Young bicyclists observe as Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin speaks during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Herbert and Jones Woodlands Trails on Oct. 23, 2024. Photo courtesy City of Charleston
This is a map of the Jones Woodlands Trails in Charleston, off Loudon Heights Road. The hiking and biking system of trails was dedicated Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.
Young bicyclists observe as Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin speaks during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Herbert and Jones Woodlands Trails on Oct. 23, 2024. Photo courtesy City of Charleston
This is a map of the Jones Woodlands Trails in Charleston, off Loudon Heights Road. The hiking and biking system of trails was dedicated Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Herbert and Gloria Jones Woodlands Trails, took place on Oct. 23, along with an announcement the woodlands have been recognized as the first Community Forest in Charleston and the second in the state to be inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network.
“Today, we celebrate not just the opening of the Herbert and Gloria Jones Woodlands Trails, but also the legacy of a family whose generosity ensures future generations can experience nature as their parents did,” Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin said in an Oct. 23 release. “We are grateful to the Jones Family for the generous land donation. Their commitment to conservation honors the past while giving all of us, and those who follow, the chance to enjoy these woodlands -- offering a place for reflection, recreation and connection to nature.”
Located along the south side of Louden Heights Road in Charleston, the Herbert and Gloria Jones Woodlands Trail System contains four individual trails. The trail system was made possible through a land donation of 64 acres from the Jones family, in collaboration with the City of Charleston, Charleston Land Reuse Agency and the Kanawha Valley Trail Alliance. Appalachian Dirt, GAI Consultants and Tri-State Trails Company provided the design and construction services for the trail system.
“As a family, we are honored to see these woodlands preserved in memory of our parents, Herbert and Gloria, who were lifelong Charleston residents and who loved the outdoors,” said Callen McJunkin in the release. “We hope these trails and the woodlands become a space where the community can connect with nature, find solace, and create lasting memories.”
“The Kanawha Valley Trail Alliance is thrilled to have played a role in bringing the trail system to life, creating a space that preserves the natural beauty of the woodlands for all to enjoy,” Kanawha Valley Trail Alliance Board member Jack Hoblitzell said in the release. “The Herbert and Gloria Jones Woodlands trails are a testament to the power of collaboration -- offering an accessible and enriching experience that reflects the legacy of the Jones family.”
The Old-Growth Forest Network connects people with nature by creating a national network of protected, mature, publicly accessible, native forests. The OGFN aims to preserve at least one forest in every county in the United States that can sustain a forest. The organization works to identify forests for the Network, ensure their protection from logging and inform people of the forest locations.
“I am excited to celebrate the opening of this remarkable trail system in the Herbert and Gloria Jones Woodlands -- a public space that has been designated as a Community Forest by the Old-Growth Forest Network. This designation underscores the environmental importance of these woodlands that will improve the lives of our residents in many ways” said Charleston City Council member Emmett Pepper in the release. “Thank you to the Jones family for donating the land, and for all who helped make this outdoor recreation space possible.”
“We are grateful for the example set by the City of Charleston to recognize and protect a maturing stand of trees that is highly valued by the community,” Old-Growth Forest Network Mid-Atlantic Manager Brian Kane said in the release. “The Herbert and Gloria Jones Woodlands is an inspiring example of protecting both old-growth and highly mature forests, preserving significant wildlife habitat, storing large amounts of carbon and filtering stormwater to protect nearby rivers and streams.”
Trail signage -- including a message from the Jones family, trail map and trail etiquette -- will be posted in the coming weeks. Visitors to the Herbert and Gloria Jones Woodlands are reminded that cell service may not be available in all locations in the Woodlands.
Downed trees or other maintenance issues should be reported to the City of Charleston’s Public Works Department at 304-348-6850.
