We include hikes in the coast/coastal plain, in the Piedmont, and even in the mountains, or at least the mountainous regions that remain fairly accessible in winter.

Like any lists of favorites, it has evolved. An early favorite gets replaced not necessarily because it’s any less appealing, but likely because we’ve since hiked a new trail that we’re excited to share. They’re all good hikes, well worth a visit over the next three months.

Coast/coastal plain

1. Jones Lake State Park, 4 miles, Elizabethtown (southeast of Fayetteville). According to “100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina,” (Hike No. 42, or go here for more information) the trail has a total elevation gain of 3 feet (it all happens within a 10-foot stretch on the lake’s north side, where the trail encounters an old irrigation ditch). Part of the trail — through the longleaf pine forest (some interloper pines and understory turkey oaks as well) — is on a sandy forest service road that’s bright and warm on a sunny day. Part — a narrower, packed gravel trail — goes through a dense bay forest rich with sweet, loblolly and red bays. And there’s a cypress swamp as well, all rimming 224-acre Jones Lake, a curiosity in itself, being one of a half million elliptically shaped lakes peppering the southeastern U.S., a phenomenon of unknown origins called a Carolina bay.

2. Neusiok Trail, Croatan National Forest, Havelock. 20.1 miles, with shorter options. (Trip No. 42, “Backpacking North Carolina,” Hike No. 5, “100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina, or go  here.”) The Neusiok, much of which runs through a swamp, has a limited hiking window; if you don’t hit from late November into mid-March, you’ll be sorry (and also plagued by every flying, stinging pest the state has to offer). Wintertime temperatures in the 50s and overnight lows near freezing make this the perfect coastal escape, regardless of whether you like going long (the whole 20.1 miles) or simply chewing off a section or two. An especially rewarding hike on a cool, sunny winter’s day. Note: the Pine Cliff Recreation Area at the northern terminus remains closed due to hurricane damage in 2018. You can access the trail from the nearby equestrian trailhead.

Piedmont

3. Uwharrie National Forest, Birkhead Wilderness, Asheboro, 7.4 miles. (Hike No. 36, “100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina,” Trip No. 35, “Backpacking North Carolina,” or go here.) There’s a starkness to the Birkhead Wilderness, a 5,160-acre notch on the northern tip of the Uwharrie National Forest southeast of Asheboro, that makes it ideal for winter hiking. Although not a particularly mature forest, there’s a dearth of understory that makes for good, long sightlines in this portion of the ancient Uwharrie mountain range that’s a bit mellower elevationwise than to the south. A good, long hike for people who may not think they’re up for a good, long hike. Note: You can also start from the Tot Hill Road Access on the north end of the wilderness; the 2-mile hike to the loop (and 2-mile hike out) makes for an 11.4-mile hike).

4. Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County. 2.9 miles. (Hike No. 20, “100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina or go here). Normally, you’d expect to spend a good hour in the car to find a spot as remote as the Johnston Mill Nature Preserve. But thanks to the 1999 efforts of the Triangle Land Conservancy, this 295-acre preserve remains intact amid the encroaching sprawl of Durham and Chapel Hill. Your escape from the city happens quickly: From the main trailhead off Mount Sinai Road, you descend through dogwood, red cedar, sweetgums and loblollies into a floodplain forest rich with the rare: four-toed salamanders, Thorey’s grayback dragonfly, green violet, bloodroot, stemmed yellow violet and columbine. Walk along New Hope Creek to the Beech Loop, a bluff trail that gets its name from the sizable Fagus grandifolia that dominate the hillside. Later, check out remains of the Johnston Mill and homestead dating to the early 18th century. An especially foot-friendly tread (trail surface) makes this a particularly good venue for less able hikers.

5. Pilot Creek Trail, Pilot Mountain State Park, Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle, 6.6 miles (out and back). Learn more and plan a hike here. When this list first appeared we recommended the trails accessed at the summit of Pilot Mountain. But since 2012, those trails have been discovered: on nice weekends it can take a half hour or more just to score a parking spot up top. Now, our favorite Pilot Mountain trail is Pilot Creek, which starts from an access off Boyd Nelson Road north of the park and works its way along the north flank of the mountain to connect with the Grindstone Trail. Pilot Creek offers much of what hikers flock to Pilot Mountain for: rocky terrain and some moderately challenging climbs. You won’t get the views (it sticks to the base of the mountain), but you won’t get the crowds, either.

6. Latta Plantation, Charlotte, 4.2 miles. (Hike No. 28, “100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina,” or go here to learn more.) So much hiking, so close to town. Sixteen miles of trail explore this 1,343-acre preserve on the north side of town; we recommend a loop that includes the Hill, Cove and Split Rock trails, a loop that features a rare Piedmont prairie, a type of grassland common in the region prior to the European invasion but rarely found today. This being winter, you’ll miss out on the wildflowers common to a Piedmont prairie (such as the smooth coneflower), but you will get a sense of the vast open spaces that today we typically associate with the West. Some good shoreline and cove hiking on this loop as well.

