The Town of Great Falls is developing a 3.5-mile trail on an abandoned CSX rail bed that runs along the Catawba River and its reservoirs, creating what will become the southern terminus of the north-south spine of the Carolina Thread Trail. The multi-county, two-state trail system has placed its highest priority on this corridor, which will ultimately connect Great Falls to Statesville, North Carolina. The Town, the Great Falls Home Town Association, the Carolina Thread Trail, Chester County, the Arras Foundation, and the Katawba Valley Land Trust have all partnered to bring this ambitious project to life.
The rail bed was purchased by the Town of Great Falls in July 2021, nearly 20 years after initial conversations with the railroad company about acquiring the abandoned corridor. The 42-acre property features a 100-foot right-of-way with a 10- to 12-foot usable trail width on the existing rail bed. The surrounding landscape is primarily forested (80% hardwood, 20% pine) with water on the majority of the western side. The first phase focuses on repairing drainage, filling washed-out areas, and making the corridor walkable, utilizing the original engineering infrastructure of the historic rail line.
Future phases will enhance the trail with additional surface materials, signage, fencing, and branch trails featuring beautiful vistas, interesting rock formations, and spurs connecting to the proposed state park, kayak launches, and other areas of interest. The trail is designed as a shared-use pedestrian and bicycle facility following AASHTO, DOT, and ADA design guidelines, with a 10-foot wide compacted tread accessible to wheelchairs. The Town of Great Falls will own and manage the trail, open free of charge to the public 365 days per year from dawn to dusk.