Don’t go where the leaf peeping experts say to go.

Their advice gravitates to the easily accessible go-to color hotspots, mostly along the easily accessed Blue Ridge Parkway: Graveyard Fields, Rough Ridge, Price Lake … . Sure, photos taken within the past few days scream chamber-of-commerce-certified color, but they’re screaming it to the tens of thousands of others looking for a quick autumn fix. A fix that can be had without venturing too far from the car. With a classic fall forecast for this weekend, expect those hotspots to be just that in more ways than one.

But fret not: there’s plenty of great color to be had, color you don’t necessarily need to share with the rest of the world. 

Here are five of our favorite spots for seeking kaleidoscopic solitude. A quick note: These are not drive-by visits; you’ll need to invest some sweat equity — even in 50-degree temperatures — to find the color you seek. We’ll give you a sense of how much effort is required in each entry. We also share what the hike is an alternative to that’s popular nearby.

1. Big East Fork Trail

Pisgah National Forest

Location: 18082 US-276, Canton, NC 28716. GPS: 35.365956,-82.8198767

Type of hike: Out-and-back

Distance: About 7 miles

Difficulty: It’s not the elevation gain, but the rocky passage along the creek that makes for challenging — and sometimes slow — going. You’re not likely to cover the entire distance of the trail; it’s best to set a turnaround time and stick to it.

Alternative to: Graveyard Fields

I haven’t hiked this trail in the fall, but I have hiked it in the inverse season: early spring, when sprouting leaves reflect the color they’ll turn come fall. The color from my visit 20 years ago remains burned in my brain. So does the wild nature of this hike, which begins from a trailhead off U.S. 276 2.8 miles north of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trail spends its time along, and in, the Big East Fork of the Pigeon River, on a comparatively (for the region) flat run that gains just 800 vertical feet. With multiple creek crossings, this can be a wet hike and one hard to follow: just remember the trail sticks to the water. In addition to the rich color from the dense hardwoods overhead, you’re treated to waterfalls along the way.

More info here. 

2. Mountains-to-Sea Trail at Holloway Mountain Road

Blue Ridge Parkway

Location: From Milepost 298.6 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, head west on Holloway Mountain

Road for about a mile, to where the MST crosses. GPS: 36.13978, -81.75740

Type of hike: Out-and-back

Distance: 3.8 miles (7.6 miles roundtrip)

Difficulty: Moderately easy: trail is in good shape, the elevation gains moderate

Alternative to: Rough Ridge and Price Lake

Heading west on the MST from Holloway Mountain Road, the trail goes uphill into an open pasture, then spends a mile or so noodling through smaller pastures; the edge forests through here should be good for early color. Note: when you enter one of these clearings, the trail may not be obvious; if not, take a moment to survey across the way for the next visible white-dot MST blaze. These pasture pockets give way about midway to dense forest, where the evergreens should provide nice contrast to the emerging hardwood color. We suggest turning around just shy of the Boone Fork Parking Area, a popular access spot along the Parkway.

More info here, at the Mountains-to-Sea Trail online grail guide for this section.

3. Mountains-to-Sea Trail at Devil’s Garden Overlook

Blue Ridge Parkway

Location: Devil’s Garden Overlook, Milepost 235.7, Blue Ridge Parkway. GPS: 36.43404, -81.10429

Type of hike: Out-and-back

Distance: 3.6 miles (7.2 out-and-back)

Difficulty: Relatively easy: good trail surface and moderate elevation change

Alternative to: Doughton Park

This 3.6-mile stretch may get the award for least appreciate stretch of the MST in the high country. For starters, the turnaround point, at Brinegar Cabin, essentially marks the turnaround point for people hiking east from Doughton Park. The cabin is a carrot: they’ve walked 3 miles from the main parking area to see it — time to turnaround. Devil’s Garden Overlook itself should provide a good view of color cascading down the Blue Ridge Escarpment. From there, take the MST west, and in a mile-and-a-half, cross the Parkway to Air Bellows (as opposed to Doctor Bellows) Gap for great views of color cascading downhill to the west. Much of the rest of the hike involves intimate passage through quiet woods on the way to your turnaround at Brinegar Cabin (which is well worth the visit).

More info here, at the Mountains-to-Sea Trail online grail guide for this section.

4. Big Lost Cove Cliffs

Wilson Creek area, Pisgah National Forest

Location: Trailhead is along FR 464 about 4 miles west of NC 90, near the town of Mortimer. GPS: 36.0081995,-81.8706308

Type of hike: Out-and-back

Distance: 1.7 miles (3.4 miles out-and-back)

Difficulty: Relatively easy: there’s a good climb at the beginning of the hike, a steep but short climb on the hike back.

