Paving the Way: A six-mile stretch ties Henderson County to Horseshoe

The old idiom “It takes a village” is said to mean that it takes an entire community to raise a child, though the same could be said for the hardworking efforts (and years) that have gone into making the much-anticipated Ecusta Trail a reality.

The history dates back nearly a century, with the opening of a paper mill along the rail line beside the Davidson River. Skip to 2002, with the closure of the 19-mile spur line of the railroad. Later, rail-to-trail advocates rallied for support, with resolutions and pledges funded by affected counties and cities, among others.

All of this led to the July 18th kickoff of the first section of the Ecusta Trail, a six-mile multi-use greenway stretch that speaks to progress made, with plenty more to come.

According to Marcus Jones, Henderson County engineer: “The first phase opening is from Hendersonville to US-64 in Horseshoe. The design for the remainder of the trail from Horseshoe to Brevard is underway.”

Initially, the official opening of the public biking, walking, and running trail was slated for December 2024, but Hurricane Helene delayed plans. The entirety of the 19-mile stretch, passing through Pisgah Forest and into Brevard in Transylvania County, is expected to be complete by 2027. According to the trail’s website, Brevard City Council earlier this year designated a portion of their greenway system as an extension to the Ecusta Trail from Pisgah Forest to downtown Brevard, adding almost three miles to the length, bringing the projected total length to 22 miles. ecustatrail.org