The route links to the longer Heartbreak Ridge Trail, which draws mountain bikers, hikers, and runners from across the country. Local partners said reopening the connection was essential for sustaining visitor traffic and helping the town recover from recent storms.
The trail sustained heavy damage during Hurricane Helene, including three large landslides that took out entire portions of the trail and a half-mile of blowdown. The Forest Service, working with the G5 Trail Collective and local contractors, rebuilt the damaged areas and rerouted segments to withstand future storms. The work supports broader disaster recovery across the Grandfather Ranger District and restores an important entry point to one of the East Coast’s most traveled recreation destinations.
Repairing and reopening this iconic trail connection was a priority for national forest recovery and for rebuilding an economic engine and growing identity for the people of Old Fort.
A newly signed disaster recovery agreement combined congressionally appropriated disaster recovery funds with local resources to share stewardship and recovery efforts in Pisgah National Forest. The Lower Heartbreak rebuild is the first of many recovery efforts to be completed under this new agreement.
Visitors will experience a new series of rock steps, placed to sustainably manage trail use over a 100-foot gain in elevation from Jarrett Creek to the ridge—bikers should prepare for a “hike-a-bike.” With this new climb, it means an even longer descent into Old Fort and maintaining a much-loved ridge section with wide-ranging mountain views. The south end of this challenging hike or ride can be accessed from Mill Creek Road in Old Fort. The north end access is at the end of Jarrett Creek Road coming from Heartbreak Ridge, Star Gap or the Gateway Trails.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
Contact: Adam Rondeau
(828) 257-4215
www.fs.usda.gov/r08/northcarolina
