Many trails — but not all.

Finding the trails less traveled was the focus of our first Lunch with GetHiking! gathering at noon today. If you missed it, you can catch it in reruns here.

While we won’t spoil the entire half-hour session, we will share one aspect: a quick look at some of the State Parks that tend to attract less attention. We highlight four of those parks with guided hikes being held this weekend. Do the hike, then do a little additional exploring on your own — we’ll share a quick thought on what else to explore.

Cedar Loop Hike/World Cleanup Day, Saturday, 10 a.m., Jones Lake State Park, Elizabethtown. A park ranger leads a hike on the mile-long Cedar Loop Trail; the ranger tells you about the bay forest and sand ridge communities you’re passing through, while you pick up any trash along the way as part of World Cleanup Day. Learn more and sign up here. 

Make it a day: Hike the 4-mile Bay Trail that circles the park’s namesake Carolina bay (which you’ll likely learn about on the ranger-led hike).

Coleman Trail Hike, Saturday, 2:30 p.m., Merchants Millpond State Park, Gatesville. A 2-mile, ranger-led hike through a coastal forest that includes encounters with the park’s 760-acre millpond, which is home to bald cypress and tupelo. A good opportunity to learn about forests at the coast. Learn more and sign up here.

Make it a day: On the north side of the millpond hike the recently expanded Lassiter Trail, a fast 6 miles that takes you deeper into the woods.

3 Mile History Hike, Sunday, 5 p.m., Carvers Creek State Park, Spring Lake. This hike has a little of everything, from the nature of a pine savannah to a millpond (pictured above), to remnants of the James Stillman Rockefeller farm that remains largely in tact. Bring water, bring a camera. Learn more and sign up here.

Make it a day: Make the short drive to the park’s Sandhills section for 10 miles of hiking through pine savannah. 

Harvest Moon Night Hike, Sunday, 7 p.m., Hammocks Beach State Park. Under the pert-near-full Harvest Moon hike the half-mile Live Oak Trail, as the natural world’s day shift gives way to the evening crew. Learn more and sign up here.

Make it a day: Arrive early and hike the other three trails at the Visitor Center (totaling 2 miles).

Good options that make for a great weekend.

GetOut! And enjoy!

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Consider the coming weekend as preparation for the winter ahead: high temperatures throughout much of the region won’t get out of the 40s. That makes it an opportune time to dig out your cold weather gear, see what works, see what needs replacing. Make good use of this test-run weekend and you’ll be ready for the winter months ahead!

Our thoughts on where and how you can explore this weekend follow.

Bean Shoals Canal Hike, Saturday, 10 a.m., Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle. The thought of visiting Pilot Mountain on a fall weekend — even a cold one — can send chills up a hiker’s spine. The top — the park’s best known area because of its great views — can get uber crowded on fall weekend’s, depriving visitors of the peaceful experience we seek. But the park has several lesser-appreciated access points, including the North River Section, home to the Bean Shoals Canal Trail, the focus of Saturday’s hike. Learn a little history as you travel the north bank of the Yadkin River on this 1-mile hike. One mile not enough for you? Then tack on the adjoining 2.5-mile Horne Creek Trail afterwards, which continues along the Yadkin before heading inland through hilly terrain. Learn more and get directions here. 

Huggins Island History Hike, Sunday, 11 a.m., Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro. The North Carolina coast is peppered with hundreds of small islands, many with good stories to tell. Among them is 225-acre Huggins Island, which is nearly split between higher drylands and marsh (a foot or two of elevation difference separates the two). The island was a Native American fishing and hunting ground early on, a Confederate battlement in the Civil War. You can find remnants of both, in addition to a maritime swamp forest that has been recognized as a Globally Rare and Significant Area. Come explore the island with a ranger. Boat ride over is provided, but space is limited: call 910.326.4881 to reserve a spot. Learn more about the hike and Hammocks Beach here. 

