Saturday is National Trails Day, a day set aside for us to appreciate the more than 200,000 miles of trail in the U.S. Officially, National Trails Day dates back to 1991, when  the American Hiking Society deemed that one day a year be set aside to honor our trails; the first NTD, however, didn’t occur until June 5, 1993.

Over the years, we’ve increasingly embraced the concept of NTD. Last year, more than 2,000 events were held drawing more than 157,000 participants. Some events are workdays, intended to spruce up existing trails or blaze new ones. Other events celebrate our trails by encouraging us to use them, while still others have more of an educational bent.

The 25 NTD events scheduled in North Carolina for this Saturday reflect that mix.

In the Triangle, for instance, the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail will work to link 60 miles of MST along Falls Lake with bout 10 miles along the Eno River (see No. 2 under Piedmont). Likewise, NTD volunteers will work to build the new Beech Tree Trail at Elk Knob State Park (No. 3, Mountains) and to add to the ambitious 12-mile Trombatore Trail which will link various features in the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge (No. 9, Mountains).

They’ll be doing trail maintenance at Hanging Rock State Park (No. 12, Piedmont) and on the Carolina Thread Trail (Nos. 10, 11, Piedmont); they’ll be dedicating new trail in Cary (No. 3, Piedmont) and in Panthertown Valley (No. 5, Mountains); and they’ll be celebrating in all kinds of ways in Greensboro (No. 4).

We’ve compiled a list of the 25 National Trails Day events reported to the American Hiking Society. (We suspect there are more; if you know of one, let us know about it and we’ll add it to the list.) Scope out our list, then plan to show your favorite trail some love on Saturday.

Mountains

1. One Step at a Time – Trail Work Day
Organizer: Stone Mountain State Park
Location: Stone Mountain State Park, Roaring Gap
When: Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Workday on the Loop and Wolf Rock trails, plus a kid’s activity.
More info: janet.pearson@ncparks.gov, 336.957.8185.

2. Appalachian Trail Hike: Winding Stair Gap to Wayah Gap
Organizer: Nantahala Hiking Club, ATC
Location: Franklin
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
9-mile hike on the AT with the Nantahala Hiking Club.
More info: wavh@dnet.net, 828.369.1983 or here.

3. Beech Tree Trail Building
Organizer: Elk Knob State Park
Location: Elk Knob State Park, Todd
When: Saturday, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Help build the new Beech Tree Trail at Elk Knob.
More info: kelly.safley@ncparks.gov, 828.297.7261.

4. Boone United Trail National Trails Day Event
Organizer: Boone United Trail Champions
Location: Boone
When: Saturday, 12:15 p.m.
Workday on the Boone United Trail, a 2.5-mile trail that’s about a mile finished.
More info: eric.heistand@cru.org, 828.773.6632 or here.

5. Panthertown Valley Exploration Adventure
Organizer: Friends of Panthertown
Location: Cashiers
When: Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
5-mile hike and trail dedication.
More info: friends@panthertown.org, 828.269.4453 or here.

6. A World of Mountains Piled Upon Mountains
Organizer: North Carolina Bartram Trail Society and Nantahala Hiking Club
Location: Wayah Bald west of Franklin
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
4-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail and Bartram Trail
More info: jrkautz@frontier.com, 828.524.6593, or here.

7. KAMPN KLEENUP
Organizer: KAMPN, Inc.
Location: Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 172
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cleanup of the Cascades Parking area, followed by a hike on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
More info: KAMPN4autism@gmail.com, 828.264.0054.

8. Rumbling Bald National Trails Day Hike
Organizer: Chimney Rock State Park
Location: Chimney Rock
When: Saturday, 5-6 p.m.
1-mile hike.
More info: tyson.phillips@ncparks.gov, 828.625.1823.

9. Build the new Trombatore Trail with Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, REI Asheville, & Carolina Mountain Club
Organizer: REI Asheville
Location: Gerton
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Work on the new Trombatore Trail, a 12-mile work in progress that will join Bearwallow Mountain, the Florence Nature Preserve, Blue Ridge Pastures, Wildcat Rock, Wildcat Rock, Little Bear Wallow Cliffs and Ferguson Peak in the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge area.
More info: peter@carolinamountain.org, 828.697.5777 or here.

