Here are 5 events for the weekend that mark a great way to kick off the season:

Spring Flowers, Saturday, 10 a.m., Carvers Creek State Park (or not), Spring Lake. Or not? Indeed, this hike will gather at the nearby Smith Lake Recreation Area- Q, 5144, Smith Lake Road in Fort Bragg, the “start location.” We’re guessing this is the case because the hike leader wants to focus on the area with the best spring flower bloom at the time, not the area they suspected would have the best bloom when they scheduled the hike. Show up and be surprised. More info here. 

Barrier Island Beach Hike, Sunday, 11 a.m., Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro. What’s so special about a beach hike? I mean, don’t we all do it when we vacation at the beach? True, nearly everyone walks the beach on holiday, but not a beach that’s undeveloped and that can’t be reached by car. This hike commences from the Bear Island Bathhouse and covers a half mile in search of “evidence of past storms, fossil rock outcrops, geology, and barrier island migration.” You’ll either need to paddle out (see photo) to the island or take the ferry ($6 for adults, $4 for kids 3 to 12 or 62 or older). More info here. 

Slippery, Slidey, Slimy Salamanders, Saturday, 10 a.m., Blue Jay Point County Park, Raleigh. Have trouble getting your little kids excited about going outdoors? We’re guessing that’s part of the marketing strategy behind the name of this event aimed at kids 5 and up. Part of the park’s Family Wildlife Series, the focus here is to “Find out how these special amphibians compare with their reptile cousins and learn about the amazing adaptations that have let them remain relatively unchanged for 150 million years!” Also: “…kids are not required to attend.” Learn more and register here.

Guided Canoe Adventure, Saturday, 10:30 a.m., Staunton River State Park, Scottsburg, VA. Just over the state line in Virginia’s Staunton River State Park, you can satisfy your curiosity about canoeing on this ranger-led adventure on Edmund’s Lake. All paddling equipment provided, you just need to dress appropriately and wear sunscreen. There is a small fee for this event. Learn more and register here.

Fairy Stone Hunt, Saturday, noon, Fairy Stone State Park, Stuart, VA. Also just over the state line there’s a treasure hunt, of sorts, on Saturday. Fairy Stone State Park gets its name from the curious Stauroilte crystal in the shape of a cross found throughout the park. This event starts with a short presentation covering the stone’s legend and what to look for before heading out in search of said stone. Parking fee applies. Learn more here.

As for the weather, a delightful melange of spring and summer is on tap: temperatures in the low 80s under mostly sunny skies.

GetOut! And Enjoy.

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Planning ahead

Summer Weekends Hiking the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. We have three weekend hiking trips, all in the mountains on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Each weekend includes about 20 miles of guided hiking, camping, and meals. The trips are:

• Summer on the MST Weekend Escape to Doughton Park, June 10-12, go here.
• Summer on the MST Weekend Escape to Mount Pisgah, July 22-24, go here.
• Summer on the MST Weekend Escape to Price Lake, Sept. 9-11, go here.

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Before we get to organized options, if you’re looking to hike on your own this weekend, remember that this gorgeous weather brings out hordes of occasional hikers, and that finding a slice of solitude might be more challenging than usual. It doesn’t have to be that way, however, as we noted in Wednesday’s blog, “It’s Spring! Here’s how to avoid crowded trails.” Find it here. 

Now, for those of you interested in tapping into a a weekend hike or program, here are some offerings:

• Lower Haw River State Natural Area: Whack Attack! Invasive Species Removal Workday, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lower Haw River State Natural Areal Bynum. This natural area (pictured above) is a sliver of land running along the Haw River between Bynum and U.S. 64. It’s one of the more wild areas in the region; so wild, in fact, that it’s all but impassible during the warm weather months. It also doesn’t have a true trail; rather, a game path escorts you along the river. But that’s starting to change, and this workday, sponsored by the Friends of the Lower Haw State Natural Area, is part of an effort to make that happen. A great opportunity to learn about invasive plants — them remove them. Pre-registration is required, by emailing ncmlynch@gmail.com. Learn more here.
• BW Wells Heritage Day, Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., BW Wells Recreation Area, Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Wake Forest. This annual event is a rare opportunity to explore this portion of Falls Lake, where pioneering N.C. State University botanist Bertram Wells retired. At least four walks, all lasting an hour or so, and other events are scheduled. Learn more here.

• 

  Secret Pond Wild Things, Sunday, 2 p.m., Carvers Creek State Park, Spring Lake. A good opportunity to introduce yourself to this relatively new (2013) 4,000-acre park near Fayetteville. On this outing, a ranger leads a search for macro invertebrates and amphibians. Plan to work in a hike on the 3 miles of trail here at the Long Valley Farm access while you’re there. Learn more here.

• Caraway Creek Preserve Trail Workday, Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon, Caraway Creek Preserve, Asheboro. Nothing like getting a sneak peak at new trail network, especially if that trail network is still emerging. Come by a part of the construction crew building 3 miles of trail. Learn more here.
• Sunday Wildflower Hike: West Point on the Eno, Sunday, 2 p.m., West Point on the Eno city park, Durham. The Eno River Association’s weekly spring wildflower hike series visits this popular Durham park this week with hopes of seeing mountain laurel in bloom. This is a slow-paced hike with lots of stops to check out spring growth. Learn more here.

