We’ve got another gift-of-fall weekend coming up. There might be some rain Sunday, but at this point Saturday looks ideal, with lots of sun and temperatures in the upper 50s to upper 60s. So many ways to take advantage of weather like this, weather that won’t be around a lot longer. And as today’s video shows, there’s finally good color moving into the Piedmont.

Some thoughts on your weekend adventure plans:

Friends Hike: Rumbling Bald Ridge, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Chimney Rock State Park, Chimney Rock. Several reasons to love this hike: 1. Fall color will be in full swing, and the conditions have been good in the Hickory Nut Gorge area to make this year’s show especially vibrant; 2. This is a section of the park you likely haven’t explored: from Rumbling Bald to Party Rock; 3. If you’re wondering why seven hours are allotted for a 3.8-mile hike, well, you’ll just need to sign up to learn the answer. And you will have to sign up, because space is limited: 828.625.1823. Learn more about the hike here.

7th Annual Dismal Day, Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Dismal Swamp State Park, South Mills. “Dismal Day” — just the name makes you want to show up to see what it could possibly be about. What it’s about, as a spoiler, is music, arts, crafts, games, and a 5K. A Dismal t-shirt to commemorate your hopefully not-so-dismal day in the swamp. Learn more here.

Fall Color Hike, Sunday, 2 p.m., Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle. For just as the Saura Indians once stood watch atop mighty Jomeokee for the first sight of intruders, a park ranger will conduct a summit sentry in search of the first signs of fall color encroaching from the west. Vigilance! Learn more here.

GetHiking! this weekend

What are our GetHiking! groups in North Carolina and Virginia up to this weekend? Plenty, thanks for asking … .

Live the video

James M. Johnston Nature Preserve … . Not ringing a bell? How about the Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail? A slight tinkle, maybe? The two are attached and make for about 3 miles of unique hiking on the east side of Hillsborough. The Occoneechee Speedway Trail is actually a 1-mile dirt oval that, a half century ago, hosted NASCAR races. Today, nature has reclaimed much of the track, but the bleachers and some outbuildings remain. Next door is the James M. Johnston Nature Preserve, through which a mile-long stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail passes. It’s a surprisingly rugged stretch as well, with a good hill climb, lots of rock outcrop and some deep coves. A worthy weekend destination that you can learn more about here.

More weekend options

Looking for more options for weekend adventure? Check out our GetOut! Find An Adventure resource page here.

The post GetOut! Your Friday Nudge for Weekend Adventure appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

It’s been — and continues to be — a rough week for a lot of folks in North Carolina, especially down east. For the weekend, we recommend the best therapy we know: a walk in the woods. Today, we pull hikes from Hike NC!, our statewide hiking collaboration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. For more information on Hike NC! go here.

Coast | Coastal Plain

Somehow, Carolina Beach State Park near Wilmington managed to escape the full wrath of Hurricane Matthew and quickly reopen. Saturday, the park will host a hike on the Sugarloaf Trail, which passes through a variety of habitats, from its start along the banks of the Cape Fear River, to its inland passage through a pine savanah, to its climb up a 60-foot dune festooned with a maritime forest.

The hike is listed at 2 miles and rated Easy.

Logistics: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2 p.m., Carolina Beach State Park. To register for this hike and for more information and to register, go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 73, mostly sunny.

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Looking ahead: Night Hike at Halyburton Park in Wilmington, Oct. 28, 6 p.m. More info here.

Piedmont

Of the five Hike NC! hikes in the Piedmont this weekend, we’re especially excited about the one on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along the Haw River Sunday because we’re leading it. Our hike starts out of Glencoe, an old mill village, and heads downstream for a couple of miles, taking in the river’s rich history as home to roughly two dozen textile mills, back in the day. We’ll get up close and personal with both the Haw River’s natural and human history.

Logistics: Sunday, 1 p.m., MST out of Glencoe. For more information and to register, go here.

Sunday forecast: High of 75 and sunny.

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Looking ahead: Climb to the Clouds, “meet an Environmental Educator at the Moore’s Knob Observation Tower and learn to identify the surrounding landmarks, wildlife, and vegetation visible from the park’s peak closest to the clouds,” Saturday, Oct. 29, 11 a.m. More info here.