Mountains

7. Mount Sterling, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 18.1 miles. (Trip No. 17, “Backpacking North Carolina,” or learn more and plan a hike here). Of course, part of the thrill of winter hiking is the chance to experience some winter. You’ll have a good shot of that on this loop in the Great Smokies, which starts below 3,000 feet and tops out in a balsam forest atop 5,823-foot Mount Sterling. The summit happens early on, after a little more than six miles of hiking (the last 2.2 miles of which gains 1,700 vertical feet). After that it’s a mostly downhill ramble down Mount Sterling Ridge Trail and Pretty Hollow Creek, with a return through Little Cataloochee. Lots of natural beauty interspersed with signs of the park’s cultural past. A most worthy 18-mile day (though there are shorter options).

8. Doughton Park: Basin Cove Loop, Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock, up to 20+ miles. (Trip No. 11, “Backpacking North Carolina,” Hike No. 54, “100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina,” or learn more and plan a hike here.). Another backpack/day hike option, where you should, at least through mid-month, find some color on a trip that starts at the base of the Blue Ridge escarpment. Hike in the easy 1.5 miles to the campground (establish base camp, if you’re backpacking), then behold numerous options, including: 3.4 miles up Basin Creek to the old Caudill Cabin (16 people living in one room) or head up the 2.8-mile Bluff Ridge Primitive Trail to Bluff Mountain, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and additional exploring along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Especially nice, again, with the seasonal BRP crowds diminished.

9. Schoolhouse Ridge Loop, Wilson Creek, Mortimer. 5.6 miles. (Trip No. 10, “Backpacking North Carolina,” Hike No. 68, “100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina,” or go here.) January can be a dicey time of year for backcountry exploring in the mountains. The higher you get, the greater the chance for snow and ice — more a problem for driving than hiking. Good reason to say low (between 1,500 and 2,400 feet), yet still reap the benefits of a mountainlike trip. Good reason to visit the Wilson Creek area. One thing about Wilson Creek is the number of creeks that penetrate this rugged section of the Blue Ridge escarpment below Grandfather Mountain, creeks that often present challenging crossings. Not so much the case on the Schoolhouse Ridge Loop. Though it does have multiple crossings of Thorps Creek early on, none are challenging. After that, it’s carefree mountain hiking.

10. Linville Gorge: East Rim, Nebo. 14.1 miles, with shorter options (Trip No. 7, “Backpacking North Carolina,” or go here.). Out-of-town visitors are always looking to do “name” adventures — something the folks back home probably have heard of and would likely be impressed by. Linville Gorge is one of those places in North Carolina, an area known for its rugged beauty, falls and 2,000-foot deep (in spots) canyon. A great way to explore this wilderness is from along its East Rim. More adventurous types can start at the south end of the gorge and within two steep miles be atop Shortoff Mountain (from there, the hiking levels considerably as you head north). Or, take Forest Service roads up to the Table Mountain access where you can quickly climb 3,680-foot Tablerock Mountains (great 360 views), check out The Chimneys (popular with climbers) or take the Spence Ridge Trail, down into the gorge (it’s the easiest trail down). Great photos that come with bragging rights.

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More hikes

Looking for more hikes you can hike on your own? Our store includes guides with everything you need to know to successfully take a hike on your own, including a detailed route description, map, logistics and an overview of the hike. Browse for your next hike, here.

The post 10 of our favorite winter hikes appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

You’re eager to show your visiting friends and family why you love living where you do: the outdoor opportunities that make this such a wonderful place to explore. You also don’t want to alienate your guests — or worse, harm them! — by taking them on an outing beyond their capabilities. Fortunately, you can do the former while avoiding the latter with the 10 hikes below, hikes that offer considerable esthetic bang for minimal physical exertion. 

We give a short description of why these hikes are suitable for the non-adventurous in your life, then provide a link for additional information.

Coast, coastal plain

The Basin Trail

2.2 miles (out and back)

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Kure Beach

Spending time at the coast this holiday season? This hike (pictured above) just outside Wilmington starts at the Atlantic Ocean and makes its way through open marsh (the soggier parts are on elevated boardwalk) to The Basin on the sound side. At the midpoint, visit an old World War II munitions bunker that was later home, for more than a decade, to the Fort Fisher Hermit.

More info here.

Bay Trail

4 miles

Jones Lake State Park, Elizabethtown

Need to get your beloved visitors out of the house for the day? Send them to Jones Lake southeast of Fayetteville for a 4-mile meander around a regional oddity: a Carolina bay. No one is quite sure how these shallow, oval-shaped bays originated (the result of a meteor shower is the best bet), but there were once a half million of them along the East Coast. The hike around this surviving bay is half pine savanna, half swampy bay forest, all flat.

More info here.