Piedmont

1. Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Falls Lake workday
Organizer: Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail
Various maintenance projects on the 60-mile stretch of the MST along Falls Lake.
Location: Falls Lake, north of Raleigh
When: Saturday

Trail maintenance.

More info and to RSVP: jdbrewer104@gmail.com or here. www.ncmst.org

2. Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Eno River
Organizer: Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail
Location: Durham
When: Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Trail construction to join existing trail along Falls Lake with that along the Eno River, to create more than 70 miles of continuous trail.
More info and to RSVP: fred.dietrich@duke.edu or here.

3. Black Creek Greenway Dedication
Organizer: Town of Cary
Location: Cary
When: Saturday, 7-9 a.m.
Activities include a 7-mile trail run to celebrate completion of this 7-mile greenway
More info: paul.kuhn@townofcary.org, 919.469.4061, or here.

4. National Trails Day Festival
Organizer: City of Greensboro
Location: Bur-Mil Park, Greensboro
When: Saturday, 7:30 am – noon
A celebration of all trails, with various hikes, mountain bike rides, clinics, Living Green Expo and more.
More info: GSOTrails@greensboro-nc.gov, or here.

5. South Mountains State Park Hike, Bike & Ride
Organizer: South Mountains State Park
Location: South Mountains State Park, Connelly Springs
When: Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Hike, bike or horseback ride one of various designated routes; complete the route (there’s a backcountry check station) and win an award.
More info: Cheryl.Waltz@ncparks.gov, 828.433.4772.

6. Hit the Ground Running
Organizer: Go Run Events, llc
Location: Colonel Francis Beatty Park, Matthews
When: Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Trail races of 2K, 6K and 11K.
More info: mike@goruntrails.com, 864.907.1742 or here.

7. Gold Hill Rail Trail Hike
Organizer: Historic Gold Hill and Mines Foundation, Inc.
Location: Gold Hill
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
5-mile hike through Gold Hill Mines Historic Park, with history along the way.
More info here.

8. Middle Walnut Creek Greenway Hike
Organizer: Triangle Greenways Council
Location: Raleigh
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon
3-mile hike on paved greenway.
More info: bflournoy@nc.rr.com, 919.828.8322 or here.

9. National Trails Day Hike
Organizer: Little River Regional Park
Location: Rougemont
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon
4-mile interpretive hike along portions of the Ridge, North River Loop and Homestead trails.
More info: littleriverpark@orangecountync.gov, 919.732.5505 or here.

10. Volunteer Trail Workday
Organizer: Carolina Thread Trail
Location: Denver
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon
Workday focusing on the Sally’s YMCA Trail in Denver.
More info: vanessa@carolianthreadtrail.org, 704.376.2556 or here.

11. Volunteer Trail Workday
Organizer: Carolina Thread Trail
Location: Mount Pleasant
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon
Workday to complete the 2.5-mile trail at Buffalo Creek Preserve.
More info: vanessa@carolianthreadtrail.org, 704.376.2556 or here.

12. National Trails Day At Hanging Rock State Park
Organizer: Hanging Rock State Park
Location: Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Trail maintenance on the new River Bluffs Trail or the Indian Creek Trail.
More info: samuel.koch@ncparks.gov, 336.593.8480 or here.

13. Pack & Troop 49 Trail Day
Organizer: Pack & Troop 49 BSA
Location: Reedy Creek Park, Charlotte
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Leave-no-trace presentation by the scouts followed by a trail cleanup.
More info: : songofnovember@gmail.com

14. Pritchard Park Trail Volunteer Day
Organizer: Town of Chapel Hill Department of Parks and Recreation
Location: Pritchard Park, Chapel Hill
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Organizer: While the Chapel Hill Library in Pritchard Park has reopened, the surrounding trail system has not. That’s the goal of this workday.
More info: bwebster@townofchapelhill.org, 919.968.2819 or here.

