Nature programs, Weekend

GetOut! (But maybe not to the Pisgah)

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The one thing you probably don’t want to do this weekend? 

Go to the mountains. At least to the Pisgah National Forest.

Fred’s devastating visit to the mountains earlier this week caused flooding and downed trees that initially closed the entire Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest. As of today, these areas had reopened:

Pisgah Visitor Center

• Davidson River Campground

• North Mills River Campground

• Lake Powhatan Campground

• Sunburst Campground

• Wash Creek Horse Campground

• Kuykendall Group Campground

• Coontree Picnic Area (restrooms closed)

• Pink Beds Picnic Area

Many areas remained closed, as are the following roads:

  • Davidson River Road (FS 475); (multiple slides, long term closure anticipated)
  • Courthouse Creek Road (FS 140); (multiple slides, long term closure anticipated)

• Yellow Gap Road (FS 1206)

• Pilot Mountain Road (FS 229)

• Avery Creek Road (FS 477)

• Headwaters Road (FS 475B)

• Bent Creek (FS 479)

  • Wash Creek (FS 5000)

If you do plan to head to the mountains, you would be well advised to check with the appropriate land manager to make sure that you can access your destination. Below are links to the more prominent public land managers:

What can you do on a weekend with a typical summer forecast (high around 90, chance of afternoon thunderstorms)? Some opportunities from North Carolina State Parks:

  • Trees through the Eyes of Early American Woodworkers, Saturday, 9:30 a.m., Pilot Mountain State Park, Pilot Creek Access, Pinnacle. Hike the Pilot Creek Trail with a park ranger who identifies trees along the way and discusses their value to early woodworkers. Since you’re only hiking a small stretch of the trail, allow time afterward to hike the entire 3.3-mile trail, a quiet path on the north flank of the mountain. Learn more here.
  • Tools of the Turpentine Trade, Sunday, 2 p.m., Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines. Tree utility for $400, Alex. Which industry made great use of the longleaf pines that once dominated the Southeast? What is the turpentine industry? That is correct! On this short walk you’ll learn how the naval stores industry thrived (while the longleaf did not) for more than a century. Learn more here. (See photo above.)
  • Tracks and Scat at Occoneechee, Saturday, 10 a.m., Occoneechee State Natural Area, Hillsborough. When it comes to critters, we’re all aspiring Encyclopedia Browns.This 2-hour session will give you a chance to confirm your suppositions on scat, your theories on tracks. Learn more here.

GetOut! And enjoy!

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Do your own adventure

Looking to do your own adventure, but not sure where to go or the best way to make it happen? Check out our guides to the places we most love to hike by going here.

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