Saturday doesn’t look half bad, with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s. However, the wind is expected to kick up in the afternoon, with a steady blow of 15-20 mph winds out of the southwest, with gusts up to 35! That’s especially problematic if you worry about dead wood showering down upon you from the canopy.

So, on Sunday:

• Spring Hike: Naturally Wonderful Waterfalls, 3 p.m., Stone Mountain State Park, Roaring Gap. From the upper trailhead parking lot a ranger will lead this 1.2-mile out-and-back to Stone Mountain Falls (pictured above), which tumbles down the east shoulder of Stone Mountain, a 600-foot-high granite dome. Build in the time to hike the Summit Side of the Stone Mountain Loop Trail, accessible from the same trailhead, which will take you to the dome’s largest exposure. Learn more about the hike here.
• In the Pines: Guided Hike, 4 p.m., Gorges State Park, Sapphire. If you find yourself in the western part of the state, drop by the drop-dead gorgeous Gorges State Park for this short hike to check out the various pines that inhabit the park. The hike, which originates from the White Pines Picnic Area, is notable because it’s rated “Moderate” in difficulty, possibly the only “moderate” hike in the park. Learn more here.

OK, we won’t completely ignore Saturday. We’ve got one program early, before the wind is expected to whoosh through, one late that should benefit from the wind.

• Trail Building at Horseshoe Road Nature Preserve, 8:45 a.m. to noon, 3018 Horseshoe Road, Creedmoor. Join the Tar River Land Conservancy in its effort to open 2 miles of trail at its Horseshoe Road Nature Preserve. The supervised workday will include a variety of tasks: building wooden footbridges and benches, installing signs, trail clearing and more. Learn more here.
• Stars and Planets, 7:45 p.m., Mayo River State Park, Mayodan. One great thing about the wind is that it tends to scour the sky, leaving it free of debris. Combined with a half moon that should leave lots of stars visible, stars that the Greensboro Astronomy Club will be more than glad to help you see with their sophisticated telescopes. More info here.

On the spring wildflower front, you may see the leaves of the trout lily, but the flowers have pretty much passed. You’re more likely this weekend to see spring beauties, bluets, rue anemone and bloodroot.

Enjoy!

The post GetOut! This weekend gets off to a blustery beginning 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.

* * *

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!.

When I first started writing about fitness and the outdoors back in the early 1990s, there were a handful of ways you could welcome the New Year in most communities. There was usually a 5K run, a bike shop sponsored a casual ride, canoe clubs held members-only paddles, there was a hike or two, and some oddball group was jumping into a local lake (and jumping right back out again). You had options for welcoming the new year, but not a lot.

Today is a different story. In the Triangle, for instance, you don’t have to wait one minute into the new year for a 5K with the Run In The New Year 5K in Cary, which starts at midnight Jan. 1.  And thanks to the explosion of Meetup groups, you’ll find all variety of New Year’s activities, from paddle trips to bike rides to climbs and scuba dives. The options are too numerous to mention here. Rather, go to Meetup.com, enter your Zip code, enter your preferred activity and check out your New Years Day options.

While I’ve done just about everything on New Year’s Day — from 5Ks to the old The Spin Cycle New Year’s Day bike ride to paddle trips — the day has always been about hiking to me. There’s something thoughtful about a hike, it’s healthy, it’s slow, you can do it with your family. And thanks to the recent First Day Hikes program launched by the National Association of State Park Directors and American State Parks, finding a hike is not a problem. At North Carolina’s state parks alone there will be at least 40 guided hikes on New Year’s Day.

So today, we focus on New Year’s Day hikes. Below is a quick rundown of the First Day hikes scheduled for Tuesday at 35 state parks throughout North Carolina. For more information on a given hike, go to ncparks.gov, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks,” then select “January” under option 2, “Select a month.”

Carolina Beach State Park
10 a.m.
Meet at: Marina Trail Head Parking Lot
2-mile hike to Sugarloaf Dune.
More info: (910) 458-8206

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
2 p.m.
Meet at: Clifftop Parking lot
1-mile hike, dogs are welcome.
More info: (919) 778-6234

Crowders Mountain State Park
Call for time
Meet at: Visitor Center
Hikers from Crowders Mountain will hike 5 miles south on the Ridgeline Trail and meet hikers hiking north from South Carolina’s Kings Mountain State Park.
More info: (704) 853-5375

Dismal Swamp State Park
10 a.m.
Meet at: Visitor Center
Hike on the Supple-jack Trail.
More info: (252) 771-6593 to sign-up.