Charlotte area

The Boulders Access

0.5 miles

Crowders Mountain State Park, Kings Mountain

Lure your hiking-recalcitrant crew to The Boulders with the promise of seeing the boulders just a short hike from the car. Then, when they’re smitten, suggest hiking just a little farther, a little farther, a little farther on the Ridgeline Trail, which will take you either south into South Carolina or north for about six miles to the main part of Crowders Mountain State Park.

More info here.

Triangle

The Peaks Loop

1/2 mile

Horton Grove Nature Preserve, Bahama

This half-mile trail is especially alluring in late fall, with the mature beech forest casting a brilliant yellow glow over a carpet of fallen copper leaves. Ridgeline and valley hiking, with a short drop in, a short climb out on well-groomed trail. Want more? Tack on the 0.8-mile Holman Loop through a recovering Piedmont prairie.

More info here. 

Seven Mile Creek Natural Area

2 miles

Orange County southwest of Hillsborough

You’ll find some of the foot-friendliest trail around on this ramble through mature upland woods and down to Seven Mile Creek, a spritely creek that, shortly, feeds into the Eno River. The preserve’s difficult-to-find trailhead all but insures you’ll avoid holiday crowds.

More info here.

Pump Station Trail

The rocky Eno is at its scenic best south of the Cabe Lands access.

1.5 miles

Pump Station Access, Eno River State Park, Durham

An especially good hike for kids — closely supervised kids — because it takes in the ruins of the old Durham waterworks. Brick foundations, an old dam, and other remnants of the long-abandoned water plant make for great kid exploring. The trail includes a stretch along a particularly rocky run of the Eno.

More info here.

De hart Botanical Garden

up to 4 miles

Louisburg

A short hike in gets you to a waterfall, a bamboo garden and a lake with a rock outcrop perfect for hanging out on. Venture farther and you’ll find another waterfall and one of the oldest white oak trees in the region. Something is always in bloom at this 92-acre preserve off U.S. 401 between Raleigh and Louisburg.

More info here.

Triad

Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area

2.5 miles

Snow Camp

Live in the Triad or Triangle and don’t have time to visit the mountains? How about the mountains in our midst, the Cane Creek Mountains south of Burlington? You’ll get an Appalachian-type experience on this 2.5-mile loop that traverses surprisingly rocky terrain before topping out just below 1,000 feet. A bit more of a physical investment, but the payoff is worth it.

More info here. 

Horne Creek Trail

2.5 miles

Bean Shoals Access, Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle

The main parking area atop Pilot Mountain gets so crowded on weekends that hikers are now shuttled from the base to the summit. Avoid Pilot’s plenty by heading to the Bean Shoals Access and hiking this flatter stretch of trail that includes intimate Horne Creek and the expansive Yadkiin River.

More info here.

Little Long Mountain

1.6 miles (out and back) 

Uwharrie National Forest, Asheboro

From the Joe Moffitt Trailhead it’s a 0.8-mile hike up the north side of the 922-foot mountain (you’ll pass a spring midway, on your left) to the best on-trail view in the Uwharrie range. From the summit meadow you have a 240-degree view from the east to the south to the west; early risers can catch sunrise, night-owls sunset and the rest of us an expansive view of this relict central North Carolina mountain range.

More info here.

The post 10 Hikes for Holiday Visitors appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

60 degrees!

I knew it was supposed to cool off this week, but 60? I couldn’t remember the last time it had been so cool in this summer of record heat. A good two months, at least. 

A spirit-lifting temperature, but still shy of my fall benchmark. Then, an hour later I took out Dog #2 (she likes to sleep in) and it was 58. Within a half hour it would drop another degree, to 57.

I have a standing deal with myself as summer wears on: When the temperature finally drops below 60, I drop what I’m doing and go for a hike. Psychologically, that first sub-60 breaks summer’s spell; I can finally let myself think about fall and the fall hiking season. I will hike when it’s hot, up to 90, maybe 92. But in this summer of sustained upper 90s, the spirit hasn’t been willing. This morning, though, I dropped my guard and thought of the first 5 hikes I wanted to do come fall. And because I don’t like wasting time, I went out that morning and did two of them. 

My top 5 Hikes to kick off fall:

Ruben Mountain Loop Trail

Hanging Rock State Park

5.6 miles 

Moderate

Trailhead: Tory’s Den parking lot, 1185 Charlie Young Road, Westfield, NC

This distance gets an asterisk. Two, in fact. First, the loop is advertised on the State Park website as 2.9 miles — but first you have to get to the trailhead. The shortest way to do that: take the Tory’s Den Trail for 1 mile from its namesake parking lot. OK, you say, a mile to get there, a mile to get back, that’s 2 miles, for a total of 4.9. Hang on: the loop doesn’t exactly connect; you need to tack on another seven-tenths of a mile on the Tory’s Den Trail to make that happen. All that said, this was my first time on Ruben Mountain, the first, I suspect, of many. AllTrails says there’s a 715-foot total elevation gain on this hike; I’m guessing 75 percent of that is on the 1-mile hike in. The loop itself is surprisingly flat. The trail is also open to equestrians, so it’s a good social hiking trail, accommodating hikers side-by-side. It also has great fall color potential and, I’m guessing, is sparsely hiked, even in Hanging Rock’s busy fall hiking season. 

