Coast

At less than a mile in length, the Basin Trail at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area offers about as much bang for the hiking boot as any trail around. The park’s website says it best: “Fort Fisher provides a glimpse of the dynamic ecosystem known as a barrier spit where the only constant is change. Sixteen threatened and endangered species can be found at Fort Fisher depending on the time of year.”

From beach to maritime forest to Spartina salt marsh, there’s so much nature to appreciate. The trail is also rich in human history, passing a bunker built as park of Camp Davis in World War II and later adopted as home by the Fort Fisher Hermit. A worthy hike on several levels, a hike best enjoyed when lead by a knowledgeable ranger, which will be the case this Saturday.

Logistics: Saturday, April 18, 2 p.m., Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Kure Beach. For more information, call 910.458.5798.

Saturday forecast: High of 70, mostly sunny.

Piedmont

Trail running has a weird mystique about it. Runners accustomed to pavement think you daft when you wax about running through the woods on rocky, rooty, potentially-ankle-twisting terrain; hikers can’t understand why you’d want to go any faster. Logical arguments, granted.

And yet …

Those rocky, rooty trails with every foot-strike different are actually easier on your body and, provided you’re paying attention, less likely to result in injury. And by going that much faster, hikers, you get to see that much more of the forest. It makes sense. Really.

See for yourself Saturday afternoon at Eno River State Park when a park ranger hosts “Intro to Trail Running. Participants should have some experience either running or hiking, and be comfortable with a 12- to 15-minute per mile pace. The run will be on a mostly foot-friendly stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail downstream from the park’s Pleasant Green Access.

Logistics: Saturday, April 18, 3:30 p.m., Pleasant Green Access, Eno River State Park. For more info call 919.383.1686. Wear shoes good for running, bring water and a snack.

Saturday forecast: High of 75 with a chance of light rain.

Mountains

This likely falls into the “spectator” category for most of us, but hey, go, watch and who knows about next year?

NCDH @ Mount Jefferson

This weekend, on the twisty road down from Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, is the Downhill Skateboard Race @ Mount Jefferson. Contestants riding longboards will fly (not quite literally, but pert near) down the road at speeds of 40 mph or more. You’ve seen the videos, now see it live. To prepare for the event, we suggest you check out this profile of contestant Kevin Shelton in the Asheville Citizen-Times.  Shelton is 49.

And check out the video … .

Logistics: Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, West Jefferson. More info here.

Weekend forecast: High of 74 with a chance of rain Saturday, high of 57 with a real good chance of rain Sunday.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Coast

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Coast

Here’s a good, coastal biathlon for these modern times: the 6th Annual Wrightsville Beach Biathlon, involving a 4-mile standup paddle and a 4-mile run on the beach. Hosted where all your hip beach adventure competitions are hosted, at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort. Competition in various categories.

Logistics: Saturday, March 28, 10:30 a.m., Blockade Runner, Wrightsville Beach. From $45 for individuals up to $150 for corporate teams. Details here.

Saturday forecast: Sunny with a high of 54.

Piedmont

Nature programs abound in spring, and understandably so: our world is coming back to life and there’s so much to see and figure out. All those emerging amphibians, for instance.

Saturday morning, get a feel for the amphibians at Lake Crabtree in Morrisville with Toadally Awesome Amphibians. According to the sponsoring Lake Crabtree County Park: “After the first week of spring, but before the April showers start, we’re hoping to catch some sleepy salamanders. This program will investigate the park’s amphibian habitats, show you how to create your own, and teach about the important ecological roles amphibians and the vernal pools they inhabit play.”

Logistics: Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon, Lake Crabtree County Park, Morrisville. $3 per person, $5 per family. Call 919.460.3355 to reserve a spot.

Saturday forecast: Mostly sunny, high of 50.

Mountains

We like Saturday’s Valley of the Lilies Half Marathon and 5K in large part because it’s in one of our favorite places in the state: the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

The 5K stays on campus, the Half starts and ends on campus but spends most of its time along the Tuckasegee River. Racing in a gorgeous setting is always good, but especially early in the race season when distractions may be especially welcome.

Logistics: Saturday, 8 a.m., Western Carolina University, Cullowhee. Race-day registration is $80 for the half marathon, $30 for the 5K. Read more about the race in the Asheville Citizen-Times, visit the race website here.

