A little rain in the forecast for Saturday, a lot of sun in the forecast for Sunday. And temperatures in the 50s and low 60s along the way. Sounds like a great weekend to get out and explore.
Flatty Creek Paddle, Saturday, 9 a.m., Goose Creek State Park, Washington. Flatty Creek is a great example of not having to paddle far to see a lot. Good thing, because Flatty Creek doesn’t run very far. But oh what you’ll see on this waterway that pinches to the point where you can touch the branches of the wax myrtle, red bay and groundsel tree along the banks. A great place to paddle with someone — in this case a park ranger — who can show you which is the wax myrtle, which is the red bay. It’s free, but space is limited and reservations are required, by calling the park office at 252.923.2191. Learn more about Goose Creek State Park here.
Winter Tree ID Hike, Sunday, 10 a.m., Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle. Pilot Mountain on a fall weekend: not exactly what comes to mind when you think a serene outdoor experience. But that’s atop the pinnacle, where cars wait up to half an hour for a place to park, where trail congestion mirrors rush-hour traffic congestion on I-40 Business down in Winston-Salem. Ah, but head to the new Pilot Creek Access on the north side of the state park and life truly is serene. And Sunday morning, to enhance that sense of being at one with the land, you’ll have the opportunity to learn the identity of the trees play a key role in your outdoor experience. Learn their bark, their buds, their names on this mile-long saunter. For more information and to sign up, go here.
Hike to Big Rocks, Sunday, 10 a.m., Umstead State Park, Raleigh. We love a mystery. Like the mystery of what Big Rocks Ranger Billy will lead his charges to on Sunday morning’s hike. We have a clue or two: the hike starts on the Harrison Avenue side of Umstead, and the hike is 4.5 miles total. It also includes “some light off-trail walking,” which helps explain why “Space is limited.” Intrigued? Call the park office at 919.571.4170 to reserve your spot.
GetHiking! this weekend
What are our GetHiking! groups in North Carolina and Virginia up to this weekend? Plenty, thanks for asking … .
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Featured hikes
GetHiking! Charlottesville: The Monticello Trail, Friday, November 22, 4p.m., Dairy Barn Rd, Charlottesville. Easy to Moderate. 4.4 miles. Hike highlights: The Monticello Trail is a lovely gravel and boardwalk trail ascending through lush woods to the Visitor Center at the summit. Learn more and sign up here.
GetHiking! Charlottesville: Thunder Ridge Wilderness, Saturday, November 23, 7:30 a.m., 1125 Emmet St., Charlottesville. Strenuous. 10 miles. Hike highlights: Petite’s Gap, Appalachian Trail, Thunder Ridge Wilderness, the Guillotine, Apple Orchard Mountain, 270 degree views, Apple Orchard Falls. Learn more here. GetHiking! Charlotte: South Mountains, Saturday, November 23, 10 a.m., 3001 South Mountains Park Ave., Connelly Springs. Strenuous. 8.5-9.5 miles. Learn more here. GetHiking! Triangle: Winter Wild: Discover New Adventures Where You Most Love to Hike, Saturday, November 23, 10a.m. 6101 Cole Mill Rd., Durham. Moderate. 5.5 miles. Hike highlights: the peaks of the 820-acre Eno Wilderness. Learn more here. GetHiking! Virginia Beach: Merchants Millpond State Park, Sunday, November 24, 10:30a.m., 176 Mill Pond Rd., Gatesville. Learn more here. Farther out GetHiking! Triangle: Tuesday Night Hikes, one Tuesday a month at 7 p.m., thru March 3. The hikes are generally 3-4 miles long, start at 7 and run for an hour and a half or so. We’ll do seven hikes in the series, including four on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail at Falls Lake and one on New Year’s Eve! Learn more and sign up here. GetHiking! Charlottesville: Black Friday Hike: Lewis Peak, Friday, November 29, 8 a.m., Brownsville Elementary School, Charlottesville. Moderate-Strenuous. 9 miles. Hike highlights: Appalachian Trail, Rockytop Trail, Big Run Loop Trail, Fall ridge line views, Multiple Rock Falls, 360 degree views from the summit of Lewis Peak, Lewis Peak Summit Trail. Learn more here. |
Live the video
This week’s video takes us to Raven Rock State Park near Lillington. While most folks I talk to have heard of Raven Rock, most are surprised that it’s within an hour of much of the Triangle. Learn more about exploring Raven Rock State Park here..
More weekend options
Looking for more options for weekend adventure? Check out our GetOut! Find An Adventure resource page here.