More info here.

Off trail

Your choice; in my case Hanging Rock State Park

2 miles (in this case) 

Moderate to strenuous

Trailhead: The end of Sheep Rock Road in Danbury,  NC 36.408063, -80.215629

This may be my favorite hike — and there’s not even a trail. From the east end of the park in Danbury, at the end of Sheep Rock Road, is a modest entry point into the park. A chain keeps cars off the gravel roadbed that disappears downhill past a tobacco barn, then climbs 2.5 miles to and along the ridge marking the eastern extent of the park. In summer, you can follow the road up to and along the ridge past the second of three unnamed peaks referred to as the “Three Sisters” (there are actually four). The route has all the character of Hanging Rock — the rock outcrops, the oak and pine woods — but no people: In 20 years of hiking I’ve never seen anyone other than myself and the hikers I’ve been with. Plus, the elevation is high enough — about 2,000 feet at the top — you can get a jumpstart on fall color.

More info here.

Mountains-to-Sea Trail at Falls Lake

Day-hike Section S (Red Mill Road to Red Mill Road)

4.8 miles (one way)

Moderate

Trailhead: Red Mill Road, Durham

The whole 60-mile stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along Falls Lake’s southern shoreline says fall to me: the trail here is dominated by hardwoods that come alive with color in fall, the season’s quiet is underscored along the lake, open meadows let the season’s angling sunlight slip through. But the 4.8-mile run of MST that starts and ends off Red Mill Road seems especially appropriate for the season. It travels a bit further from civilization than much of the rest of the MST along the lake, it has numerous meadows for sungazing, it offers peeks at the more remote stretches of Falls Lake, and it’s relatively flat. In short, it’s easy to lose yourself in thought on this hike.

More info here.

Rock Castle Gorge Trail

Rocky Knob Recreation Area

Blue Ridge Parkway, Floyd VA

10.8 miles 

Strenuous

Trailhead: BRP MP 169

The entire 10.8 miles may be a bit to chew off this early in the season. If so, concentrate on the roughly 3.5 miles that stays along or just below the ridge along the Parkway, passing through vast mountain meadows and Southern Appalachian hardwoods. There’s elevation in spots, but generally this moderate section of the trail will get you excited for fall. At 3,000 feet you’ll experience early fall color as well as crisp fall air. Looking for something more remote and less crowded? Hike the 3-mile stretch that follows Rock Castle Creek at the base of the gorge. 

More info here.

Confluence Natural Area

Hillsborough

4 miles (recommended; 5 miles total) 

Moderate

Trailhead: 4214 Highland Farm Road, Hillsborough

Let us not forget the natural areas brought to us by our land conservancies, in this case the Eno River Association. Confluence comes to mind because the Eno River Association recently added another 2 miles of trail with the Poplar Bend Loop. When I lived in Hillsborough, I spent a lot of time on this 270-acre preserve’s main trail, Two Forks, which offers an intimate encounter with both the East and West branches of the Eno River. The just-opened Poplar Bend Loop is more of an upland ramble through a maturing hardwood forest, that should offer good color followed by great sightlines through a naked forest. Four miles of diverse hiking.

More info here.

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Hiking Guidance

Looking for hiking tips, gear reviews, resources and info on podcasts, videos, books and additional media? Check out our help guides at GetGoingNC.com. 

The post 5 Hikes to Welcome Fall appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

So many questions hikers face.

Fortunately, there are lots of places where you can find answers.

In our four decades of hiking we’ve come to rely on certain sources for answers. Below, we list the ones we’ve found to be most helpful. Hopefully you’ll find them helpful as well.

GearLab

GearLab, until recently known as Outdoor GearLab, gets its own entry because it’s so darn helpful. Whenever we’re contemplating a new piece of advice, we first see what GearLab has to say. For each category of gear it reviews, GearLab tests dozens of products, then rates them in a variety of categories: Best Value, Best Men’s, Best Women’s, Best Overall — the same categories you use to make your decisions.

Fall hiking gear

Our cool(ish) weather-inspired pining for fall got us thinking about fall hiking gear. Not that we need anything — which is the ideal time to look because you’re not pressured into snap decisions. Rather, you can take a few minutes to make intelligent decisions, shop around a little. And the best place to do a little high-quality window shopping? Gearlab. For instance, its “The Best Hiking Pants for 2024” includes a range of options. Gearlab present 13 pants options, ranging from the $32.50 Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible (“Thin material not suitable for rugged terrain, no water resistance”), to the $200 Arc’teryx Gamma Pant (“These functional, high quality pants best serve those who hike in wet weather”). Or the “Best Base Layers for 2024,” which rates 19 options, some of which are surprisingly affordable. Take a moment to pick out your fall wardrobe here.

