Blue Ridge Conservancy on Oct. 20 told the Ashe County Board of Commissioners that the Northern Peaks State Trail has advanced on several fronts this year, including land acquisitions, biological surveys, grant awards and construction on a significant section of the route.

"We purchased about 64 acres, to add to Mount Jefferson State Natural Area," said Jordan Sellers, who presented the update and introduced Blue Ridge Conservancy's new executive director, David Ray. Staff said they completed a biological survey of that parcel and will work with North Carolina State Parks to refine a trail alignment.

Conservancy staff described multiple grant awards supporting construction. They said a $100,000 Recreational Trails Program grant funded initial work on a 1.5-mile section at 3 Top Mountain and a subsequent $150,000 award from the Great Trail State program was secured for phase two (Ben Bolen toward Long Hope). Work on the 12–13 mile section on the south side of 3 Top is under construction; staff said trail building will pause for black-powder/deer season and resume afterwards.

Staff also described progress on other links: concept planning for a Foster Tyson Park trailhead and improvements in Jefferson, partnership plans for Patty Mountain Park (already drawing thousands of visitors), alignment planning between Elk Knob and 3 Top, and a $5,000,000 investment awarded for trails and trailheads at Elk Knob State Park (work paused while State Parks completes post-storm recovery). A groundbreaking for a Rivers House Park project in Boone was announced for Nov. 7 as the southern terminus in Watauga County.

Conservancy staff said they have secured about $250,000 in public grants and more than $77,000 in private donations for the Northern Peaks initiative and reported volunteer and visitor activity at Patty Mountain Park and other sections. Commissioners thanked staff and encouraged continued partnership on trailheads and access.