Celebrating 20 Years
The Haw River Trail started in 2006 and now expands across 5 counties. With numerous paddle access, paddle camping take-outs, and miles of hiking trail, there is something for everyone! These trails allow the community to explore and appreciate its river while helping to conserve and protect this important resource.
The Big Picture
The planned Haw River Trail (HRT) corridor extends approximately 80 miles along the Haw River from Haw River State Park on the Rockingham-Guilford County line through Alamance County to Jordan Lake State Recreational Area in Chatham County. The HRT is part of the state-wide Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) which allows hikers to travel across the state from Clingman’s Dome to Jockey’s Ridge. Approximately 40 miles will pass through Alamance County once complete. Our goal is to work with willing landowners to continue creating a corridor for the Haw River Trail, preserving the open space and viewshed around the Haw River.
Photo credit: Heather LaGarde
25+
Miles of Land Trail Complete
50
Miles of Paddle Trail Complete
15
Recreational Parks & Trailheads Open
Explore the HRT
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Land Trail
Discover miles of scenic land trails along the Haw River. In Alamance County, over 20 miles of lands trails are open to the public offering opportunities to hike, walk, picnic, and fish along the river.
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Paddle Trail
With 14 paddle accesses currently open, the Haw River lets novice and expert paddlers alike to experience all the Haw River has to offer and how it was meant to be seen.
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Community Events
Be a part of the community and participate in events with us! The Haw River Trail holds community events for people of all skill levels to join and invites families, locals, and out-of-town visitors to participate.
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Conservation Efforts
We strive to help the public conserve the natural and scenic resources of the Haw River. By bringing together landowners, local government, and funding sources, we are working together to protect the future of the Haw River.
A Little History
The concept and drive behind the Haw River Trail are the product of the vision and hard work of local citizens, organizations and governments dating back more than a decade. Funding from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to Elon University, with match provided by Alamance County, City of Burlington and City of Graham, supported the establishment of the first Haw River Trail Coordinator position. With the sponsorship of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council and Elon University, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by 12 governmental agencies agreeing to support and collaborate to promote conservation and recreation in the Haw River corridor. Partnership agencies operate and manage the trail system, with each agency responsible for operation and management of parks, paddle accesses, and trails on the land it owns.
