Catawba Falls trail opens to the public
By Bruce Henderson
Wednesday, Mar. 31, 2010

Catawba Falls, in the headwaters of the Catawba River, has become publicly accessible as part of Pisgah National Forest.

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, a regional land trust, said Tuesday it has sold to the U.S. Forest Service 88 acres that include a trail to the spectacular series of falls. The tract is in McDowell County near Old Fort.

The Forest Service paid $713,000 that Congress approved in December under legislation sponsored by U.S. Reps. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., and David Price, D-N.C. The money came from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which uses federal royalties from oil and gas leases.

Foothills Conservancy sold the land at a $124,000 discount made possible by a gift of that amount from Salisbury philanthropists Fred and Alice Stanback.

The falls have been part of the Pisgah forest since 1989 but didn't have a trail that was open to the public, said Foothills land protection director Tom Kenney.

Legislation to expand the Pisgah's boundaries to include the new purchase, cosponsored by Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Kay Hagan, D-N.C., is before the Senate. Similar legislation has already passed the House with bipartisan support.

"Acquiring this tract has been a priority for North Carolina's national forests for more than a decade," said Marisue Hilliard, supervisor of the state's national forests.

Foothills Conservancy has protected an additional 1,384 acres in the Catawba headwaters, adjoining the Pisgah forest, since 2005.

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Catawba Falls sales office is located at 201 Black Mountain Avenue
•www.catawbafallspreserve.com
•800-807-5263