Best beanies

Because we know many outdoorsy types like to thoroughly research before buying, we point you toward GearLab’s reviews of the 5 Best Beanies for Men and Women. From a large field — 50 for women alone — they whittled down to less than 10 the number of beanies to field test for both men and women before coming up with their top 5, with rankings based on varying criteria. Note: some are viewed as not particularly good for athletic purposes, such as hiking. Check out the men’s Top 5 here, the women’s here.

Best solar charger

While we’re on the topic of portable chargers, why not check out solar chargers? Because of our tree cover in the Southeast, these tend to be not quite as effective — and thus, popular — as they are in the wide-open West, but they’re becoming more efficient, and if you can master when and how to best use them, they can keep you in power for days. GearLab recently completed its latest review (they’ve been reviewing them for 10 years); for this review they started with more than 100 chargers and winnowed them down to the 8 that underwent extensive field testing. Go here to find out how they ranked, including their top charger and their best buys.

10 Best Sandals of 2024

In today’s feature post we extol the virtues of summer hikes with lots of water. So it only makes sense that in this space we extol the virtues of the best resource we know for selecting gear: GearLab. GearLab reviewed 65 pairs of sandals to come up with their 10 Best Sandals of 2024. Not all the sandals are suitable for long hikes, which GearLab recognizes. Thus, they evaluate the sandals based on a variety of criteria — including Best Secure Adventure Sandal. Their recommendation? You’ll have to go here to find out. 06.05.24

Best Sun Protection Shirts of 2024

Here’s a question that frequently comes up on hikes, especially long hikes, especially in summer: How exposed is the trail? Hikers, I’ve noticed, are becoming increasingly concerned with sun protection, to the point they’ll consider a long-sleeve shirt on a 90-degree day if it offers good sun protection. So how do you know which of the multitudes of sun protection shirts offer both good sun protection and breathability (so it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a long-sleeve shirt on a sunny summer’s day? You seek out GearLab’s “Best Sun Protection Shirts of 2024.” Over the past four years GearLab has tested 25 such shirts and rates 16 of them here.

10 Best Rain jackets

In this world of overnight delivery, you might still have time to order a rain jacket before Debbie departs completely. And not just any rain jacket, but the best, at least according to Outdoor Gear Reviews’ May review of the 10 Best Rain Jackets of 2024. And as they often do, the jackets are based by different criteria: Best Overall, Best Performance, Best Bang for your Buck, best men’s, best women’s. Over the past 14 years, GearLab has tested 205 jackets, and these are currently the 10 best. Check ‘em out here.

Best Base Layers for 2024

The key to happy and comfy winter hiking? No doubt it’s having a base layer you love. One that’s comfortable, that feels good next to your skin, that keeps you warm but gives you some degree of regulatory ability so you don’t get too warm. You also want one that will last and what the heck, one that looks good, because even though it’s a “base” layer, because of the Southeast’s more moderate winter temperatures, you’ll likely be wearing it as your exposed layer more often than not. With dozens of options to choose from, how do you make an informed decision? By starting with Gearlab’s “The Best Base Layers for 2024.” Gearlab whittled its test group down to 19 options and gives its assessment, including its recommendations for Top Pick, Best Buy and more. Check it out here.

Best gloves

Maybe you’re the type who likes to evaluate all the glove options. For you, we recommend checking out the GearLab evaluations of various glove options. If you can’t find it here, odds are they don’t make it — or it’s not worth buying. Begin your search here.

Gear (in general)

Pack Hacker on packing cubes

Intrigued by the notion of packing cubes for backpacking and hiking and want to learn more? Check out “Best Backpacking Cubes for Travel,” from Pack Hacker. They review a variety of options, rating them based on different purposes and needs. You might be surprised how many options there are. Check it out here.

Audubon’s ‘bins’ picks

“Bins” — birder slang for binoculars — are coveted for a variety of features. Weight, for starters. There’s also ease of focusing, clarity, ergonomics, color rendition, and balance, to name a few. Audubon’s “top-scoring binoculars for less than $150” takes all of these into account in their reviews of the five binoculars under $150 they tested (a couple of which list at just above $200, but are included anyway “because they are often on sale for less than $200.” And if you have no problem going well north of $200, you can check out reviews of bins in other price categories in the complete Audubon Guide to Binoculars. Find the budget binocular review here.

