NPS photo

Members of trail crew at Sandburg working to maintain trail.

(FLAT ROCK, NC)-- The National Park Service and the Carolina Mountain Club are again teaming up to do important trail maintenance at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock. The work will be performed on Fridays in December, weather permitting. There are no plans to close any trails in the park during this work but visitors are advised to be cautious in work areas.

Work to be performed includes repairing waterbars, establishing new waterbars, and building steps on a small section of the Front Lake Trail. Waterbars allow water to drain from a trail, reducing erosion that causes an uneven and unsafe surface. The result of this work will be safer trails.

The Carolina Mountain Club has been assisting the park with trail maintenance for about 20 years. Not only have they done annual maintenance projects such as this one, but they have also assisted with emergency cleanup following weather events including Hurricane Ivan, ice storms and extremely heavy rains. With about five-miles of hiking trails in the park, the assistance of volunteers is invaluable to the park to ensure the safety and enjoyment of park visitors. Hiking trail maps are available at the information desk in the Main House which is open from9:00 a.m.to5:00 p.m., daily.

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is located three miles south of Hendersonville off U.S. 225 on Little River Road. The park is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily, except Christmas Day. Scheduled guided tours of the home cost $5.00 each for adults and are free for those age 16 and under. The grounds are free of charge with hiking trails, a goat barn, picnic area and bookstore. For further information, please telephone 828-693-4178, or visit our website at www.nps.gov/carl.