Pinecone Pathways

Get ready for the best county-wide scavenger hunt in North Carolina!

The Pinecone Pathways Program returns to the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen area March 20 – April 22, 2026.

The Pinecone Pathways Program launched in 2022 to celebrate North Carolina’s Year of the Trail and thanks to its popularity, the hunt is now an annual tradition! For 2026, the CVB is once again teaming up with the talented glassmakers at Starworks in Star, NC, to create 100 colorful glass pinecones. These pinecones will be hidden along Moore County trails for six weeks, starting on the first day of spring (March 20) and ending on Earth Day (April 22). As an added bonus, 25 pinecones will feature special red, white, and blue designs in honor of America 250. Finders of these editions will be eligible for a special prize (details below).

Each week, we’ll announce a new set of trails on our social media, guiding pinecone hunters on where to explore and discover our beautiful glass pinecones. The pinecones are life-sized and tagged with a unique number and QR code.

Grand Prizes

If you’re lucky enough to find one of our glass pinecones, you can register it online to be entered into a drawing for a fantastic grand prize package, including:

• A two-night stay at the Courtyard by Marriott
• $50 gift card for River Jack Outdoor Trading
• $50 gift card for Mason’s Restaurant & Grocery

Special Red, White & Blue Pinecone Grand Prize: 

• A two-night stay at the Courtyard by Marriott
• $50 gift card for River Jack Outdoor Trading
• $50 gift card for Brad Halling American Whiskey Ko.
• A complimentary tour and tasting at Brad Halling American Whiskey Ko.
• Two tickets to the Sandhills Celebrates America event (date TBD)
• A commemorative America 250 flag

To be eligible for the grand prize drawing, finders must be 21 or older and registration is required. Each participant is limited to one contest registration.

Since there are a limited number of pinecones, we ask participants to keep only ONE if they find multiple. Please leave any additional pinecones on the trail for others to find. Happy hunting and enjoy the trails!

Commemorative Patches

New this year, we’ve created a set of three commemorative patches for our Pinecone Pathways fans! The patches will be sold as a set of three at Against the Grain Shoppe for $15. And the best part is $10 from each sale will go to Friends of Weymouth Woods to support the Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve.

How to Find a Glass Pinecone

• Hit the trails in Moore County between March 20, 2026 (the first day of spring) and April 22, 2026 (Earth Day) in search of hidden glass pinecones.
• On Mondays by 9:00am, we will share the trail list for the new week on Facebook and Instagram.
• Pinecone Pathways FAQ

Rules

• Please only keep ONE pinecone, per household, per campaign.
• Register your find using the Pinecone Registration Form below to be entered to win the grand prize. Only one contest registration per finder is permitted.
• Share your find on social media using #PineconePathwaysNC.
• While people of all ages are welcome to join the hunt, only registered finders 21 or older are eligible to win the Grand Prize.
• Stay on the trails, be respectful of animals and plant life, and practice Leave No Trace Principles.

📌 Notes:

• Pinecones will never be hidden more than roughly 3 feet off any trails but may be hidden up to 3-4 feet high.
• Pinecones will never be hidden on private property.

About Starworks

Starworks is a nonprofit organization in Star, North Carolina, dedicated to community and economic development through exceptional artistic educational programs. They offer public access studios in glass, ceramics, and metal, along with artist residency and internship programs that attract talent worldwide. Their facilities include a Ceramic Supply Shop, Café & Taproom, and the School House Gallery, which features works from over 100 artists. Starworks also provides workshops, public demonstrations, and events to engage the community in the arts

Our glass pinecones are made by Starworks exclusively for the Pinecone Pathways Program and CANNOT be purchased, however, similar pieces can be found at Shop Starworks.