The Trails of St. John
Use this page to learn all about the system of trails being built at St. John in the Wilderness in 2025!
Grand Opening Weekend: September 6-7
Join Us for the
Grand Opening!
One of the oldest churches in the WNC mountains, St. John in the Wilderness continues to experience renewal through learning about its history and opening itself to the wider public. The church will open a new trail system called The Trails of St. John on the weekend of September 6-7. Highlights of the weekend include a Kids' Mountain Bike Race on September 6 from 8:00am to 1:00pm, as well as the ribbon-cutting on September 7 at 1:00pm. See the full schedule below!
After the Grand Opening, the trails will be open to the public from dawn to dusk each day going forward with rules posted at the kiosks that you can find on the church property.
Map of the Trails of St. John, which are being built by
Trails Presentation
On January 19, 2025, the Holy Hikes Trail Committee delivered a presentation on future plans for a system of trails around the parish property.
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Example of an interpretation sign, courtesy of Long Cane Trails - not necessarily what the signs will look like on our trails!
Coming Soon:
Self-Guided History Tour
Along the trails will be interpretation signs describing five sites of historical significance, with QR codes to delve deeper into the complex history of this holy place.
An Opportunity to Leave Your Mark
The St. John in the Wilderness Trail System is officially under construction! You may notice Long Cane Trails staff operating small excavators and other equipment to create about a mile of parish trails. This crew is expert in building well-drained trails while minimizing impact to our woods. In addition, the crew will use wood from parish trees downed by Hurricane Helene to build many of the trail amenities. Look forward to a parish celebration when the trails open in a few months!
In May, Fr. Josh presented a formation series entitled "Our Wilderness God: Developing a Trail System Theology," in which he emphasized how Christ and his followers sought rest and revelation during contemplation in nature. With that in mind, the Holy Hikes Subcommittee is choosing where to place an outdoor worship area, benches, signs, and kiosks. The Archaeology Team is assisting in developing signage that describes how past generations used this land.
The need for parishioners to contribute to this effort has been fulfilled as of July 9! Thank you so much to all who committed to donating a bench, kiosk, or interpretation sign. If you have not yet submitted your payment to the Parish Office, please plan to do so by July 31. This is also the deadline to let us know how you would like the inscription on your plaque to read. Please contact Mims at officeadmin@stjohnflatrock.org with any questions.
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Benches with Backs ($600 each): [ALL CLAIMED] These benches will be placed along the trails to provide rest and opportunity for quiet contemplation.
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6ft. Benches without Backs ($500 each): [ALL CLAIMED] These benches will be placed in a semi-circle in the outdoor worship and education area.
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7ft. Benches without Backs ($800 each): [ALL CLAIMED] These benches will be placed in a semi-circle in the outdoor worship and education area.
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8ft. Benches without Backs ($900 each): [ALL CLAIMED] These benches will be placed in a semi-circle in the outdoor worship and education area.
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Interpretation Signs ($1,340 each): [ALL CLAIMED] These 2x2’ signs will describe areas of historical significance that have been identified by St. John’s Archaeology Team.
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Kiosks ($2900 each): [ALL CLAIMED] These large signs with metal roofs will be placed at the entrances to our trails at Boyd Drive and Rutledge Drive, as well as at the trail junction near the Parish Hall. The signs will include trail maps created by Pisgah Map Company, trail rules, and language welcoming the public to visit St. John in the Wilderness.