Gearjunkie on the Best Winter Traction Devices

And because winter traction devices, like so many things, are a matter of personal preference, may we suggest you check out the Gearjunike’s Best Winter Traction Devices of 2024-2025. Published about two months ago, it’s current and reflects testing over a three-year period. They give the pros and cons for each device, rate them in different categories, rate them under different conditions. If you plan on doing any high country hiking this winter, you best check out the review, here

Motivation

Hiking goals

Looking for a worthy hiking goal in 2024? The Carolina Mountain Club has 7, from the longstanding South Beyond 6000 (40 select southeastern peaks above 6,000 feet), to the Pisgah 400 (hiking all 400 miles of trail in the Pisgah Ranger District), to Lookout Tower Challenge (hike 24 fire towers). Find those goals and more at the CMC website, here. Those goals are North Carolina centric. In Virginia, check out Go Hike Virginia’s “15 Hardest Hikes in Virginia,” which includes some favorites of our GetHiking! Charlottesville crew. Check ‘em out here.

Ethics, getting involved

Leave No Trace

Most of us know the basic seven principles of Leave No Trace: 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare, 2. Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces, 3. Dispose of Waste Properly, 4. Leave What You Find, 5. Minimize Campfire Impacts, 6. Respect Wildlife, 7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors. But do you know what these seven principles entail? Be a better outdoorsy type in the year ahead by becoming more well-versed in the specifics of Leave No Trace by spending quality time at the Center for Outdoor Ethics’s Leave No Trace website.

Hiking etiquette

Don’t you wish there was a Miss Manners, of sorts, for questions of hiking etiquette? Well, there is, of sorts.

The American Hiking Society offers a quick rundown of key do’s and don’ts when hiking. For instance, did you know that hikers headed downhill should yield to hikers headed up hill? They should. Or that when you take a break, you should do so off the trail? (Would you just park in the middle of the road to stretch driving cross country? No, you would not.)

Spend a couple of minutes pursuing the AHS’s rules for hiker etiquette. It will make the trail an even more civil place to be.

Volunteering

Feel like getting involved in trail matters, you’re just not sure how? Check out this list of 200 U.S. hiking organizations affiliated with the American Hiking Society. It includes causes you may be familiar with (Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Appalachian Mountain Club, Carolina Thread Trail) and ones you may not (Chinook Trail Association). Lots of regional options, in addition to the ones above. Find an organization and how learn you can get involved starting here.

When nature calls

A question that frequently comes up: Are there restrooms on this hike?

Answer: Sure. Pick a tree.

I will note that this question rarely comes from males. I should note, too, that my answer rarely elicits the hearty chuckle I expect.

For a more helpful answer on the topic, I defer to Backpacker magazine, which has far more experience on the topic. Read Backpacker’s answer here.

Hikes with visitors

We have entered the season of Hikes with Visitors, that time when friends and family arrive for the holidays and you are left wondering what to do with them. Take them for a hike, of course, but are they up for the type of hiking you do? Besides, isn’t the point of hiking to get away from it all? What you need is a hike where you are not the center of attention, where everyone is relying on you for direction — and directions. What you need is a ranger-led hike at a nearby state park. Say, the History Hike on Thanksgiving Day at James River State Park in Gladstone, VA, or the Thanksgiving Day Hike at Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve in Southern Pines, NC.

Find events at Virginia State Parks here, North Carolina State Parks here.

Finding a hike

‘Best Hikes with Dogs: North Carolina’

So, how do you know if a trail is good for a dog? You get a copy of Karen Chavez’s “Best Hikes with Dogs: North Carolina.” Chavez, who was the Outdoors Editor at the Asheville Citizen-Times at the time she wrote the book, did a lot of hiking across the state to cull these pup-friendly hikes. She also includes information on trail etiquette for dog owners and their pets, tips on hiking with dogs and their special needs, dealing with wildlife encounters and more. Learn more and score a copy here.

State Park hikes

Looking for a hike with a little something extra this weekend? Check out the hikes offered at your local State Park. For instance, Saturday morning at 9 you can tag along with a ranger at Virginia’s Fairy Stone State Park for a two-hour hike to Little Mountain Falls. Or, in North Carolina, at Gorges State Park take a hike ranger-led hike to Raymond Fisher Pond.  Check out additional options by clicking the links below:

• Virginia State Parks
• North Carolina State Parks

National Forest Service websites

The start of spring is when many of us start to return to our National Forests to explore. In part that’s because a lot of us don’t get out as much in winter. In part, it’s because many of us have a drive a ways to reach a National Forest, and in winter we’re more included to hike closer to home. But a big reason we steer clear is because many of the roads we take to reach our favorite spots — and some of the places themselves — are closed for winter. Now, they’re starting to reopen. When? Well, you can find out speedy quick by going to the appropriate Forest Service website for your state and checking “Alerts & Notices.”

• Georgia
• North Carolina
• Virginia
• Tennessee
• South Carolina
• West Virginia

Where to check ahead

In our quest this week to get you to check ahead before heading out, we rerun this list of contact links for some of the larger land managers in the region:

• Blue Ridge Parkway
• N.C. Department of Transportation
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• North Carolina State Parks
• North Carolina National Forests (Croatan, Pisgah, Nantahala, Uwharrie)
• Virginia Department of Transportation
• Shenandoah National Park
• Virginia National Forests (George Washington and Jefferson)
• Virginia State Parks

American Hiking Society’s Hikes Near You

Looking for a fresh source of recommended hikes? Check out the American Hiking Society’s Hikes Near You database. You start with a map showing trails on a map. Pan back for a big overview, which gives you a general sense of the length of the trails. Then, drill down for specifics. Click on a trail for the quick skinny, then click again for specifics — you’ll be taken to REI’s crowd-sourced Hiking Project. Check it out here.

