Fonta Flora Trail to Span Over 70 Miles in N.C.

A new addition to the North Carolina State Park System, the Fonta Flora Trail, aims to attract visitors and unify towns in Western North Carolina. The foot and bike path will span nearly 80 miles from Asheville to Morganton, with a five-mile section connecting to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

The Fonta Flora Trail will feature a loop around Lake James in Burke County, N.C. The trail’s name comes from the town of Fonta Flora, which was submerged when Lake James was created to provide hydroelectric power to the region.

Tim Johnson, one of the trail’s planners, told The Citizen-Times that the Fonta Flora will provide opportunities for growth in business and tourism throughout the region, as well as a place for local residents to enjoy nature. Some sections of the trail are complete, including nearly seven miles of the Lake James loop, and the rest will be pieced together over the next few years.

Visit tinyurl.com/FontaFlora for updates. — Adrienne Fouts