Mountains

Think of Chimney Rock and you tend to think of its touristy side: the gift shop, the lounge and deli, the elevator that takes you do the top. But Chimney Rock State Park also has its kinder, gentler and wilder side, which is the side Hike NC! will explore early Saturday morning (not too early: 8 a.m., to be exact). On our 1.5-mile hike, we’ll hike the base of Rumbling Bald Mountain and its stark cliff face and its huge boulder fields. (On this hike, you might get up close and personal with rock climbers who especially love the cliffs southern exposure in cooler weather.)

Logistics: Saturday, 8 a.m., Chimney Rock State Park. For more information and to register, go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 71, mostly cloudy.

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Looking ahead: The Life and Death of Elisha Mitchell, Sunday, Oct. 30, Mount Mitchell State Park. More info here.

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

The post Your weekend: Hike NC! appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast / Coastal Plain

A lot of folks like the idea of going on a group hike or walk. Trouble is, the vast majority are long and geared toward more advanced hikers. The opportunities to test the trail waters on shorter, friendly hikes are few.

That’s why we like Saturday morning’s Wellness Walk at Smith Creek Park in Wilmington. It’s a friendly distance (1.3 miles) on a friendly surface (pavement) in a most friendly environment. Enjoy the woods and lake, hike with others who aren’t heck-bent on setting a speed record, and discover why walking/hiking is the most popular — and one of the most beneficial — forms of exercise.

Logistics: Saturday, Aug. 13, 9 a.m., Smith Creek Park, 633 Shenandoah Street, Wilmington. Sponsored by New Hanover County Parks and Gardens. More info by calling 919.798.7275.

Saturday forecast: Sunny with temperatures in the low 80s at hike time.

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Looking ahead: Paddle the Millpond, Saturday, Aug. 27, Merchants Millpond State Park, Gatesville. More info here.

Piedmont

We all have that one adventure on our list that, for no good reason, we’ve yet to try. Nope, hard as we try, we can’t figure out why it’s yet to be checked from our list.

If fly fishing is that thing for you, then check out Saturday’s Stone Mountain Trout Fishing Guide, at — Anyone? Anyone? — Stone Mountain State Park. A ranger will discuss trout species in the park’s designated trout waters, and will also discuss seasons, creel limits and bait restrictions. The program is just 45 minutes, leaving you plenty of time to explore Stone Mountain’s scenic — and challenging — 23 miles of trail.

Logistics: Saturday, Aug. 13, 1:30 p.m., Stone Mountain State Park. For more information, go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 79, chance of thunderstorms.

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Looking ahead: Ascent of the Century, climb Mount Mitchell with N.C. State Parks and the N.C. Museum of Natural Science, Aug. 26-28, $75. More info here.

Mountains

Are you having a stellar season on the bike? Riding three or four times a week, putting in the miles, crushing the climbs?

Then you’re probably up for a good challenge. Such as Sunday’s Race to the Rock, at Chimney Rock State Park. It’s a 25-mile bike race that gains 900 vertical feet in the last three miles alone (the grade ranges from 7 to 9 percent), finishing at the base of Chimney Rock. Part of the Lake Lure Olympiad.

Logistics: Sunday, Aug. 14, 7:30 a.m., Chimney Rock State Park. $45. More info here.

Sunday forecast: Race time temperature of 81, chance of thunderstorms.

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Looking ahead: Asheville Duathlon, 10K off-road run, Sept. 11, 8:30 a.m., Biltmore Estate. More info 828.684.0812, or go here.

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

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GetGoingNC.com

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Coast and coastal plain

One of the best adventure deals going: Merchant Millpond State Park’s periodic Canoe The Pond program. Join a ranger on a canoe trip on this 760-acre millpond that dates to the early 1700s. Paddle amid the bald cypress and tupelo gum that have since infiltrated the pond; learn about the area’s history, too. All from the comfort of a beginner-friendly Discovery Old Town 158 canoe.

Free, but pre-registration is required.

Vital Stats: Canoe the Pond, Saturday, July 2, 1 p.m., Merchants Millpond State Park, Gateswville. Again, free, but pre-registration is required because space is limited: 252.357.1191.

Saturday forecast: High of 87, chance of thunderstorms.

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Looking ahead: Can’t make Saturday’s paddle? It repeats again in July on the 9th and 30th. More info here.

Piedmont

If for no other reason we recommend Saturday’s Stars and Planets program at Mayo River State Park because it allows you to stay, legally, in the park until after midnight. Come and hang out with members of the Greensboro Astronomy Club from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. They’ll bring both their telescopes and their expertise to help you make sense of the night sky.

