Today’s 90-Second Escape: On the Water

We haven’t been on the water in a long time. A very long time … .

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On trail or off, it’s a good weekend to take a hike in North Carolina.

Coast

One of our favorite hikes in North Carolina is the Neusiok Trail in the Croatan National Forest. Just not at certain times.
Like when the temperature is much above 60.

The Neusiok runs for 20 miles, from the Pine Cliff Picnic Area on the south bank of the Neuse River not long before the Neuse gives it up to to the Pamlico Sound, to the Newport River. Near Pine Cliff, the trail more resembles the Piedmont — even the mountains in spots. But once it crosses NC 306 headed east, it’s coastal forest all the way, passing through cypress swamps, bottom land forests and pocosins. Warm weather tends to arouse some of the regional denizens — some with little wings, some with no legs — that can make hiking an enjoyment challenge.

Sunday, however, the hiking should be good on the Neusiok, with cool temperatures and a little rain in the forest. Join our GetExploring! Greenville affiliate on a 12-mile hike of the northwesternmost portion of the Neusiok starting at 10:30 a.m.

Logistics: Sunday, 10:30 a.m., Neusiok Trail/Pine Cliff Picnic Area, Croatan National Forest, Havelock. For more information, visit the GetExploring! Greenville Meetup page.

Sunday forecast: High of 61, good chance of rain.

Piedmont

Ever head into the woods with your camera on a spectacular day and return with less-than-spectacular photos? What’s the deal?

No deal, really. It’s just a matter of knowing what to look for through your viewfinder. Get a better feel for capturing the scene  on Saturday’s Photography Hike at Stone Mountain State Park. Let a ranger show you how to capture the sights.

Logistics: Saturday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m., Stone Mountain State Park Visitor Center. More info by calling 336.957.8185.

Saturday forecast: Sunny and 49 degrees, perfect snapshot weather.

Mountains

If we weren’t already backpacking Saturday, we’d be bushwhacking through the Craggy Mountains with the Western North Carolina Alliance as part of their Prevail Off-Trail! hike.

This six-mile hike includes 1.5 miles off trail, using your wits, a map and a compass to find your way (and the helpful folks with the Western North Carolina Alliance). You’ll pass through old growth forest and score great views of the Hawksbill Creek drainage. In addition: “Please wear sturdy hiking boots and dress in warm layers such as a non-cotton long sleeve shirt and a fleece jacket. Pack with you extra layers, rain gear, lunch, snacks, and at least 2 liters of water. If you have one, please bring a compass. We’ll provide the maps!”

Logistics: Saturday, 9 a.m. Free, but registration required by going here.

Saturday forecast: Mostly sunny, high of 53.

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

The post This weekend: Take a Hike appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

What is there not to love about this time of year? Weekend temperatures across the state will range from the mid-70s at the coast to the low 60s in the mountains, fall is exhibiting varying degrees of color throughout, and the entire state will be under sunny skies. Great for a paddle, a hike, competitive mountain biking and more.

Coast

Our GetExploring! Greenville affiliate has the perfect idea for a sunny, 70-degree Sunday afternoon: go for a paddle.

Sunday at 1, the triple-guided trip (in the lead, in the middle, in the rear) will put in at the Tranter’s Creek Wildlife Resources Commission boat ramp just west of Little Washington. They’ll hang a left, then paddle to where Tranter’s convenes with the Tar River to form the Pamlico. From there, the group will explore the various islands (including the famous The Castle) across from the Washington waterfront — and the waterfront as well. An estimated 8 miles of paddling, about three to four hours on the water.

And don’t let the lack of a boat deter you: call ahead and GetExploring Greenville’s sponsor, Great Outdoor Provision Co., can hook you up with a rental kayak.

Logistics: Sunday, 1 p.m., Tranter’s Creek boat ramp in Little Washington. Learn more about the trip and how to rent a kayak at the GetExploring! Greenville Meetup site.

Sunday forecast: Sunny, high of 73.

Piedmont

Fall color is descending upon the Piedmont, and one of the best places to catch the show is at your local state park. You can simply go to the NC State Parks website, find the park nearest you, and take yourself on a self-propelled excursion. Or, you can tag along on a fall color-specific guided hike

Several are planned systemwide this weekend, starting with this evening’s Pinnacle Sunset Hike at Crowder’s Mountain State Park west of Charlotte. From the Visitor Center, this hike will head two miles to the Pinnacle, which offers 360-degree views of the surrounding color-drenched countryside, all the more illuminating in the waning hours of day.

Logistics: For information on tonight’s Pinnacle Sunset Hike as well well as other guided hikes in the state park system this weekend, go here.

Weekend forecast: Sunny and in the 70s, pretty much throughout the Piedmont.

Mountains

We take so much from our outdoor experiences; from time to time, it’s nice to give something back. Especially if you’re a mountain biker, this weekend is a great opportunity to give back, by volunteering at the Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals this weekend at Beech Mountain.

