For the past decade or so, the highlight of my hiking year has also been a bit of a lowlight.

The first weekend in November our GetHiking! group traditionally has a grand finale in Hot Springs, NC, hiking the Appalachian Trail from Garenflo Gap into Hot Springs on Saturday, and from Tanyard Gap into Hot Springs on Sunday. 

It’s a magical time of year: peak color has come and gone, and with it the masses of hikers who come for the color. Temperatures are in the low 50s, it’s typically a dry and sunny time of year (though one year we did have snow near Tanyard Gap) and there’s usually some lingering color. In addition to the hiking, we take advantage of Hot Springs’ hospitality, from an evening at Big Pillow Brewing, to buying gear we didn’t know we needed at Bluff Mountain Outfitters, to the apres hike soak in the town’s namesake hot springs. It’s a great way to cap a year of hiking.

Alas, we didn’t have a chance the to doff our cap in 2024. Hurricane Helene made a mess of the North Carolina mountains and seemed especially intent on wreaking havoc in Hot Springs. Such a mess that we wondered if we’d even be able to end 2025 in Hot Springs.

Turns out we will. Soon, in fact.

Hot Springs, in addition to its playfulness, can also take itself damn seriously. Ever since the rain stopped late last September, Hot Springs has been feverishly working to reopen. And it will May 2-3, with the Town & Trail Festival. 

Town & Trail is sponsored by the nonprofit ReBuild Hot Springs, formed to help businesses and residents get back on their feet. The festival will include live music, storytelling, vendors, a duck race, a Hiker Fashion Show, and more. It’s the “and more” that has me the most excited.

For the past seven months I’ve wondered about the condition of the trails in the area, especially the AT, which runs down main street. When I contacted event organizer Sonya Askew about the event wearing my day job cap as a rural advisor with the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ Hometown Strong unit, I asked if, a) any trails were open; and, b) if so, were there plans for guided hikes as part of the weekend. Yes, she said, a number of trails had been reopened. But no, they didn’t have any hikes planned yet.

“I can fix that,” I told her.

Actually, all I did was make a phone call, to Lindsey Barr, owner of Blue Ridge Hiking Co. Based in Asheville, the outdoor retailer and outfitter — founded by Jennifer Pharr Davis in 2008 — also has a bunkhouse in Hot Springs. “Sure,” Lindsey said, “we’d love to lead some hikes.” Blue Ridge is donating the services of four guides to lead the following hikes:

Friday, May 2

• 9 a.m. — Garenflo Gap into Hot Springs on the AT, 7 miles, trending downhill but with a climb or two in between. Moderate difficulty.
• 2 p.m. — Big Laurel River, 5.6 miles, a gradual downhill out, a gradual uphill back. Moderate difficulty.

Saturday, May 3

• 9 a.m. — Tanyard Gap into Hot Springs on the AT, 5.6 miles. Moderate difficulty.
• 2 p.m. — Lover’s Leap, 2 miles,. Moderate difficulty.

Each hike is limited to 8 hikers and there is a donation required for each hike of $50 ($25 for the shorter Lover’s Leap hike). There is also a $5 shuttle fee for the three hikes that require shuttles (Lover’s Leap is all hiking), and a $5 fee for U.S. Forest Service fees. Donations go directly to ReBuild Hot Springs.

If you’ve been itching to get back to the mountains to hike, this is a great way to start — and to help a community hammered by Helene. Learn more about each of the hikes and sign up by going here. And learn more about the Town & Trail Festival itself here.

I will be sweeping all four hikes and can’t recall being more excited about a weekend in the mountains. 

Hope to see you there.