Gary Shell Cross-City Trail

For a central developed trail stop use Halyburton Park at 4099 South 17th Street or Empie Park at 3405 Park Avenue. The 15-mile route runs from Wade Park to the Heide-Trask Drawbridge, so choose access by trip segment.

Official parking is available at Wade Park, Halyburton Park, Empie Park and Anne McCrary Park. Choose a lot for the segment you intend to use and do not assume a full 15-mile one-way trip has return transportation.

Use trail sections during posted daylight and connected-park hours. Parks, restrooms, commercial areas, campus connections, road crossings, and construction zones use separate conditions.

General trail access is free. Parking, transit, programs, museums, shopping, rentals and connected attractions may charge separately.

Restrooms are available at Wade Park, Halyburton Park and Empie Park, subject to facility conditions. Empie's playground-side restrooms are currently closed, but clubhouse restrooms remain open.

The trail is designed as an off-road multi-use route for walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users and strollers, but road crossings, slopes, driveway conflicts, detours, bridges and connections vary across 15 miles.

The 15-mile route mixes paved greenway segments, park paths, bridges, road-adjacent sections and crossings. Keep right, pass left, announce passes, yield to pedestrians and avoid blocking the path.

Use a short out-and-back between parks or destinations rather than attempting the full route with children. Halyburton and Empie provide facilities and activity options at practical stopping points.

Leashed dogs may use the trail where permitted. Keep leashes short around bicycles, crossings and crowds, remove waste, and follow separate dog-park rules at Empie.

Use designated areas at connected parks rather than stopping across the trail. Organized rides, runs, walks or gatherings require approval.

Connections include Wade Park, Halyburton Park, Cameron Art Museum, Independence Mall, Empie Park, Anne McCrary Park, UNCW, Autumn Hall, Lumina Station, Landfall Center and Heide-Trask Drawbridge.

Road work, bridge projects, flooding, storms, park closures, utility work and event detours can interrupt sections. Check City notices and the current map before relying on a continuous through-trip.