One of the goals of our monthly Winter Wild series, which takes hikers to the places they know, then takes them to off trail to the places they don’t, is to expose the hidden human history of where we explore. Sometimes that human history is maybe just 50 years distant. Sometimes, it’s more than 1,000. More often than not when you stumble upon an old foundation, a filling root cellar, or a long-abandoned roadbed, you’re left to speculate about their origins. On this Sunday’s Eno River Association Hike from the Few’s Ford Access, you’ll get a pretty complete story.

The hike, which begins at 2 p.m., heads to the top of a bluff and the remains of a stone foundation that marks the mid-1800s homesite of Fannie Breeze. Fannie played a vital role as a midwife in the Eno River Valley community, both as a slave of the Breeze family and after Emancipation. Her story is the focus of this 2.7-mile hike. Learn more and get directions, here.

Also this weekend:

Winter Tree ID, Saturday, 2 p.m., Dismal Swamp State Park, South Mills. Winter is winding down (it really is!), which means your opportunities for hiking at the coast are as well. Before long, warming temperatures will bring out the critters who tend to make a visit to the coastal woods less appealing. Thus, we recommend Saturday’s Winter Tree ID hike at Dismal Swamp State Park. We also recommend it because identifying trees in full leaf is relatively easy, doing it when they’re naked not as much. A little classroom work, followed by 30 minutes in the field. Learn more here.

Lake View Hike, Sunday, 2 p.m., South Mountains State Park/Clear Creek Access, Connelly Springs. Thought you knew South Mountains but are scratching your head over the “Clear Creek Access”? And lake? What lake? South Mountains, already the largest state park in North Carolina, is growing, and this hike takes you through a new addition on the northwest side of the park. Distance: an easy 1.3 miles. Learn more here.

GetHiking! this weekend

What are our GetHiking! groups in North Carolina and Virginia up to this weekend? Plenty, thanks for asking … 

Featured Hikes GetHiking! Charlotte: Stone Mountain to Devils Garden Overlook, Saturday, February 22, 10 a.m., 3042 Frank Pkwy., Roaring Gap. Strenuous. 12.5 miles. Learn more here. GetExploring! Greenville: Day Hike at Goose Creek State Park, Saturday, February 22, 10 a.m., Goose Creek State Park, Washington. Easy. 6 miles. Hike highlights: Pamlico River, Goose Creek, wooded areas teeming with vegetation and life. Learn more here. GetHiking! Charlottesville: James Madison’s Montpelier to Grelen and Back, Saturday, February 22, 10 a.m., 11350 Constitution Hwy., Montpelier Station. Moderate. 6 miles. Hike highlight: Montpelier. Learn more here. GetHiking! Charlottesville: The Monticello Trail, Saturday, February 22, 11 a.m., Dairy Barn Rd., Charlottesville. Easy. 5 miles. Learn more here. GetHiking! Charlottesville: Jerry’s Run Loop, Saturday, February 22, 9:30 a.m., Teel Lane Park and Ride, Charlottesville. Moderately Strenuous. 8.3 miles. Hike highlights: views from the ridgeline, follows scenic streams for about half the distance, old cabin site, old garage/maintenance shed. Learn more here. GetHiking! Charlottesville: Sunset Hike Along John W. Warner Parkway, Saturday, February 22, 4 p.m., 1000 Rio Rd. E., Charlottesville. Easy. 1.6 miles. Hike highlights: Dogwood Vietnam Memorial, one of the first memorials on US Soil dedicated to those who served in this war; and the native pollinator garden on Melbourne Road the future Charlottesville Botanical Gardens. Learn more here. GetHiking! Charlottesville: Devil’s Marbleyard, Sunday, February 23, 8 a.m., 400 Ray C Hunt Dr., Charlottesville. Strenuous. 8.3 miles. Hike highlights: Belfast Trail, The Devil’s Marbleyard, the Gunter Ridge Trail, Ridge line vistas, Vistas from the Marbleyard, the Glenwood Horse Trail. Learn more here. GetHiking! Charlottesville: History Hike: Court House to Rotunda, Sunday, February 23, 12 p.m., 501 East Jefferson St., Charlottesville. Easy. 4 miles. Hike highlight: We will stop at places where events from Colonial times to the Civil War occurred. Learn more here.

Live the video

Today’s video is from a scouting trip last weekend at Hanging Rock State Park. If it doesn’t look familiar, that’s because the video was shot largely on the 900-acre parcel recently added to the park. We’ll be back next weekend with video from this Saturday’s more expansive GetHiking! Winter Wild Hike at Hanging Rock. Learn more about Hanging Rock State Park here.

More Weekend Options

Looking for more options for weekend adventure? Check out our GetOut! Find An Adventure resource page here.