And please, if you bring a flashlight, make sure it has a red filter. Thank you.

Logistics: Stars and Planets, Saturday, July 2, 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., May River State Park, Mayodan. More info here.

Saturday forecast: There is a chance of thunderstorms, but that’s earlier in the day. By the time the event happens, expect temperate temperatures in the low 70s.

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Looking ahead: Canoe Hike, Carvers Creek State Park, Spring Lake, July 8. More info here.

Mountains

It’s a question we hear a lot when we’re at a North Carolina State Park at closing time and there are still cars in parking lot: “What happens if they’re still here when the park closes?”

First, you don’t want to put yourself in the position to find out. Time your hike to be out of the park before closing, because if you aren’t, the first thing that happens is that checks are run on license plates, calls are made, people become upset. Almost every time, the tardy hiker arrives minutes after this chain reaction has begun.

But when the hiker doesn’t return immediately, then what happens?

Find out Sunday at Chimney Rock State Park when a ranger leads Ranger Boot Camp: Wilderness Rescue Basics. “Join a ranger to learn about search and rescue fundamentals. Participants will be introduced to the tools and equipment used to find lost hikers in the park.”

Vital Stats: Ranger Boot Camp: Wilderness Rescue Basics, Sunday, July 3, 10 a.m., Rumbling Bald Climbing Area of Chimney Rock State Park, Lake Lure. More info here.

Sunday forecast: Chance of thunderstorms, high of 87.

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Looking ahead: Wilderness Survival 101, July 16 and Aug. 20, South Mountains State Park, Connelly Springs. More info here.

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

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GetGoingNC.com

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Coast: ‘We LOVE Frogs!!!’

For everyone who is either boycotting the spirit of this weekend’s holiday, or who is single and ready to mingle, hop on over to Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, and take part in the kick-off event of the Disappearing Frogs Project. This new project is aimed at raising awareness for the alarming disappearance of frogs and other amphibians. Various DFP observances will be held at Weymouth Woods through February; this event will focus on learning about the different species of frogs (and toads) of the Sandhills.

However, you won’t totally escape Valentine’s Day, as you will get to take part in a mating call matching game! That’s all I’ll say about it, you’ll have to attend the event to find out more!

Vital stats: We LOVE Frogs!!! Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve Visitor Center Auditorium, Southern Pines, 910.629.2167, or here for more info.

Sunday forecast: a comfortable 68ish degrees, as the event will be indoors.

Looking ahead: Outer Banks Earth Fair, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Apr. 23. More info here:

Piedmont: RUNNING 4 LOVE

Ever heard of a virtual 5K? How about a virtual 10K?

Charlotte is participating in a statewide virtual run that supports Heart Health Awareness! How it works: you decide the race details: where you run, when you run, your pace, everything! When you sign up you will get two medals and a custom race bib shipped to you. One medal for you, one to give to someone you love; even better, run the race together!

After you complete your run, (by Feb. 29) report your finishing time to Moon Joggers. At least $5 of every registration will be donated to the American Heart Association!

Forecast: Since you get to pick the day, make sure you check the weather ahead of time by Googling “hourly forecast for [insert your location here]” to make sure you dress appropriately!

Vital stats: RUNNING 4 LOVE, greater Charlotte area, $0-$35, ends Feb. 29. More information here; click “register” to find out even more details and the varying registration prices!

Looking ahead: Beginner Orienteering Class on Feb. 20 at Falls Lake State Recreation Area 11 a.m. More info here.

Mountains: Bring your sweetie to Chimney Rock for free!

Everyone loves a great deal, and what better day to love a deal, than the day of love itself! During Valentine’s weekend, Chimney Rock State Park is offering a free ticket for your significant other, when you buy one ticket at regular price! (Even though Chimney Rock became part of the State Parks system in 2005, there remains a fee to enter most of the park.)

Download the ticket here or here. If you go, don’t forget to hike the Skyline Trail to Exclamation Point, the highest point in the park with 75 miles of amazing views.

Vital stats: Feb. 12-14 Chimney Rock State Park, Rutherford County $13 for two park admission tickets. More info here.

Saturday/Sunday forecast: Mostly sunny, anywhere between 18-41 degrees depending of day and time of visit.

Looking Ahead: Sign up for the DuPont 12K Trail Run by Feb 14 to participate! Race is on Mar. 26 More info here

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