The River Trail (formerly known as Burke River Trail) will follow the south side of the Catawba River, dipping down to the towns of – Drexel, Valdese, Rutherford College, Connelly Springs, Rhodhiss, Long View and Hildebran.
The 20-mile hiking and biking trail will be a mix of natural surface, crushed cinder and paved as it wanders along the river banks and into downtowns.
Glen Alpine will have a connector trail to the Fonta Flora State Trail.