350 student riders from more than 50 colleges and universities will complete; that’s a lot of competitors and a lot of wranglers needed to help pull off the event, from course marshals to folks to help with registration and course set-up and breakdown. Plus, it’s a chance to see some of the best young riders in the country in action.

Logistics: To help, check with volunteer coordinator: Tracy Simms at mtbvolunteers@yahoo.com or 828.387.2011, ext. 205. For more information on the race, go here.

Weekend forecast: Sunny, high in the low 60s.

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

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The post This weekend: Fall for the autumnal outdoors appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

Sometimes, all it takes is the alignment of the right stars to kick-start an active lifestyle. Perfect weather — sunny skies, highs in the mid-60s. A challenging, but not overly so, adventure. A supportive environment. Beer.

All of those conditions will be in play Sunday when our GetExploring! Greenville affiliate hosts “Bike & Brew, Whoo!” Meet at Winslow’s Deli in Greenville, take a guided bike ride for an hour or so, return to Winslow’s for an amber libation. Could put you on the road to health and happiness. It’s part of the Great Outdoor Provision Co.-sponsored group’s Fall Into Adventure series.

Logistics: Sunday, 2 p.m., Winslow’s Deli, Washington & 5th streets, Greenville. More info and to sign up, go here.

Sunday forecast: Sunny, high of 67.

Piedmont

Technically, you should have signed up for this by yesterday (our apologies). But Sunday’s opportunity to hike new trail is just too good not to acknowledge. And even if you don’t hike this trail when it officially debuts Sunday, make a note to hit it this fall.

The trail: the final 4.9-mile link of Mountains-to-Sea Trail between Penny’s Bend and West Point on the Eno city park in Durham. The stretch creates 105 miles of continuous MST in the Triangle, from Orange County east to Clayton in Johnston County.

The trail gets its official baptism Sunday, with a 1 p.m. dedication followed by a hike. Details can be found below.

Logistics: Sunday, Oct. 19, 1 p.m., West Point on the Eno City Park, Durham. More information here.

Sunday forecast: Sunny, high of 67.

Mountains

Lots of places to go see fall color in the mountains this weekend. (For the latest on where the color is especially good, visit VistiNC.com’s Foliage Reports.)

If you’re looking for a little context for the fall show, head to Gorges State Park Saturday where a ranger will talk about why some leaves turn yellow, some red, some orange, some purple. Then, after the presentation, he’ll tip you off to where the color is especially good right now.

Logistics: Saturday, Oct. 18, 1:30 p.m., Gorges State Park. More info: 828.966.9099.

Sunday forecast: Mostly sunny, high of 62.

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

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The post This weekend: A forecast for cool, colorful adventure appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

If you live in the Greenville area and bemoan the lack of organized outings in the region, take note of a new Meetup in the region: GetExploring! Greenville. Just so we’re square here, GetExploring! Greenville is sponsored by Great Outdoor Provision Co. and was created as part of GetGoingNC’s Get! division, our effort to become more actively involved in getting you involved.

GetExploring! Greenville began in August with a couple of low-key paddles (lead by yours-truly). It gets going in earnest this Thursday evening with the launch of its Fall Into Adventure program. The launch, to be held at Great Outdoor Provision’s shop in Greenville, features live music, food and a rundown of the eight adventures GetExploring! Greenville has planned for the fall. We won’t spoil the fun, but we will say the adventures include paddling, hiking, cycling, yoga, fly fishing and tai chi.

If you’re in the area, swing by. We promise to make it worth your while.

Logistics: Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m., Great Outdoor Provision Co., 530-D SE Greenville Blvd., 252.321.1308. Learn more about the event and RSVP here.

Thursday forecast: High of 77, mostly sunny.

Piedmont

Ellerbe Creek is one of those spots that a lot of folks in the Triangle have heard of, they just couldn’t tell you where it is. Saturday is your chance to find out exactly where it is.

The First Annual Ellerbe Creek Nature Tour visits four spots along the creek on its way from Durham to Jordan Lake: 17-acre wood, Pearl Mill Preserve, Beaver Marsh Preserve, Creek Smart House. Sponsored by the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, the four-hour tour features short nature hikes that will intimately acquaint you with nature along the creek.

Logistics: Saturday, Sept. 20, 1-5 p.m., Ellerbe Creek, Durham. For details, go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 80, mostly sunny.

Mountains

It doesn’t have to be a long hike to be a worthwhile hike. Case in point: Friday’s Blue Ridge Parkway Hike of the Week on the Bridges Camp Gap Trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is, in fact, the sponsor of the Blue Ridge Parkway Hike of the Week.

The hike commences from the Looking Glass Rock Overlook at Milepost 417 and drops about a mile and a quarter to the East Fork of the Pigeon River. A nice walk through a hardwood forest with plenty of nature to enjoy along the way.

Logistics: Friday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m., Milepost 417, Blue Ridge Parkway. More info by calling 828.298.5330, ext. 304.

Friday forecast: Mostly sunny, high of 72.

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

Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

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The post This weekend: A learning experience appeared first on GetGoing NC!.