Boyd Tract Hike, Sunday, 3 p.m., Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines. Much is made of the longleaf pine, and rightfully so: at one point, before the European invasion, the stately pine dominated the regional landscape. But the invading masses quickly came to value the longleaf for its resin and straight, sturdy trunks, and today the longleaf is only truly appreciated in a few spots that evaded harvest. One of those spots is the Boyd Track at Weymouth Woods, the focus of this 1-mile hike. Not only will you see one of the few remaining stands of old-growth longleaf pine, you’ll also have an audience with the world’s oldest known longleaf. This hike begins not at the state park Visitor Center, but at the nearby Weymouth Center, 555 E. Connecticut Ave. 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

This week’s video covers a pair of scouting trips this past weekend, first to Eno River State Park in Durham for an upcoming Winter Wild trek, then on to Jordan Lake State Recreation Area for a future hike. Click the appropriate links for details on exploring these Triangle area venues.

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!.

Some events on tap that will keep you close to water:

Firefly Viewing, New River State Park, Laurel Springs. Saturday, 9 p.m. Double your chances of staying cool by not only being near water, but exploring at night as well. Details here.

Pilot Creek Exploration, Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle. Saturday, 10 a.m. The phrase that hooked us on this event? “Please wear clothing and shoes you can get wet … .” The goal of this one-hour program is to see what lives in a creek. Details here.

Kayak Tour, Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro, Sunday, 8:30 a.m. “Enjoy this ranger-guided trip through the adjacent marsh water as we explore some of the ecosystems which make this part of North Carolina so special.  Kayaks, paddles, and lifejackets will be provided.”

Guided Canoe Trip, New River State Park, Laurel Springs. Sunday, 1 p.m. “Canoe the New River with a park ranger and learn the history of the river, and basic canoe instruction while you enjoy a leisurely trip down the river.” And yes, “Please wear clothing and shoes suitable for the water … .”

Search for your own adventure through one of these sources:

• North Carolina State Parks has a variety of adventures planned for the weekend. Check those options here.
• North Carolina Environmental Education Center represents environmental ed centers across the state and has a calendar complete with every class and trip these centers are conducting. Find it here.
• Right here, at GetGoingNC.com.

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Coast: Hike at Merchants Millpond State Park

On Saturday a park ranger at Merchants Millpond State Park in Gatesville will lead a 2-mile hike on the Track Trail-certified Coleman Trail. Take a brochure on the hike, follow its directions, accumulate information, then enter the information on a website following the hike. Get enough entries and earn patches, note pads, backpacks and stickers! Not to mention the opportunity to get some exercise on a beautiful trail. Wear sturdy shoes and plan on the hike taking about 2 hours.

Vital Stats: Saturday Feb 20, 11 a.m., free. Contact: 252.357.1191 More info here.

Forecast for Saturday: Cloudy with highs reaching 66 degrees

Looking ahead: Clean the Queen – a shoreline cleanup, Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro, Feb. 28 10 a.m. More info here

Piedmont: Birds of Prey at Lake Norman State Park

Anyone know how many birds of prey call North Carolina home? Join a ranger at Lake Norman State Park to learn the answer, among many other things about each bird and how they thrive. After becoming a bird expert, take a hike within the park and see if you can spot any for yourself.

Vital Stats: Sunday, Feb. 21, 1 p.m., free. Contact: 704.528.6350. More info here.

Forecast for Sunday: Cloudy with a high of 69, although the event is occurring indoors.

Looking ahead: Volunteer Trail Work Day, Crowders Mountain State Park, Kings Mountain, March 12, 8 a.m. More info here.

Mountains: Cherokee Summer Carnival

If these temperatures have you missing summer, you’re in luck: Cherokee is holding a summer carnival this weekend. There will be a variety of vendors, karaoke, games, carnival rides, and of course food. The carnival will be occurring for multiple days. Come learn about Cherokee culture, and spend some time hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Vital Stats: Carnival begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21, and lasts until 11 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25. Free. Contact: 843.385.3180. More info here.

Sunday forecast: Scattered showers, high of 60.

Looking ahead: Four Seasons Hike, Blue Rock Mountain, March 19, Chimney Rock State Park, Chimney Rock.  More info here.

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

Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Calendar includes three weekly events for each of its seven markets: Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Wilmington and Winston-Salem. Search by market.