Alternative to: Wilson Creek gorge

Wilson Creek gets loved to death — the main gorge, at least. But venture into its side attractions and you’ll find hidden treasures galore, one of which is the 1.7-mile trail leading out to Big Lost Cove Cliffs. The beginning of the hike is less-than-inspiring, a climb, steep at times, to a ridge. But then, it’s a mellow ramble through tight woods until the trail dips into an open hardwood forest and then, shortly, deposits you at Big Lost Cove Cliffs. Come prepared to spend some time on this ample rock outcrop that offers great views of the valley below and, on a clear day, of Grandfather Mountain and the Blue Ridge beyond. Against a blue sky, it’s one of the best views around.

More info here.

5. Rock Castle Gorge

Rocky Knob Recreation Area, Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia)

Location: Primitive camping trailhead at the base of the gorge, off VA 8. From the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Rocky Knob Campground, take VA 8 headed south. After 3.6 miles, go right on Rock Castle Road, which will terminate shortly at the trailhead. Hike in about 200 feet to pick up the trail.

Type of hike: Loop

Distance: 10.4 miles

Difficulty: Hard. There are climbs at the beginning, steep drops about two-thirds of the way in, some scrambling.

Alternative to: Trails along the Parkway

Wait, if this trail is along the Parkway, how is it an alternative to trails along the Parkway? Good point. And for maybe a mile and a half, where access is made easy along the Parkway, it’s not an alternative. But for the most part, this is one gorgeous hike that the masses aren’t likely to undertake. And they certainly aren’t going to pick it up from this hidden trailhead at the bottom of the gorge. Pick up the trail and hike counterclockwise, hiking up Little Rock Castle Creek through a spectacular hardwood forest. Mellow at first, the trail has a steep climb requiring some scrambling, before entering another mature hardwood forest and, shortly, reaching the Parkway. From there, it’s about 3.5 miles along the ridge, through several open meadows, before descending back into the gorge. The last 2.5 miles is a relaxing downhill along Rock Castle Creek.

More info here.

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GetHiking! with Co-workers and Friends

Speaking of this incredible fall weather and the resulting color, wouldn’t it be great to have your own, personal hiking group — with friends or coworkers — that got together and hiked once a week? A hike that lasts an hour or so, is geared toward your group’s ability, that’s near where you live and that’s planned and led for you? That’s our GetHiking! with Co-workers and Friends hiking program! Learn more about the program and how you can get started with a group of up to 10 co-workers or friends, here.

The post 5 Fall Blue Ridge Hikes: Great Color, No Crowds appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Because of the mid-week holiday we’re relaxing the definition of “weekend.” It starts … today!

Coast

You go to the beach regularly, maybe even live there for a week every summer. Yet how much do you know about your fellow residents, especially the year-round residents? The sea turtles, for instance, or the sea gulls? Tag along on Audubon North Carolina’s  Free Friday Field Trip at Mason Inlet, a “fascinating sanctuary where you can get close-up looks at nesting birds and chicks,” according to ANC. “Coastal birds are scrappy survivors that combat extreme temperatures, unpredictable weather, and predators to successfully raise their young.” Who wouldn’t want to spend time with scrappy survivors?

Logistics: It’s free, from 9-11 a.m. Friday. Meet at the end of N. Lumina Avenue in Wilmington. More info by calling 910.686.7527 or by going here.

Friday forecast: High of 91, 40 percent chance of precip.

Piedmont

If you’re a typical outdoors lover you probably love good music as well, and not to cast aspersions, but probably not your run-of-the-mill Top 40 fare. Which is why our pick for the Piedmont goes to the annual Festival for the Eno, where non-stop good music (four stages, no waiting) and outdoor opportunities go hand-in-hand. There’s hiking on 5 miles of park trail and canoe and kayak rentals on one of the most peaceful flatwaters around: the mile-long millpond backed up by the dam at West Point on the Eno city park, epicenter of the festival. Runs today and again on Saturday and Sunday.

Logistics: Tickets are $15 in advance, $37 for a three-day pass, $18 at the gate, kids under 12 are free, teens 13-17 are $10. More info here.

Forecast: Today, high of 97, 40 percent chance of rain; Saturday and Sunday, highs of 100 with 40 percent chance of rain on Saturday.

Mountains

No denying it’s hot, no denying you still want to be outside. But while it’s hot, hot, hot throughout most of North Carolina, the higher you get the cooler it becomes, and it doesn’t get much higher/cooler than Sam Knob on the crest of the Blue Ridge west of Asheville. 6,050-foot Sam Knob is the keynote destination of a 10.6-mile hike Sunday by the Charlotte-based Carolina Berg Wanderers. Save for a very brief interlude with NC 215, this is a classic mountain day-hike loop: you’ve got your summit (Sam Knob), your balsam forest, your water and a waterfall or two, you spend some quality time on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail — a very nice hike (which you can learn more about if you happen to have a copy of “Backpacking North Carolina” handy: it’s Trip No. 14).

Logistics: Hike starts at 8 a.m. Sunday; consult the CBWs for more information, here.

Sunday forecast: High in the low 80s, 30 percent chance of rain.

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Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

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