15. Uwharrie Trail Maintenance & Trail Ride
Organizer: Back Country Horsemen of Uwharrie
Location: Troy
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Trail maintenance and 10-mile horseback ride.
More info: bpwillett@centurylink.net, 910.690.7500 or here.

16. Rise Above the Mud! Boardwalk Building on New Hope Creek Bottomlands Trail
Organizer: Durham County Open Space Program
Location: Durham
When: Saturday
Work on the New Hope Creek Bottomlands Trail will focus on building 150 to 200 feet of boardwalk.
More info: brmoore@dconc.gov, 919.560.7957

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The post Clear a path for National Trails Day this Saturday appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

North Carolina has a spotty record when it comes to cross-country skiing. There are no givens in the state; that is, no places such as West Virginia’s White Grass touring center, which gets 160 inches of snow a year, enough to warrant 50 kilometers of trail, some of it groomed. At best, North Carolina has Roan Mountain, which gets about 100 inches (but is a bear to get to when it snows); much of the rest of the high country is lucky to get half that much in a season. But on those rare occasions when the minimal 6-8 inches fall, it’s worth the effort. Here’s a quick cross-country primer:

Ski rentals

Far as we know, only one shop in North Carolina rents cross-country skis, the Pineola Inn & Ski Shop in Pineola (it’s on U.S. 221 south of Blowing Rock). Skis rent for $18 a day, lessons are available for $40, $25 if you have a group. Obviously, when the conditions are as good as they are now, the skis are at a premium. 828-733-4979, or check out their Web site.

Places to ski

Old roadbeds (or, in the case of the Blue Ridge Parkway, new ones) make great cross-country ski trails. The minimal canopy allows the snow to reach the surface and pile, and because they are old road beds, chances are the grades aren’t severe. Thus, any hiking trail you’ve hiked that’s an old roadbed is likely a good cross-country trail. That said …

• Moses Cone Memorial Park With 25 miles of maintained carriage paths, this Blue Ridge Parkway venue is among the state’s most popular when there’s snow. Popular, too, because even if the BRP is closed (see below), there’s access from Bass Lake in Blowing Rock. Here’s a trail map.
• Blue Ridge Parkway With a minor exception or two, the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway — 252 miles of which is in North Carolina — isn’t maintained in winter. That means when it snows, the road is closed until the snow melts. And that means some long pulls on the Nordic skis. Check out the National Parks Service Web site for navigational help.
• Roan Mountain A favorite of more experienced skiers, in part because of the elevation (Roan tops out at 6,285 feet), in part because of the exposure and views (skiing atop three balds) in part because of the more intense climbing required. Hit Roan on a good day, though, and it’s a memorable experience.
• Beech Mountain Beech is know for being the home of the highest downhill ski area in the East, at 5,506 feet. But according to HikeBeechMountain.com, many of the town’s hiking trails double nicely as cross-country routes. Topping the list: the 4.5-mile Westerly Hills Trail, which takes in old roadbeds originally “roughed in for development.”
• Boone If road conditions are dicey and you’d like to avoid as much mountain driving as possible, check out the greenway trail in Boone. It may total just under 4 miles (3.84), but if you’ve never been on cross-country skis, prepare to have your sense of distance rescaled. (Read: Cross country is a solid full-body workout.)
• Mount Mitchell State Park / Commissary Ridge Trail This old roadbed runs just below the crest of the Black Mountains, the highest mountain range on the East Coast. The views of the South Toe River Valley below are stellar, there’s just one catch: Mount Mitchell is accessed off the highest section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a section that is frequently closed due to weather.  When there’s enough snow to cross-country ski, there’s more than enough to close the BRP.

