This Land, Your Land

Because of utility work near Brevard, parts of several trails in the Pisgah National Forest may be closed at times between now and the end of March, the U.S. Forest Service said Monday.

Trails affected are in the Pisgah Ranger District, and include:

- Black Mountain Trail, which starts behind the Pisgah District Ranger Station/Visitor Center on U.S. 276.
- Art Loeb Trail between Davidson River Campground and the junction with the Estatoe Trail.
- Buckhorn Gap Trail.
- Avery Creek Trail (and Avery Creek Road).

Progress Energy will be taking down trees along U.S. 276 during the work week as part routine maintenance of the utility right of way, the Forest Service says. Trees won't be felled on Saturdays or Sundays.

Hikers and bikers in Brevard last weekend celebrated the opening of the Estatoe Trail, a 5.5 mile path linking the Transylvania County city to the Pisgah National Forest.

The path path begins at the intersection of U.S. Highway 64/U.S. Highway 276 in front of Lowe's, crosses Asheville Highway and winds into the forest along the Davidson River, passing the Sycamore Flats day use area and ending at the Davidson River Campground.

The city, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, U.S. Forest Service, state Department of Natural Resources, Davidson River Village, and the N.C. State Employees Credit Union, said the Times-News of Hendersonville.

The City of Brevard put $25,000 toward the project as part of a matching North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant, and the state paid a $75,000 match. The DOT paid for road improvements at the trail's entrance on U.S. 64/276 with $2 million in federal stimulus funding, the newspaper said.