Location, location, location…it’s important when you’re choosing a home and when you’re choosing your next adventure destination. A good trail town needs to offer fast access to the outdoors while providing the post-adventure amenities we all crave. Outdoor NC’s Trail Towns go a step further by adding an element of stewardship to their prime locations. The new Outdoor NC Trail Town Guide is a comprehensive resource detailing more than 80 of these communities across the state that promote responsible tourism in some of North Carolina’s most cherished outdoor destinations. 

Consider the quaint town of South Mills, which sits next to the 113,000-acre Great Dismal Swamp. The community has embraced their stewardship role by encouraging paddlers and hikers to “leave it as you find it,” and not disturb or remove the flora that is so unique to the swamp, which is the largest intact wetland in the South. 

And South Mills is just one example. The new Trail Town Guide features 15 regional destinations with more than 105 trails to explore, from the rugged Atlantic Coast to the rolling sand hills of the Piedmont and the pristine peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Maps for each trail town include clickable links that provide more information on the community’s various adventures. There’s something for every kind of traveler, whether you’re looking for raucous mountain bike trails or driving routes on scenic byways.