Ski conditions

The trickiest part of cross-country skiing if you don’t live in the mountains is finding out the current conditions. Because there is no organized cross-country ski industry, there is no apparatus for getting daily updates. Thus, your best bed is word-of-mouth passed along by locals who happen to drop by their local outfitter and comment on the conditions. Not very scientific, not especially reliable, but better than nothing. A few numbers to call:

• Pineola Inn & Ski Shop Pineloa. 828.733.4979. The aforementioned lone-renter of cross-country skis in the state gets better feedback during prime conditions, such as these.
• Footsloggers, Blowing Rock. 828.295.4453. This popular mountain outfitter is a mile from Bass Lake and the Moses Cone trails. More importantly, the staff is well-connected, gets out a lot and is eager to share information.
• Footsloggers, Boone. 828-262-5111. The Boone store is bigger than its Blowing Rock satellite and has a broader geographic reach.
• ExploreBooneArea.com 828-266-1345. This arm of the Watauga County District Tourism Development Authority promotes the Boone area, and since the Boone area is all about outdoor adventure, it’s a primo source of information. Has one of the best rundowns of cross-country venues going.
• SkiSoutheast.com Is mostly about downhill skiing, but includes a helpful rundown of cross-country trails in North Carolina and throughout the Southeast.

Road conditions

You’re driving in the mountains in winter conditions. Two numbers you need to know:

• North Carolina Department of Transportation Find the latest on road conditions statewide online through NCDOT’s Traveler Information Management System or by calling the 511 Information Line.
• Blue Ridge Parkway Check the latest weather-related closures by calling (828) 298-0398; check for long-term construction and maintenance closures here.

Weather

Two good sources for checking the high country forecast:

• Ray’s Weather Regional service considered the most on-spot and detailed in the high country. Not as viewer-friendly as most weather sites.
• Weather Underground Good for a quick-hit glance at the forecast.

The post A timely (hopefully) return of our cross-country ski guide appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

If you live in the eastern part of the state, Irene promises more adventure than you’d care to handle. Thus, it’s a good weekend to head west.

Coast

We’re going to bypass the coast this weekend for obvious reasons. If you live Down East, you’re probably not thinking about where the nearest 5K is, or whether there’s a group paddle nearby. If you don’t live Down East, the region probably isn’t high on your list of recreation destinations.

Piedmont

We’ll play it safe here by picking an event on the western side of the Piedmont, which hopefully will elude Irene’s reach. Rain or shine, though, it’s hard to beat a 5K, especially one that benefits a slew of YWCA programs. The Challenge for Change, sponsored by the High Point YWCA, for instance. $30 race day registration, which begins at 7 a.m., followed by the race at 8.

Begins and ends at the Y, 112 Gatewood Ave. in High Point. More info by calling (336) 882-4126 or visiting the race Web site here.

Mountains

Here’s a race I would do if I were in town (and not in Denver riding a bike): the Triple Crown Half Marathon. Saturday’s half marathon is the second leg of the High Country Triple Crown series, which began June 4 with The Cub 7-miler and ends Oct. 21 with 2-mile The Knob.

The Triple Crown Half Marathon begins in Boone, at Appalachian State University’s Kidd Brewer Stadium. It then takes scenic back roads for 13.1 miles to the finish in Blowing Rock (shuttles back to Boone are provided). $50 to race, preregistration at the stadium is from 6:30-7:30 a.m. Saturday, the race begins at 8 a.m.

More info here.

* * *

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.

The post This weekend, batten your hatches and head west appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Cross country skiers.

North Carolina has a spotty record when it comes to cross-country. There are no givens in the state; that is, no places such as West Virginia’s White Grass touring center, which gets 160 inches of snow a year, enough to warrant 50 kilometers of trail, some of it groomed. At best, North Carolina has Roan Mountain, which gets about 100 inches (but is a bear to get to when it snows); much of the rest of the high country is lucky to get half that much in a season. But on those rare occasions when the minimal 6-8 inches fall, it’s worth the effort. Here’s a quick cross-country primer:

Ski rentals

Far as we know, only one shop in North Carolina rents cross-country skis, the Pineola Inn & Ski Shop in Pineola (it’s on U.S. 221 south of Blowing Rock). Skis rent for $18 a day, lessons are available for $40, $25 if you have a group. Obviously, when the conditions are as good as they are now, the skis are at a premium. 828-733-4979, or check out their Web site.

