Support the Mills River Valley Trail
A new path along NC 280 will create a safe route for walking and biking, linking the heart of Mills River to the French Broad River. The Mills River Valley Trail will make the road safer for everyone, provide opportunities for recreation, and make Mills River a more attractive place to live and work.
Match Your Donation: Every $1 You Give Results in $5 in Funding
The Town of Mills River successfully applied for grant funding to pay for 80% of the cost of the engineering phase of this project. But to receive this funding, we need to match 20% of the cost from local community donors like you. That means that every $1 you give results in $5 of funding. You can make your donation on Conserving Carolina’s secure website. Under Donation Purpose, select “Mills River Valley Trail.”
DONATE TO THE MILLS RIVER VALLEY TRAIL
Path Links Mills River to the French Broad River
In March of 2018, the Mills River Town Council unanimously voted to move forward on the northernmost section of the proposed path, shown in the map below. The approved path will run alongside NC 280 through the heart of Mills River, connecting the town to the French Broad River at Westfeldt Park, near the Asheville Airport. The path will be separated from the busy road, in order to create a safe and pleasant experience for walkers, bikers, and other users.
Learn More about the Mills River Valley Trail
Community residents provided input about the proposed path at 21 separate events in 2017. Information about the path was circulated widely in local media and by community organizations. In addition, over 400 Mills River residents completed surveys that showed significant support for the northern section of the path.
The 3-mile path approved by the Town is the northernmost section of a potential 15-mile path identified in a 2014 study (PDF.) This study, commissioned by the Town of Mills River and Transylvania County, identified a route that would extend from Westfeldt Park on the French Broad River to the Davidson River entrance to Pisgah National Forest, where it would connect with Brevard’s Shared Use Path.
Engineering work is expected to begin next year and construction to start within three years. For more information, contact Linda Giltz at [email protected].
Make a Safe Route for Walking and Biking in Mills River
We’re close to meeting our goal to match the grant funding for the Mills River Valley Trail. Help us get there! This grant funding will multiply your gift by 5.