Elk Knob State Park
2:30 p.m.
Meet at: Summit Trail parking lot
Bring some water and plan for a 2.5- to 3-hour outing in the elements.
More info: (828) 297-7261.

Eno River State Park
2 p.m.
Meet at: Fews Ford Access
Sponsored by Eno River Association, hikes of 2 and 4 hours.
More info: (919) 620-9099, association@enoriver.org, http://www.enoriver.org/eno/Activities/hikes/Newyears.htm

Fort Macon State Park
10 a.m.
Meet at: Fort parking lot
Leisurely hike along the inlet beach to learn about the natural and cultural history of the area.
More info: (252) 726-3775

Goose Creek State Park
2 p.m.
Meet at: Ivey Gut Parking Lot
Guided 4-mile hike.
More info: (252) 923-2191

Gorges State Park
10 a.m.
Meet at: Bearwallow Picnic Shelter
Moderate 1.5mile hike.
More info: (828) 966-9099

Grandfather Mountain State Park
10 a.m.
Meet at: Profile Trail
First portion of Profile Trail.
More info: Ranger Appling 828-963-9522

Hammocks Beach State Park
8:30 a.m.
Meet at: Visitor Center Back Porch
45-minute hike around park grounds
More info: (910) 326-4881

Haw River State Park
10 a.m.
Meet at: Haw River State Park
More info: (336) 342-6163

Hanging Rock State Park
10 a.m.
Meet at: Hanging Rock Trail Head
Five Overlooks Challenge: 10-mile hike takes in park’s five main scenic mountain overlooks.
More info: (336) 593-8480

Jones Lake State Park
10 a.m.
Meet at: Visitor Center
Hike through the bay forest
More info: (910) 588-4550

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
1 p.m.
Meet at: Old Oak Trail at Ebenezer Recreation Area
Easy, 1-mile hike on Ebenezer Old Oak Trail
More info: (919) 362-0586

Kerr Lake State Recreation Area
2 p.m.
Meet at: Satterwhite Point Office
Park ranger-led stroll through the Kerr Lake woods
More info: (252) 438-7791

Lake James State Park
2 p.m.
Meet at :the Paddy’s Creek Bridge parking area
1.5-mile roundtrip on the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
More info: (704) 528-6350

Lake Norman State Park
1 p.m.
Meet at: Park office
Strenuous 1.5-hour hike
More info: (704) 528-6350

Lake Waccamaw State Park
3 p.m.
Meet at: Visitor Center
Wear closed shoes and long pants.
More info: (910) 646-4748

Lumber River State Park
10 a.m.
Meet at: Princess Ann Access
Hike through six habitats along the banks of the Lumber River.
More info: (910) 628-4564

Mayo River State Park
11 a.m.
Meet at: Parking lot near picnic shelter
1.8-mile Mayo Mountain Trail
More info: (336) 427-2530

Merchants Millpond State Park
9:30 a.m.
Meet at: Visitor Center
2+ miles on Lassiter Bennett’s Creek trails.
More info: (252) 357-1191

Medoc Mountain State Park
10 a.m.
Meet at: Picnic Shelter
2 miles on the Stream Loop and Discovery Loop trails.
More info: (252) 586-6588

Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
2 p.m.
Meet at: Picnic Area
Hike an Appalachian mountain forest
More info: (336) 246-9653

Morrow Mountain State Park
1 p.m.
Meet at: Lower Picnic Area Parking Lot
Strenuous 2-mile hike up Hattaway Mountain.
More info: (704) 982-4402.

Morrow Mountain State Park
9 a.m.
Meet at: Lower Picnic Area parking lot
.6-mile hike along a freshwater creek.
More info: (704) 982-4402 and let us know that you will be participating in this event.

New River State Park
10 a.m.
Meet at: US 221 Access
1.5-mile hike to the river and back
More info: (336) 982-2587.

Pettigrew State Park
2 p.m.
Meet at: park office
Leisurely hike on and off trail
More info: (252) 797-4475

Pilot Mountain State Park
1 p.m.
Meet at: Summit parking lot
Hike Jomeokee Trail
More info: (336) 325-2355

Raven Rock State Park
1 p.m.
Meet at: Picnic Shelter
2.5-mile hike
More info: (910) 893-4888

Singletary Lake State Park
2 p.m.
Meet at: park office
Half-mile hike
More info: (910) 669-2928

South Mountains State Park
10 a.m.
Meet at: Jacob Fork parking area
2.75-mile hike
More info: (828) 433-4772.

