Coast

One of the things we love about paddling the eastern part of the state is the intimacy. Swamps and waterways rimmed with giant bald cypress and tupelo gum escorting you through some of the wildest terrain on the East Coast. Just you, an amazing assortment of critters both seen and unseen, and, this Saturday at least, several hundred of your paddling brethren. (And sisteren, since paddling is gender neutral.)

The anomaly this Saturday is the 11th Annual Paddle for the Border, in which a whole bunch of kayakers (and some canoeists) will put in on the Dismal Swamp Canal at the Dismal Swamp Welcome Center in South Mills (Camden County) and paddle north to Chesapeake, Va. It’s BYOB, with breakfast and lunch included in the registration fee. A great opportunity to paddle some water you might not otherwise paddle.

Logistics: Saturday, May 3, 8 a.m. Dismal Swamp Welcome Center, South Mills. $45. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Partly cloudy, high of 73.

Piedmont

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Carolina Thread Trail, the 15-county effort to weave trail throughout the Charlotte area. But do you know much more about it? Like, where the trail will run and, more importantly, where it runs now that you can hike? Or, as is the case Saturday, run?

Saturday, you can experience a prime stretch of the existing Thread Trail at the Tread The Thread 5K and 10K. This fundraiser for the trail explores the 390-acre Buffalo Creek Preserve in Mt. Pleasant, taking in a restored oak savannah, active farmland and forested bluffs along Adams Creek. Live music, too.

Logistics: Saturday, May 3, 8 a.m., Buffalo Creek Preserve, Mt. Pleasant. $30 for either race. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Partly sunny, high of 74.

Mountains

Got a friend who’s been boasting about all the great trail race times he/she has been posting? Then suggest the two of you run Sunday’s Bearwallow Beast 5K. As the website notes, “ … the Bearwallow Beast 5k features one of the most unrelenting climbs you’ll find in the Appalachians — over 1,400 feet. Traversing asphalt, forest service roads and single-track trail, the course will offer a challenge for even the most experienced runner.”

And since the Beast climbs Bearwallow Mountain, you’ll be assured of great scenery (if you dare to look up) as well. Bearwallow Mountain is gorgeous part of the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge that was conserved by the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy in 2009. You can learn more about Bearwallow Mountain and the CMLC’s other handiwork in the high country here.  Live music and a complimentary beer await at the finish.

Logistics: Sunday, May 4, 2 p.m. (late registration commences at 11:30 a.m.), Gerton. More info here.

Sunday forecast: Sunny, high of 76.

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

The post This weekend: A prolific paddle, a beastly run appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

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!.

Since it’s never too early to start making weekend plans, we give you our weekend planner a day early.

Coast

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock —

Scratch that — been spending too much time on all-Christmas-all-the-time radio. Make that Jingle Bell Run, as in the third annual 5K sponsored by the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History this Saturday in Wrightsville Beach. Speed is good, holiday costumes are better in this race that takes in historic WB cottages, “beautiful winter marshes,” and popular Wrightsville Beach hot spots. Registration is from 7:30-8:45 a.m., the race commences at 9 a.m. $30 for adults, $20 for runners 12 and younger.

Register here,  more info here.

Piedmont

Lately, I’ve been touting the virtues of winter paddling. Saturday, you can tap a little of this virtuousness at Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville on a ranger-led Winter Canoe Hike. Learn about park history, local wildlife, the fact that even if your boat does flip this is a really shallow lake … . All gear is provided, but it is almost winter so make sure you have appropriate clothing.

$5 per adult, $10 per boat (you can squeeze three in). Pre-registration required: 919.460.2723

Mountains

The Hickory Nut Gorge area near Lake Lure is one of the more happening spots in North Carolina in terms of growing opportunities for public lands. Chimney Rock, the long-time privately held tourist attraction, recently became part of the State Parks system, and more additions are in the offing. That’s thanks in part to the work of groups such as the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, which is working to protect this unique area.

So, you may be wondering, what makes it unique? Learn for yourself on Saturday at 9 a.m. when the CMLC leads an off-trail hike to Pool Creek Falls at World’s Edge in the gorge. The hike is only 2.25 miles, but it is off trail, there are some challenging stream crossings as well as downed trees. Experienced hikers only. It’s a CMLC Members-only hike, but considering the future of hiking in Hickory Nut Gorge depends on groups such as the Carolina Mountain Lands Conservancy, that shouldn’t be a problem, right? Find out about memberships here,  more about the hike here.

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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.

The post A run, a paddle, a hike — this weekend, whatever it takes to survive the holidays appeared first on GetGoing NC!.