North Carolina Rail-Trails

Mountains Rail-Trails | Charlotte Rail-Trails  | Triad Rail-Trails

Triangle Rail-Trails    | Piedmont Rail-Trails  | Coastal Rail-Trails

            Click the above links for information about the Rail-Trails in each area.

For information on rail-trails under development, please see our Projects and Initiatives Page

Share the Trails: Points to ponder regarding multi-use trail use and etiquette

·         Rail-trails are ideal for beginning or limited mobility equestrians because they are wide and flat.

·         Equestrians should train their horses about different sorts of conditions

·         Horses should be encouraged to go through small boggy spots in trails rather than circle them, to avoid making the spots bigger

·         Mountain bikers should avoid riding the same ruts

·         Walkers and cyclists should pause (briefly) when approaching a horse in either direction and give a friendly greeting.

·         It’s best to wait for horses to traverse bridges and tunnels before crossing.

·         Bikes or strollers may spook some horses.  Human talk calms them.

·         Many riders cannot dismount without a block or log, so they can’t kick horse manure off the trail.

·         Young horses must keep moving, so stopping to remove manure may not be advisable.

·         Other trail users can help out by using a stick to remove manure from the trails.

·         Horses are herbivores and their poop is lower in nitrogen than cows and pigs and in small amounts does not harm streams.

·         The NC Horse Council is working with water quality experts to establish rules for equestrian use of watersheds.

·         Horses have really wide peripheral vision so may be spooked by sudden approaches.  Coming from behind, call out: “Is it OK to pass now?”

·         Obey all dog leash laws. Gently introduce your dog to passing horses.

·         Hikers should avoid using up the entire trail width, stay right and check behind you before moving left.

·         Bikers should stay right, give warning, pass left. Ride slowly when other users are present.