Those are some pretty good offerings for an early spring weekend that’s looking pretty swell. Take advantage: GetOut! And enjoy.

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Ferreting out less-frequented trails, II

Finding those less-popular trails, those stealth trailheads, those spots that elude the masses, isn’t hard, but it doesn’t hurt to have a few extra insights into the topic. Our “Explore Your Neighborhood” guide can help you do just that. Written at the start of the pandemic, it was intended as a way to find hidden adventure gems close to home. But the tips that help you do just that also apply to helping you identify stealth spots at large. Learn more and check it out, here.

The post This weekend looks truly springlike appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Many trails — but not all.

Finding the trails less traveled was the focus of our first Lunch with GetHiking! gathering at noon today. If you missed it, you can catch it in reruns here.

While we won’t spoil the entire half-hour session, we will share one aspect: a quick look at some of the State Parks that tend to attract less attention. We highlight four of those parks with guided hikes being held this weekend. Do the hike, then do a little additional exploring on your own — we’ll share a quick thought on what else to explore.

Cedar Loop Hike/World Cleanup Day, Saturday, 10 a.m., Jones Lake State Park, Elizabethtown. A park ranger leads a hike on the mile-long Cedar Loop Trail; the ranger tells you about the bay forest and sand ridge communities you’re passing through, while you pick up any trash along the way as part of World Cleanup Day. Learn more and sign up here. 

Make it a day: Hike the 4-mile Bay Trail that circles the park’s namesake Carolina bay (which you’ll likely learn about on the ranger-led hike).

Coleman Trail Hike, Saturday, 2:30 p.m., Merchants Millpond State Park, Gatesville. A 2-mile, ranger-led hike through a coastal forest that includes encounters with the park’s 760-acre millpond, which is home to bald cypress and tupelo. A good opportunity to learn about forests at the coast. Learn more and sign up here.

Make it a day: On the north side of the millpond hike the recently expanded Lassiter Trail, a fast 6 miles that takes you deeper into the woods.

3 Mile History Hike, Sunday, 5 p.m., Carvers Creek State Park, Spring Lake. This hike has a little of everything, from the nature of a pine savannah to a millpond (pictured above), to remnants of the James Stillman Rockefeller farm that remains largely in tact. Bring water, bring a camera. Learn more and sign up here.

Make it a day: Make the short drive to the park’s Sandhills section for 10 miles of hiking through pine savannah. 

Harvest Moon Night Hike, Sunday, 7 p.m., Hammocks Beach State Park. Under the pert-near-full Harvest Moon hike the half-mile Live Oak Trail, as the natural world’s day shift gives way to the evening crew. Learn more and sign up here.

Make it a day: Arrive early and hike the other three trails at the Visitor Center (totaling 2 miles).

Good options that make for a great weekend.

GetOut! And enjoy!

The post GetOut! Explore our lesser-known State Parks appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

Forecast high Sunday for Spring Lake in the coastal plain: 101. Lordy!

At 9 a.m., however, it will only be 83, which in our book is good paddling weather. Good enough, certainly, to enjoy the Canoe Hike at Carvers Creek State Park, North Carolina’s newest state park. A novice? No problem. Start with an overview of basic paddling skills, then take your canoes out on the park’s cypress swamp.

Logistics: Canoe Hike, Sunday, June 12, 9 a.m., Carvers Creek State Park, Spring Lake. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Temp of 83 at 9 a.m. (on its way to an afternoon high of 101).

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Piedmont

By 9 p.m., the sun has set, the temperature has dropped maybe 15 degrees: a temperature in the low 80s sure beats one in the upper 90s. Exploring in the dark suddenly doesn’t seem like such a weird idea, does it?

Especially when that adventure is coupled with the fun of searching for the first fireflies of the season. Saturday at 9 p.m. that’s what will be going on at Pilot Mountain State park; meet a ranger at the campground amphitheater “for an easy walk around the amphitheater to look for and learn about the unique natural history of fireflies or lightning bugs!” And learn all kinds of things in the process (like why neither name is appropriate; the light they generate is how they “cold” light).

Vital Stats: Firefly Hike, Saturday, June 11, 9 p.m., Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Clear skies and a temperature around 80 by 9 p.m.

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Mountains

What could be better than a summer paddle that starts at 9 a.m. in 83-degree weather (see “Coast,” above)? How about a paddle that starts at 8 a.m. in 68-degree weather?

Bundle up (or at least bring long sleeves) for Sunday’s Canoe Excursion on Lake James, in the shadow of Linville Gorge’s Shortoff Mountain. Granted, that 68 will quickly evaporate — but won’t it feel good at the start!

Logistics: Canoe Excursion, Sunday, June 12, 8 a.m., Lake James State Park, Nebo. More info here.

Sunday forecast: High of 68 (at 8 a.m.) and clear.

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

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