Sunrise, sunset tables

With the end of Daylight Saving Time, it’s increasingly important to see when the sun sets before heading out for a hike. What’s an easy way to find the local sunset? By going online, of course. Our favorite source: SunriseSunset.com, which not only covers all 50 states, but scores of communities in each state, giving you a pretty accurate account of when sunset occurs. Check it out here. 

Resources on resources

Resource American Trails Resource Library

Curious about how ebikes will impact multi-use trails? Maybe you have questions about how to become a better advocate for trails in your area? Or perhaps you’re interested in keeping up on current legislation involving trails? All questions that could require time-consuming sleuthing on the internet. Or that could be answered quickly with a visit to the American Trails website. American Trails is a nonprofit that “celebrates decades of working on behalf of all trail interests. Our website is one of the world’s most comprehensive online sources for planning, building, designing, funding, managing, enhancing, and supporting trails, greenways, and blueways.” It’s especially alluring if you’re a little geeky, but a solid resource even if you aren’t. Check it out here.

Andrew Skurka’s blog

When it comes to advice based on hands-on, in-the-field experience, it’s hard to beat Andrew Skurka, who has hiked more than 30,000 miles including a bevy of long, long hikes, such as the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop and the  7,775-mile Sea-to-Sea Route. (If you haven’t heard of some of these, it’s because he makes them up — meaning he pioneers them.) Skurka thought he wanted to be a Wall Street type when he enrolled at Duke in the late 1990s, quickly saw the error of his ways and has become one of the world’s preeminent distance hikers. Today, he continues to hike, but also teaches and shares his experience and offers advice on his blog, which you can find here.

YouTube + Google

Imagine having a friend with a photo album from trips to, seemingly, all the places you’d like to hike in the region. In fact, you do have such a friend — it’s your very own GetHiking! Meetup hiking group. Each week on our hikes, people take pictures and post them on their local site. Some post one or two, some post a whole lot. Not only do they showcase the various trails we hike, but they show how much fun we have on our hikes. Here are the appropriate links to two of our more active groups: Charlottesville and Charlotte. Check ‘em out. 04.04.2024

Safety & First Aid

American Hiking Society on safety and first aid

The best way to avoid needing a rescue? The best two ways, actually?

1. Be prepared before going into the wild.
2. Know what to do should a problem arise,

You’ll find quick information on both topics in the American Hiking Society’s Hiking 101 Resource page under the heading “Safety & First Aid.” Everything from preventing and dealing with blisters, to hydration to basic first aid is covered. Check it out here.

Mayo Clinic

The more you know, right? That applies to pretty much everything, and this weekend that’s especially true when it comes to knowing the effects of heat on your body. Our go-to medical source, the Mayo Clinic, is well-versed on the topic; learn most of what you need to know by starting here. And if you don’t have time to become an expert on the subject, check out this Mayo Minute on heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Nature

Look, up in the night sky!

Again, on a Tuesday Night Hike a while back, we were blessed by clear skies that were cold and crisp. We hit a clearing, flipped off our headlamps, looked up and — What is it we’re looking at? We were looking at all kinds of celestial bodies, yet we weren’t sure what we were looking at. That’s why before heading out on the next night hike I’ll be sure to check out space.com‘s Stargazing page for its day-by-day (night-by-night?) breakdown of what’s in the sky. Had I looked before Tuesday night’s hike, I would have learned, for instance, that Jupiter and Venus would be traveling together above the southeastern horizon. Find out what’s going on in the sky before your next night hike, here.

Picture those clouds

You read about clouds and their various meanings in science class and thought, “Wow those cloud descriptions were great, but I’m a visual learner so how will I identify each type of cloud when I see it in the sky?” Well you’re in luck, because this Instructables page has everything you need to know and more about how to keep up with the clouds! Not to mention it has plenty of helpful pictures!

USGS streamflow data

You’re doing a hike that has multiple stream crossings, and there’s been a fair amount of rain of late. How do you know if the stream is too high to cross? The U.S. Geological Survey monitors streamflow on thousands of waterways nationwide, with data livestreamed to its website. Making sense of the data can take a bit of work. For starters, not every river is monitored, so you may need to rely on a nearby waterway to get an idea. And what exactly the data means isn’t intuitive. For each reporting station, both the river’s height (Gage Height) and flow (Discharge, measured in cubic feet per second) are shown. You’ll need to click on the reporting station’s Station Number for historical information to put those numbers into perspective. You can find data here for North Carolina, here for Virginia.