Places to ski

Old roadbeds (or, in the case of the Blue Ridge Parkway, new ones) make great cross-country ski trails. The minimal canopy allows the snow to reach the surface and pile, and because they are old road beds, chances are the grades aren’t severe. Thus, any hiking trail you’ve hiked that’s an old roadbed is likely a good cross-country trail. That said …

• Moses Cone Memorial Park With 25 miles of maintained carriage paths, this Blue Ridge Parkway venue is among the state’s most popular when there’s snow. Popular, too, because even if the BRP is closed (see below), there’s access from Bass Lake in Blowing Rock. Here’s a trail map.
• Blue Ridge Parkway With a minor exception or two, the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway — 252 miles of which is in North Carolina — isn’t maintained in winter. That means when it snows, the road is closed until the snow melts. And that means some long pulls on the Nordic skis. Check out the National Parks Service Web site for navigational help.
• Roan Mountain A favorite of more experienced skiers, in part because of the elevation (Roan tops out at 6,285 feet), in part because of the exposure and views (skiing atop three balds) in part because of the more intense climbing required. Hit Roan on a good day, though, and it’s a memorable experience.
• Beech Mountain Beech is know for being the home of the highest downhill ski area in the East, at 5,506 feet. But according to HikeBeechMountain.com, many of the town’s hiking trails double nicely as cross-country routes. Topping the list: the 4.5-mile Westerly Hills Trail, which takes in old roadbeds originally “roughed in for development.”
• Boone If road conditions are dicey and you’d like to avoid as much mountain driving as possible, check out the greenway trail in Boone. It may total just under 4 miles (3.84), but if you’ve never been on cross-country skis, prepare to have your sense of distance rescaled. (Read: Cross country is a solid full-body workout.)
• Mount Mitchell State Park / Commissary Ridge Trail This old roadbed runs just below the crest of the Black Mountains, the highest mountain range on the East Coast. The views of the South Toe River Valley below are stellar, there’s just one catch: Mount Mitchell is accessed off the highest section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a section that is frequently closed due to weather.  When there’s enough snow to cross-country ski, there’s more than enough to close the BRP.

Ski conditions

The trickiest part of cross-country skiing if you don’t live in the mountains is finding out the current conditions. Because there is no organized cross-country ski industry, there is no apparatus for getting daily updates. Thus, your best bed is word-of-mouth passed along by locals who happen to drop by their local outfitter and comment on the conditions. Not very scientific, not especially reliable, but better than nothing. A few numbers to call:

• Pineola Inn & Ski Shop Pineloa. 828.733.4979. The aforementioned lone-renter of cross-country skis in the state gets better feedback during prime conditions, such as these.
• Footsloggers, Blowing Rock. 828.295.4453. This popular mountain outfitter is a mile from Bass Lake and the Moses Cone trails. More importantly, the staff is well-connected, gets out a lot and is eager to share information.
• Footsloggers, Boone. 828-262-5111. The Boone store is bigger than its Blowing Rock satellite and has a broader geographic reach.
• ExploreBooneArea.com 828-266-1345. This arm of the Watauga County District Tourism Development Authority promotes the Boone area, and since the Boone area is all about outdoor adventure, it’s a primo source of information. Has one of the best rundowns of cross-country venues going.
• SkiSoutheast.com Is mostly about downhill skiing, but includes a helpful rundown of cross-country trails in North Carolina and throughout the Southeast.

Road conditions

You’re driving in the mountains in winter conditions. Two numbers you need to know:

• North Carolina Department of Transportation Find the latest on road conditions statewide online through NCDOT’s Traveler Information Management System or by calling the 511 Information Line.
• Blue Ridge Parkway Check the latest weather-related closures by calling (828) 298-0398; check for long-term construction and maintenance closures here.

Weather

Two good sources for checking the high country forecast:

• Ray’s Weather Regional service considered the most on-spot and detailed in the high country. Not as viewer-friendly as most weather sites.
• Weather Underground Good for a quick-hit glance at the forecast.

The post Hooky alert! Cross-country skiing appeared first on GetGoing NC!.