Options? You got ‘em this weekend.

Coast

Sunday, it’s one of our favorite guided hikes at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. At less than a mile in length, the Basin Trail offers about as much bang for the hiking boot as any trail around. The park’s website says it best: “Fort Fisher provides a glimpse of the dynamic ecosystem known as a barrier spit where the only constant is change. Sixteen threatened and endangered species can be found at Fort Fisher depending on the time of year.”

From beach to maritime forest to Spartina salt marsh, there’s so much nature to appreciate. The trail is also rich in human history, passing a bunker built as park of Camp Davis in World War II and later adopted as home by the Fort Fisher Hermit. A worthy hike on several levels, a hike best enjoyed when lead by a knowledgeable ranger, which will be the case this Saturday. The hike is sponsored by the Cape Fear Sierra Club.

Logistics: Sunday, Nov. 22, 1 p.m., Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Kure Beach. More info by calling 910.769.1145

Sunday forecast: Sunny, high of 55.

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Looking ahead: Turkey Trot 4-Mile Trail Run, Carolina Beach State Park, Sunday, Nov. 29. More info here.

Piedmont

Here’s a race concept we can get behind: run as much, or as little, as you like.

That’s the game plan for Sunday morning’s Cozy Toes Fun Run at Cary Towne Center. Bring “gently used clean running shoes, and new hats and gloves for the homeless,” then run, jog, walk, kibbitz for 90 minutes. Prizes for Most Miles, Fastest Mile, Greatest Negative Split, Youngest Miler, and Oldest Miler.

Great way to recycle those running shoes that may have outlived their running life, but still have plenty of shoe life ahead.

Logistics: Sunday, Nov. 22, 9 a.m., Cary Towne Center, Cary. $15-$20, plus those gently used shoes and new hats and gloves. More info here.

Sunday forecast: Mostly sunny with a high of 50.

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Looking ahead: Winter Bird Walk, Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines, Saturday, Dec. 19. More info here.

Mountains

Linville Gorge is one of those places that sound like a great place to explore … then when you start heading down Babel Tower, Pinch In, Sandy Flats or the other trails leading into the gorge, you begin having second thoughts

Linville Gorge is, after all, a designated wilderness area and one of the wildest places on the East Coast. The good news: you needn’t drop into the gorge to appreciate its rugged beauty. That’s the beauty of Saturday’s Linville Falls Hike sponsored by the Woodfin YMCA in Asheville. The group will hike in from the civilized Linville Falls entrance to the gorge and take the day to hike 3.8 miles and savor the gorge’s beauty.

Logistics: Saturday, Nov. 21, 8:45 a.m. – 4 p.m., Linville Falls (meeting place is the Y, at 40 N. Merrimon Ave. in Asheville). Free, but chip in $5 if carpooling. More info: Blanca Miller 828.658.0047, bmoi735@gmail.com, or go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 48, mostly sunny.

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Looking ahead: Fox Den Loop Trail hike, at Lake James State Park, Nebo, Dec. 26, 2 p.m. More info here or call 828-652-5047.

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

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