A recreation project in Alamance County will benefit from one of 17 grants announced Thursday by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
A new trail opened this month at the Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area.
The Longleaf Loop Trail offers an additional 1 mile of surfaced trail with clear views of the mountain range above. The packed gravel trail is perfect for runners or hikers with strollers or animals. The Longleaf Loop Trail meanders through a section of the park that has been recently planted with Longleaf Pine, a species native to eastern North Carolina, but rarely found in the Piedmont.
The Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area is the largest county park in the area with over 1,000 total acres. The development of the park will continue over the next several years and will include an observation tower, camping facilities, a wildlife observation platform and more. Phase 2 of the park is expected to open in 2022.