At just 6,311 acres, this pocket of the Nantahala National Forest is full of great views, numerous waterfalls, and mountain streams noted for their trout. It also has 30 miles of trail to help you see it all. It may not be Yellowstone; rather, it’s a microcosm of what Yellowstone is known for. It’s also one of the most ecologically diverse areas of the country. 

How diverse?

On Saturday, you’ll have a chance to find out. For the past month or so the Friends of Panthertown have been conducting a Biolblitz, an effort to catalogue as much of the valley’s flora, fauna and geology as possible. It’s the first such effort ever, and the results will be shared at the Bioblitz Final Celebration Saturday in Cashiers from 2-5 p.m.

Hearing about Panthertown’s naturally occurring virtues is great; seeing them is even better. That’s why, as part of my day job with the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, I’ll be leading 5-mile hikes into the valley on both Saturday and Sunday, commencing both days at 9 a.m. from the Salt Rock Gap trailhead. The hikes: 

• Saturday’s hike: Panthertown Valley Trail to Mac’s Gap Loop, 5.4 miles. This hike starts with a pleasant downhill, then includes a loop taking in the popular Schoolhouse Falls and a well-earned view from atop Little Green Mountain. Lots of variety on this hike, which you can check out here on AllTrails. Find details on the hike and sign up (spots are limited) here.
• Sunday’s hike: Blackrock Mountain, Granny Burrell Falls, Frolictown Falls and Wilderness Falls, 5.5 miles. We hike out to Blackrock Mountain, then drop down hike to three waterfalls before returning to the trailhead. Find details and sign up (spots are limited) here. Piece together these two hikes on AllTrails — this one and this one — and you’ll have a good idea of the hike.

Are you a backpacker? We’ve got you covered, too.

• Weekend backpack trip: Get both hikes AND a night or two of camping in the valley. We meet at 5 p.m. Friday, May 15, at the Salt Rock Gap Trailhead, then hike a mile downhill to camp for the weekend. After setting up and eating dinner, we’ll take a short hike to the Salt Rock Overlook to enjoy sunset. Saturday and Sunday we do the hikes listed above. You can also join us Saturday morning, if you like. Find details and sign up (spots are limited) here.

Both day hikes should end around 12:30 p.m.. On Saturday, that’s to allow time to get into Cashiers by 2 p.m. for the Biolblitz festivities, on Sunday that’s to give folks time to drive home in daylight.

Panthertown Valley is a must-explore for the adventurous Southeasterner. This is the perfect weekend to mark it off your list.

More info

• Learn more about the Bioblitz here.
• Learn more about the Friends of Panthertown here.
• Learn more about lodging options nearby here.

The post It’s a great weekend to blitz Panthertown Valley appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Today’s 90-Second Escape: A Peek into Spring

I’ve been spending a lot of time of late on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along Falls Lake. Two weeks ago, it was rainy. Last week it snowed. Yesterday, though, it was just right. Pre-spring conditions prevailed. After two days of rain, the sky was clear, the temperature wormed its way into the low 60s. Aside from a residual squish spot or two, it couldn’t have been a better day on the trail.

A number of you thought so as well. I sent Facebook posts from the trail, one of which — the boardwalk and bridge passage over Little Lick Creek —prompted several of you to ask where it was and how you could get there. Little Lick Creek joins sections 14 and 15 of the Falls Lake portion of the MST. One option is to park at the end of Santee Road, pick up Section 14 and hike west, over the bridge and continue on Section 15. Another option is to check out the map below and plan a trip of your own.

“This is my favorite part of the trail, right here, because of the views,” says Gregory Scott, the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail volunteer in charge of upkeep for Section 15. “The trail is enclosed, for the most part. It’s nice to be out in the open.”

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View Little Lick Creek bridge in a larger map

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The post 90 Second Escape: A Peek into Spring on Falls Lake appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Since 1993 we’ve been setting aside the first Saturday in June to celebrate the nation’s more than 200,000 miles of trail. Throughout the year, our trails give us so much: a place to run, a place to ride, a place to escape to our thoughts. It’s only fitting that we set aside one day to give something back.

According to the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day Web site, there are currently 23 events scheduled in North Carolina. I’ve include the list by location below; just click on the event and it will take you to the event-specific NTD site where you’ll find the what, the when, the where, the whatever (“whatever” including whatever incentives and enticements may be involved).

Incentives? Enticements?

Sure. For example, if you attend the Carolina Mountain Club’s workday on the MST along the Blue Ridge Parkway, you could win door prizes offered by the Mast General Store and the American Hiking Society. Pitch in at Blue Jay Point County Park and sponsor REI will provide water, snacks and lunch.

You could discover something new on NTD as well — like Carvers Creek State Park.

Carvers Creek State Park?

Carvers Creek State Park, a park-in-the-making near Fayetteville that will be the North Carolina’s 36th state park and eventually include more than 4,000 acres. Help build trail at the park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., then get a sneak peak of the property, not yet open for public exploration, on a ranger-led hike.

Not all NTD events involve rolling up your sleeves and and waking up Sunday with a sore back. In Greensboro, there’s an NTD Festival at Bur-Mil Park that includes geocaching, hikes, kayak demonstrations, bike clinics and rides, a vendor fair, live music, and a 5k trail run. In Lexington, you can hike or paddle Abbotts Creek and get an education in water quality. And in Black Mountain, you can explore this very cool town on a hike of their greenways.

Get out your calendar and make a date with a beloved trail for this Saturday, June 4. As an added perk: you needn’t bring flowers for this date. They’re already there.

Know of an National Trails Day event not on our list? Fill us in and we’ll add it to the list.

Mountains

Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Invasive Plant Removal
Robbinsville

Black Mountain Greenways Commission
Greenway Walk
Black Mountain

Carolina Mountain Club
MST Trail Building Work Day
Asheville

Carolina Mountain Club
MST Trail Construction
Waynesville

Friends of Panthertown, Inc.
Panthertown Valley Hike with Friends of Panthertown
Cashiers

Grandfather Mountain State Park
Grandfather Mountain State Park
Banner Elk

Jackson County Recreation/Parks Department
Breakfast at Pinnacle
Sylva

Montreat Conference Center
Trail Work
Montreat

The Swag Country Inn
Celebrate National Trails Day at The Swag
Waynesville

Piedmont

Alamance County Recreation and Parks
National Trails Day Hike
Elon

High Rock Outfitters, City of Lexington and Piedmont Triad COG
Finch Park Trails Day
Lexington

Historic Gold Hill and Mines Foundation, Inc.
Gold Hill Rail Trail Hike
Gold Hill

Yadkin River Greenway Council/Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
Yadkin River Bank and Trails Cleanup
North Wilkesboro

Charlotte

Reedy Creek Nature Center
Reedy Creek Trail Days
Charlotte

Fayetteville

Carvers Creek State Park
Carvers Creek- National Trails Day
Fayetteville

Triad

City of Greensboro
National Trails Day Festival
Greensboro

Triangle

Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department
Grand Opening Morgan Creek Trail
Chapel Hill

FMST – Falls Lake
Falls Lake MST Workday
Raleigh

Friends of The Mountains To Sea Trail, Eno River Section
Eno River State Park Trail Construction and Maintenance
Durham

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
NTD Volunteer Workday
Cary

REI-Raleigh
Blue Jay Point County Park Trail Re-Route
Raleigh

Triangle Greenways Council
Walnut Creek Greenway Hike
Raleigh

Coast

Friends of Mackay Island, Inc.
Name the Eagle
Knotts Island, NC

The post Show a trail you care this National Trails Day appeared first on GetGoing NC!.