Fairview Community Forest Opens
The first phase of trails in the new Fairview Community Forest opened today—creating a new asset for the Fairview community as well as a living classroom for local public school students. The first three miles of a planned 11-mile trail network are now open for walking, running, and mountain biking. These trails offer two loops that are suitable for beginner or intermediate biking. The rolling trails also provide opportunities for walking dogs on leash, a relaxed stroll in the woods, or more vigorous hiking or running—all in a newly protected forest.
Last year, Conserving Carolina purchased over 250 acres of a former summer camp. This includes 226 acres that became the Fairview Community Forest, now home to this expanding trail network. The community forest surrounds the 27.5-acre campus of the WORX Project, an outdoor education program that supports Asheville and Buncombe County public schools, as well as other youth programs.
The WORX Project is a program of the nonprofit Camp Grier. In a unique partnership, Camp Grier is leasing the Fairview Community Forest from Conserving Carolina and managing it for public access. In addition, Camp Grier will own the WORX Project campus.
Sara Jarrell, director of the WORX Project, says, “The opening of the Fairview Community Forest marks an exciting new chapter for our community. This space represents what’s possible when vision, partnership, and local passion come together. We’re especially grateful for our collaboration with our partners, whose commitment to protecting natural spaces ensures that this forest will be enjoyed by families, students, and outdoor enthusiasts for generations to come. The WORX Project is proud to help create a place where people can connect with nature, with one another, and with the future of Fairview.”
Fairview Community Forest is open to the public every day from dawn until dusk. It is located on Woodson Road in Fairview. There is no street number, but you can find the location in Google Maps. Look for a gravel parking area on the right side of the road. Learn more.
Kristin Cozza, Conserving Carolina’s Trails and Greenways Manager, says, “Opening the first phase of trails in the Fairview Community Forest is an exciting milestone. These trails are designed to welcome new mountain bikers while also providing a great option for hikers looking for a more accessible trail experience. We’re grateful to Buncombe County for investing in this project and helping meet the growing demand for trail access in our community.”
An Open Space Bond grant from Buncombe County will make it possible to build the remaining eight miles of trails over the next several years—providing a valuable opportunity for outdoor recreation in a part of the county with few local parks.
In addition, the new trails invite students at the WORX Project to explore and learn in the woods, as well as try out mountain biking and other outdoor activities. Some of these students haven’t had many opportunities to experience the outdoor spaces that WNC is famous for, so this protected forest gives them the chance to deepen their relationship with nature.
Programs at the WORX Project include hands-on vocational education for local middle and high school students. These programs expand economic opportunities by introducing young people to potential career fields, including jobs in WNC’s outdoor economy.
Related: School in the Woods – the WORX Project at Fairview Community Forest
Fairview Community Forest is made possible by numerous partners who contributed funds to buy the land. These include the Presbytery of Western North Carolina, the NC Land and Water Fund, US Forest Service Community Forest Program, the NC Environmental Enhancement Grant Program, Buncombe County Land Conservation Program, Fred and Alice Stanback, Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Fernandez Pave the Way Foundation, James G. K. McClure Educational and Development Fund, and Hathaway Family Foundation.