Stone Mountain State Park
1 p.m.
Meet at: Lower lot display case
3-mile hike past Hutchinson Homestead and Stone Mountain then out and back to Lower and Middle Falls.
More info: (336) 957-8185

Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve
8 a.m.
Meet at: Visitor Center
2-mile bird walk hike
More info: (910) 692-2167

Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve
2 p.m.
Meet at: Weymouth Woods Visitor Center
1.5-mile hike that takes in the oldest known longleaf pine in the world, at 465 years of age
More info: (910) 692-2167.

William B. Umstead State Park
9 a.m.
Meet at: Reedy Creek Shelter #1
2-mile round-trip on Company Mill Trail to Crabtree Creek
More info: (919) 571-4170

2 p.m.
Meet at: Crabtree Creek Picnic Shelter #1
1-hour hike
More info: (919) 571-4170

The post Do it all on New Year’s Day appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

Good riddance — and great light show! you’ll say as you watch the sun set in the west from the highest sand dune on the East Coast, at Jockey’s Ridge State Park. And as you’re watching ol’ Sol melt into the west, learn from a ranger about the dune you’re perched on, the animals who call the dune home and what all you can see from this lofty perch. Meets Friday at 8 p.m., atop Jockey’s Ridge.

Here for more info.

Piedmont

As you know, Saturday night is National Moth Night and —

You didn’t know Saturday was National Moth Night? You didn’t even know there was a National Moth Night?

Your confusion is understandable, considering that Atropos and Butterfly Conservation had agreed to cancel National Moth Night, founded in 1999, this year and regroup in 2012. But apparently rogue elements in the moth community have decided to hold a National Moth Night this year and Saturday is the night. That said you can celebrate this annual (more or less) occurrence at the Falls Lake Recreation Area’s Sandling Beach Saturday night at 8; check out the moths and let trained moth specialist Brian Bockhahn, naturalist extraodinaire,  tell you what they’re up to.

Free, but pre-registration is required, by emailing brian.bockhahn@ncdenr.gov or calling 919-841-4060.

Mountains

Saturday may be National Moth Night, but the folks at Gorges State Park will have salamanders on their minds when they head out Saturday night at 8:30. “We will venture out into the forest at night to observe salamanders and seldom seen nocturnal denizens of the park going about their business.” Well, that sounds intriguing.

Bring a flashlight and camera and pray for rain (the little amphibians love it). Meet at the Frozen Creek Trailhead. If you need to find out where that is call 828.966.9099.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

The post This weekend, make a night of it appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

Downtown Wilmington is a swell place to take in the sights: the Cotton Exchange, the waterfront, the historic homes built for sea captains. Imagine how many more sights you’ll take in if you’re wearing a pair of running shoes on a route prescribed in part for its esthetic appeal, in part for the fact it’s precisely 3.1 miles long. Saturday, your historic running tour of Wilmington takes place under the auspices of the 29th Annual Tri-Span Race. (True history buffs eager to absorb more of Wilmington may want to do the 10K alternative.) Starts and ends at the aforementioned Cotton Exchange (and at the end, your carrot will be “fresh local melons”). Both races begin at a heat-beating 7 a.m. $30 for the 5K, $35 for the 10K. More information here.

If you’re wondering why people run in the first place,  you must have missed Wednesday’s installment on Why You Should Run.

Piedmont

I love a group ride that focuses on “FUN” (the leader’s ALL CAPS, not mine). That, we’re told, is the goal of the every-Saturday-during-the-summer Revolution Ride, sponsored by the Greensboro bike shop of the same name. Based on the ride’s tag line of “Explore the Triad on bike!” I gather that every week’s ride is different, exploring a different part of the Triad. As for how the ride leaders define “FUN”, well, it’s a relatively fast breed of fun, averaging 18 miles per hour and what that requires s bit of endurance, covering 50 to 65 miles.

Cue sheets provided. Show up at the Revolution Cycles shop ready to roll at 8 a.m. More info here.

Mountains

Thinking back to the memorable summer hikes of my youth, they inevitably involved two things: mountains and waters. That’s the focus of Sunday’s youthful hike by the Carolina Mountain Club of the Horsepasture River. This 8-mile adventure in the Gorges State Park area begins with a downstream hike to Windy Falls near Lake Jocassee, then a return with stops at Rainbow, Turtleback, Drift and Stairway falls; “Several swimming breaks will be taken.” Total elevation gain for the hike is about 2,000 feet.

The plan is to meet and carpool from the Westgate Shopping Center in Asheville at 8 a.m., with a second pickup point at the Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 8:35 a.m. For more info on the route, go here. For more information on Sunday’s hike, contact Kathleen Hannigan at 828-230-4883 or Kathleen.hannigan@pgnmail.com.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

The post This weekend: Run, ride, hike wet appeared first on GetGoing NC!.