Saturday forecast: Sunny with a high of 44.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

The post This weekend: A bi, a sign, a race appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

What the heck, it’s flat: why not do a half marathon — or a full! — at the coast this weekend?

The Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Marathon has become a big event, in part, we gather, because it is a flat course. Also, if you aren’t ready for the big runs, this race offers options: there’s the marathon relay, a 5K and a 1-mile run as well. And according to the forecast, there’s good incentive to run fast: the chance of rain hits about 50 percent by noon.

Logistics: Sunday, March 22, 6:35 a.m., Wrightsville Beach. $17.50 – $100.70. More info here.

Sunday forecast: High of 62, rain developing throughout the day.

Piedmont

It’s a Haiku Hike
Reedy Creek is putting on
C’mon, sounds like fun

Logistics: Saturday, 2 p.m., Reedy Creek Nature Center, Charlotte. $2. More info and to register: 704.432.6460.

Saturday forecast: High of 73, sunny.

Mountains

Warming temperatures mean it’s time to Get in Gear in Asheville — at a festival of the same name this Saturday at RiverLink Park in the River Arts District. There’ll be a lot going on, including product demos, gear clinics, beer from local breweries, raffles and, writes the Asheville Citizen-Times, “the opportunity to try out things you might never have done before, from a sling shot range to a pump track to a ‘squeeze box.’” A portion of proceeds from beer sales benefit RiverLink, a nonprofit that works to revitalize the French Broad River.

Logistics: Saturday, March 21, noon-4 p.m., RiverLink Park, Asheville. More info in this Citizen-Times article.

Saturday forecast: High of 70, mostly sunny.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

The post This weekend: a run, a poetic hike, a festival of fun appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Let’s not forget mom this Mother’s Day weekend! Take her for a mountain bike ride at the Coast on Saturday, then on Sunday go looking for wildflowers in the Piedmont or take her for a mountain hike. (Er, and in the spirit of Leave No Trace, resist the urge to pick those wildflowers for mom. She’ll understand.)

Coast

In part because of the name, you usually don’t think of the coast when your thoughts turn to mountain biking. Yet one of the more fun and challenging trail networks in the state is at Blue Clay Bike Park in Castle Hayne, just outside Wilmington. Blue Clay is a rare example of a bandit bike trail network that didn’t succumb to development, but rather became part of the system, the New Hanover County Parks & Garden system. Today, Blue Clay’s eight miles of trail offers a swampy ride that manages to stay above the swamp.

It’s also the location of Saturday’s Pedal in the Park event, part of the New Hanover County Parks & Gardens efforts to celebrate National Bike Month. The event, held in conjunction with the Cape Fear Southeast Off-Road Bicycle Association, is geared toward growing new riders out of the 7-14 set.

Logistics: Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m., Blue Clay Bike Park, Castle Hayne. More info at 910.798.7622 orjdellinger@nhcgov.com.

Saturday forecast: Mostly sunny, high of 83.

photo courtesy SirBikesALot.com

Piedmont

Sunday is your last chance to check out the Eno River Association’s weekly Spring Wildflower Hike series. Begun in March, the series follows the bloom of wildflowers throughout the Eno River Valley. As the season begins to fade, the series ends, fittingly, at the highest point in the Triangle, 867-foot Occoneechee Mountain.

Curiously, though, the hike will focus on the lowest part of Occoneechee Mountain, along the Eno River, where a north-facing bluff created conditions conducive to supporting a montane community. If you want to check out the mountain laurel bloom without driving to the mountains, here’s your chance.

Logistics: Sunday, May 11, 2 p.m., Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, Hillsborough. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Mostly sunny, high of 84.

Mountains

What says “Thanks, Mom!” — in our book, at least —more than taking mom out for a hike? In the high country, Mother’s Day falls at a particularly opportune time, what with all the wildflowers in bloom.

But with so many options in our Southern Appalachians, where best to go? Our friend Karen Chavez, fellow guidebook writer and outdoors editor at the Asheville Citizen-Times, offers her suggestions in a post from Wednesday. Looking for a hike with wildflowers? Where you can take mom for dinner afterwards? Or one where you don’t have to worry about her dropping you? Karen has ideas.

Logistics: Check out Karen’s recommendations here.

Sunday forecast: High of 84 under mostly sunny skies is forecast for Asheville.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

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The post This weekend: Hike with Mom appeared first on GetGoing NC!.