[2] The trail is a collaboration between local governments and the state, with development coordinated by the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation (NCDPR).
[3] In 2011, the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority published the Boone Area Outdoor Recreation Plan, which included a proposal for a Northern Peaks Trail.
[2] On July 1, 2019, the North Carolina General Assembly formalized the proposal by establishing Northern Peaks State Trail, and directed NCDPR to coordinate its development.
The current plan for the trail routes users through sensitive habitat, and does not include any proactive measures for resource protection.
There is concern that the desire to promote outdoor recreation in the area will put delicate rock-dwelling plants at risk of being unintentionally trampled by users, potentially extirpating the species.