The Great Trading Path Trail Ride & Cultural Teach Ins

Start: Saturday, January 17, 2026•08:00 AM

End: Saturday, January 17, 2026•05:00 PM

Location: TBA• TBA, Hillsborough - Mebane, NC 27278 US

Join us for the Great Trading Path Trail Ride on Saturday January 17th, 2026

*Locations and schedule of events shared upon registration

This day-long community event honors one of North Carolina's oldest Indigenous trade routes, the historic Occaneechi Path, designated as a World Monument last year.

Riders will journey on horseback along a section of the Great Trading Path (Hillsborough-Mebane area), tracing the footsteps of the Occaneechi, Saponi, and other Siouan-speaking nations who once guided trade and diplomacy across the Southeast.

The public is invited to join for the Opening Ceremony, and to drop into educational checkpoints along the route (Hillsborough-Mebane area) that will feature storytelling, and cultural and historical teach-ins.

Together we will honor the Great Trading Path Trail, and celebrate Indigenous resilience, community healing, and cultural preservation efforts in North Carolina.

*Note for riders: We are also closely monitoring the situation with Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) and its neurologic form, Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). We remain in communication with state veterinary officials and will continue receiving regular updates to ensure the safety and well-being of all horses and participants. Should the outbreak worsen or if officials advise greater caution, we are prepared to shift from a mounted ride to an alternative way to celebrate and honor the historic Trading Path.

Learn more about the Great Trading Path and the World Monuments Watch

Designated as part of the 2025 World Monuments Watch, the Great Trading Path is recognized globally as a cultural treasure and symbol of Indigenous resilience.

Preserving this route is essential for safeguarding ancestral connections, honoring sacred traditions, and ensuring that future generations inherit both the memory and meaning of this landscape.

To learn more:

Explore the Path's World Monument page
Visit 7directionsofservice.com/great-trading-path
Watch The Great Trading Path Video

Select Your Tickets

Trail Rider (with own horse) — Includes participation in the ride, ceremonies along the trail, and community gathering.

$15.00 per ticket
General Participant (non-riders) — Includes access to ceremonies, cultural programs, and community activities at the trail ride sites.

$5.00 per ticket
🌱 Community Sponsor — $100 — For those who want to go above and beyond in supporting the ride. Includes recognition as a supporter and helps ensure the continuation of this important cultural and historical event. Community Sponsors make it possible for this action to remain accessible, community-powered, and rooted in collective care.

$100.00 per ticket
Indigenous Participant Ticket (with own horse) — Indigenous Participant Rider – $15 (rider bring your own horse) Bring your own horse and ride along a historic portion of the Great Trading Path. Includes access to ceremonies, cultural activities, and community gathering. Registration ensures we can prepare appropriately for all participants.

$8.00 per ticket
Group Tickets (more than 4 riders) — Designed for families, riding clubs, and community groups attending together. This ticket option is for groups of four (4) or more riders, each bringing their own horse to participate in the Great Trading Path Trail Ride.

$50.00 per ticket
🌟 Presenting Sponsor — $5,000 — Our Presenting Sponsor serves as a primary partner for this action, receiving the highest level of visibility and recognition throughout the campaign. Benefits include: Prominent logo placement across all promotional materials (digital, print, and on-site) Featured announcement recognizing your support across our platforms Inclusion in the official documentary trailer and related video content Opportunity to provide product support or financial sponsorship aligned with the action Recognition as a key supporter of land, culture, and community stewardship

$5000.00 per ticket
🐎 Trail Sponsor — $2,000 — Trail Sponsors help sustain the riders and horses throughout the journey and are honored along the route. Benefits include: Branding displayed at ceremonial sites and rest stops Verbal acknowledgments during ceremonies and gatherings Inclusion in rider packets distributed to participants Visibility among riders, supporters, and community members along the trail

$2000.00 per ticket
🌾 Supporting Sponsor / In-Kind Partner — Supporting Sponsors provide essential in-kind contributions that directly support the horses, riders, and logistics of the action. Examples include: Product donations (feed, supplements, tack, grooming supplies, etc.) Discount codes or special offers for riders and participants Recognition across select promotional materials and social media

$1.00 per ticket
SUBTOTAL

$0.00

Your payment will go to

7 Directions of Service

Mebane, North Carolina

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