GetOut! This weekend: hike with a ranger, go camping

The signs of re-emergence continue this weekend, with North Carolina State Parks hosting some of the more ambitious — and larger hikes — that they’ve done since the pandemic, including:

Ridgeline Trail

3 Parks — 2 States — 1 Hike, Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Crowders Mountain State Park/Boulders Access, Kings Mountain. This 10-mile out-and-back, co-sponsored by the Friends of Crowders Mountain, takes the Ridgeline Trail south into South Carolina’s Kings Mountain State Park and Kings Mountain National Military Park. A long hike, but it flattens after crossing into the Palmetto State. The hike is limited to 30 (been a while since we’ve seen a hike that big), and drinks and snacks will be available through the Friends prior to the hike. Free, but a donation to support the work of the Friends would be appreciated. Register by calling 704.853.5375; learn more here.

Mount Craig Hike, 2 p.m., Saturday, Mount Mitchell State Park, Burnsville. Don’t be fooled: this hike may only be 2 miles out-and-back, but the passage from the trailhead to Most Craig (pictured above), at 6,647 feet the second highest peak east of South Dakota’s Black Hills (neighbor Mount Mitchell is the highest, at 6,684 feet), is challenging, climbing over boulders on its up-and-down passage on the Black Mountain Crest Trail. Arrive at noon and you can catch the Black Bears presentation. Learn more here.

Pott’s Branch Walk About, 10 a.m., Sunday, Umstead State Park, Raleigh. Those first two hikes — at Crowders Mountain and Mount Mitchell — are geared toward more experienced hikers looking to come out of hibernation. This hike, at 1.1 miles, is for less-experienced hikers looking to up their terrain game. This trail, on the Crabtree Creek side of the park, has rocky sections and terrain that will offer a mild challenge  and nice scenery. Learn more and sign up here.

A prime weekend to GetCamping!

Two-burner Primus stove is part of the kit

Also: it’s not too late to be a camper this weekend, even if you have no camping gear! With daytime highs around 70 and overnight lows around 50, it is the ideal weekend to go camping — and our GetCamping! package, with all the key camping gear you need, can help make that happen. Learn more here. 

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