Race at a new nature park near Wilmington in honor of the groundhog, Bushwhack it on a mountain bike in the Piedmont, celebrate the cold in the high country in the most appropriate way possible. Another diverse weekend is on tap in North Carolina.
If you’re looking for something closer to home, check out the new weekly calendar listings at the Great Outdoor Provision Co. Three events every week near Great Outdoor Provision’s seven North Carolina markets: Charlotte, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Winston-Salem and Wilmington.
Coast
Here’s the great thing about an inaugural race: Few people know about it, enhancing your chances for a podium finish in your age group. That’s one reason we endorse Saturday’s first-ever Whistle Pig 5K and 1-mile run. Another reason: It’s at the new Westgate Nature Park in Leland. The 150-acre park has trail and boardwalk for hiking and biking through a wetland environment. With Saturday’s forecast, it’s the perfect time to run through a boggy environment.
Logistics: $30 for the 5K, $20 for the 1-miler. Race starts at 9 a.m. More info here.
Saturday forecast: Sunny, high of 48, probably in the mid-30s come race time.
Piedmont
It’s a banner time to be an endurance mountain bike racer in the Triangle — or even someone who just likes long rides with other people. Last weekend it was the January Mountain Bike Marathon at Governor’s Creek in Sanford, next weekend it’s TORC’s BD & NL Challenge at Falls Lake, and this weekend, it’s the Bushwhack Mountain Bike Challenge. Similar to what the January Mountain Bike Marathon does, this race does a loop on singletrack at Lake Crabtree, heads over to Umstead for some bike & bridle trail, then finished with another loop at Crabtree. 32 miles in all.
Logistics: Sunday, 9:30 a.m. at Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville. More info here.
Sunday forecast: High of 50, partly sunny.
Mountains
Gotta go with skiing and snowboarding this weekend in the high country. True, there was big rain midweek. But reports from SkiSoutheast.com indicate it didn’t do as much damage as you might suspect. And, that rain turned to snow when the cold front rolled through, and snowmaking temps will remain. Consider, too: Just over a month of skiing remains. Act now.
Logistics: Check the latest conditions at SkiSoutheast.com.
Weekend forecast: Highs in the mid 30s, lows in mid 20s.
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Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.
Coast
CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.
Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.
Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.
NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.
North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).
This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).
Mountains
Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.
Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.
The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.
Piedmont
Charlotte
Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running
Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.
Triad
GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.
Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.
Triangle
Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.
Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.
Statewide
Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.
North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”
National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.
U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.
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