Some rue the passing of summer, some despair over the approach of winter.
Others — hikers — revel in the fact it’s October.
With cooling temperatures, generally sunny skies, dry air and the natural world in transition, it’s hard to imagine a better time to be on the trail. Early in the month, the change begins on mountain peaks above 5,000 feet. As the days progress, the palette of autumn slowly descends — 4,000, 3,000, 2,000 feet. Finally, it reaches the Piedmont. And by the beginning of November it’s at the coast.
It’s certainly the time to hike. But where? Here are three places to start:
- NCHikes.com: Our sister site has just posted its hike recommendations for October, five trails where you’ll especially appreciate autumn’s attributes.Check ’em out here.
- BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Health and Wellness Blog. Can we really limit ourselves to five trails for this, the best month to hike in North Carolina? No. That’s why you’ll find five more of our recommendations here.
- Great Outdoor Provision Co. Trips & Tips online guide. We can’t limit ourselves to just 10 recommendations, either. Go to the Great Outdoor Provision Co. online guide and you’ll find more than 50 additional recommendations we’ve made with our buddy Trusty. Check those out here.
October, take advantage. It won’t last forever.