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.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

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The post Your Weekend: Warm to Adventure appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

]]> https://getgoingnc.com/2016/02/your-weekend-warm-to-adventure/feed/ 0 https://getgoingnc.com/2012/06/resources-for-a-steamy-weekend-of-wet-fun/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=resources-for-a-steamy-weekend-of-wet-fun https://getgoingnc.com/2012/06/resources-for-a-steamy-weekend-of-wet-fun/#respond Fri, 22 Jun 2012 20:34:22 +0000 http://getgoingnc.com/?p=4243 We’re staring down the first steamy weekend of the summer. Frankly, I’m hard pressed to think of something to do outdoors that doesn’t involve water. There’s swimming, of course. At … Continue reading Resources for a steamy weekend of cool, wet fun →

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]]> We’re staring down the first steamy weekend of the summer. Frankly, I’m hard pressed to think of something to do outdoors that doesn’t involve water.

There’s swimming, of course. At your local pool (search for local parks and rec departments with pools at the North Carolina Recreation & Parks Association Web site), at a trusted swimming hole (find 76 in North Carolina at SwimmingHoles.org), at the coast (find Outer Banks beaches here, Wilmington area beaches here and assorted other beaches here.

There’s paddling. If you have a canoe or kayak, check out our list below of 21 state parks that have canoe/kayak access. If you don’t have your own boat, there’s always our trusty list of 35 Places Where You Can Rent a Canoe or Kayak in the state. If you’re up for a guided trip — from a quiet journey through a black water swamp to a rollicking romp down Class II, III and IV water, check out this list of outfitters statewide.

Or maybe you’re just looking for an excuse to go wading. Saturday, get your feet wet in the cool waters of the New River during and Aquatic Sampling program at 1 p.m. (336.982.2587 for details on this trip, which meets at the Wagoner Access Area), while Sunday at 2 p.m. at Stone Mountain State Park there’s Aquatic Wild, a chance to poke about the East Prong of the Roaring River for wet wildlife.

Whichever wet option you chose, don’t forget the sunscreen, a hat, protective clothing, bug spray, perhaps a snack or two. And fun, don’t forget to have fun.

Enjoy!

* * *

State Parks where you can float your boat

Piedmont

Eno River State Park – Canoe access, river fishing.
Falls Lake State Recreation Area – 10 boat ramps, privately operated marina nearby.
Hanging Rock State Park – Lake swimming and fishing, rowboat and canoe rentals; boat access to nearby river.
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Lake fishing and swimming, 32 boat ramps, privately operated marina nearby.
Kerr Lake State Recreation Area – Lake fishing, accessible fishing pier, 14 boat ramps, two privately operated marinas nearby.
Lake Norman State Park – Boat ramp, lake fishing. Rowboat, canoe and pedal boat rentals, swimming and fishing on 33-acre lake inside park.
Lumber River State Park – Central State natural and scenic 115-mile black-water river, 81 miles also designated national wild and scenic waters. Five canoe-in campsites, boat access.
Morrow Mountain State Park – Pool, boat ramp, lake fishing, canoe and rowboat rentals.
Pilot Mountain State Park – Two canoe-in campsites; river fishing, canoe access.
Coast/Coastal Plain

Carolina Beach State Park – Marina with concession area; river fishing from accessible dock. Boat ramps to river; intracoastal waterway and ocean minutes away.
Hammocks Beach State Park – Accessible only by boat: park operates a seasonal passenger ferry and there’s a canoe paddle trail.
Jockey’s Ridge State Park – Swimming, fishing, kayaking and sailboarding in Roanoke Sound.
Dismal Swamp State Park – Rent kayak and take a trip on the Dismal Swamp Canal.
Goose Creek State Park – Canoe access and trail, boat ramp, river fishing and swimming.
Jones Lake State Park – Lake swimming, fishing, canoe and pedal boat rentals. Access for boats with 10-horsepower motors and below.
Merchants Millpond State Park – Seven canoe-in campsites and three canoe-in group campsites. Lake fishing, canoe access, canoe trails, canoe rentals.
Medoc Mountain State Park – Canoe access, creek fishing.
Pettigrew State Park – Fishing pier, boat ramp.
Singletary Lake State Park – Lake fishing and swimming, canoe rentals.

Mountains

Lake James State Park – Two boat ramp areas, canoe rentals, lake fishing and swimming..
New River State Park – National Wild and Scenic River, more than 30 canoe-in tent campsites, canoe access, river fishing.

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