Six simple weather checks

As we mentioned earlier, we are now into the summer hiking season. In addition to dealing with bugs (see “Tip”) we must also be more vigilant about the weather, especially those summer thunderstorms that can pop up out of nowhere. The folks at The Simple Hiker offer up six resources for checking the weather before a hike (and during, to some degree). Reduce your chances of getting caught unawares by Mother Nature by checking out The Simple Hiker’s “Six Different Ways to Check the Weather,” here.

Dealing with pests

Insect repellant comparison

Choosing the insect repellant that’s right for you can be a very personal decision: One explorer’s DEET is another’s … cow dung? Cow dung, bananas, gin and tonic’s — they’re all repellants of choice for various individuals. So what’s the repellant for you? Helping you make that decision is the goal of a “A Guide to Mosquito Repellents, From DEET to … Gin and Tonic?” in an enewsletter called Goats and Soda, from National Public Radio. The assessment is based on research done by New Mexico State University based on interviews with 5,000 repellent users. If you overthink every decision in your life, you’ll want to spend some quality time on this page. Check it out here.

Guided hikes, events

Great Trails State Events page

Remember back during Year of the Trail (last year) how easy it was to find a Year of the Trail event? You simply went to the Great Trails State Coalition website, clicked on the Events page, and — Voila! — you had access to events from the mountains to the coast. YOTT may have passed, but the Events page lives on. It’s still a great way to find out what great trail-related events are going on around the state. Take this weekend: On Saturday, there’s the 9th Annual Wheels on the Greenway in Greensboro, the Haw River Camp ’n’ Clean, and our very own Deep River paddle trip and hike (see main story). On Sunday, Outdoor Women and the Dan River Basin Association host a free beginner kayak safety class at HaRo (hip-speak for (Hanging Rock”) Lake at Hanging Rock State Park. Continue to discover events around the state at the Great Trails State Coalition Events page, here.

AHS on National Trails Day

We will talk more about National Trail Days, which is June 3, next week. But if you want to start planning your observance now, check out the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day page. Learn what NTD is about, and more importantly, use it to find an NTD event near you. Check it out here

Camping

The Camping Canuck: ‘100 Camping Hacks’

Yes, more tips, these from The Camping Canuck.

Duct tape is but one wise trick in the hiker’s arsenal. To learn of others — from unlikely fire starters (Doritos) to other multi-use stars (baking soda, good for everything from treating minor burns to calming an upset stomach) — check out these “100 Camping Hacks That Will Blow Your Mind,” from The Camping Canuck. 07.25.24

The post Resources: Where to find the best hiking info appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Thing is, not all mountain hikes require driving high into the mountains to reach. Below are five of our favorite winter mountain hikes that offer the thrill of a winter in the mountains minus the angst of driving there.

Doughton Park

Roaring Gap

Think of Doughton Park and its 30 miles of hiking trail and you think of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is often closed by ice for long stretches in winter. Not if you enter from the Longbottom Road access, which sits more than 1,800 feet below the summit. From the trailhead you can pickup three trails to the park’s mountaintop meadow: Cedar Ridge (our pick), Grassy Gap Road and Flat Rock Ridge. Using those trails plus the Mountains-to-Sea Trail/Bluff Mountain Trail at the top, you can create loop hikes of up to 18 miles. And because you’re hiking up the Blue Ridge escarpment’s steep northern and eastern exposure, snow tends to stick around a bit.

More info here

Mount Mitchell Trail

Burnsville

Not even the highest peak east of the Black Hills is immune to a winter assault. Although Mount Mitchell State Park, named for 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell, is frequently closed because it’s accessible via the Blue Ridge Parkway, the 5.5-mile Mount Mitchell Trail remains open to the hardiest — and best prepared — of explorers. The trailhead off the Toe River is below 3,000 feet, meaning it can be dry and pleasant at the base, as wintry as it gets 3,700 feet up on the summit. The first 3 miles or so of this trail are surprisingly mellow, a climb to be sure but eased by switchbacks. Then, it hits some troughs that are not only steep but can fill with ice. Be exceptionally cautious and well prepared for this hike.

More info here

Linville Gorge, Shortoff Mountain

Nebo/Lake James

From the well-known gorge’s West Rim, the trails all descend into the gorge, offering little in the way of views (not to mention that access via the “Kistler Memorial Highway,” a gravel pothole-fest is sketchy in the best of weather). The main access on the East Rim is Tablerock Mountain, which closes in winter. That leaves the 2-mile hike up to Shortoff Mountain on the East Rim’s south side as your best option. Note: this is not a 2-mile cakewalk: it’s steep in spots and gets rutted. But it’s southern exposure keeps it mostly clear of snow and ice, and the reward — another couple miles of hiking along Shortoff’s rocky, pine-pocked plateau is well worth the effort.

Learn more here

Rich Mountain Loop

Hot Springs

What could be better than beginning and ending a hike in Hot Springs, elevation 1,500 feet? The first 8 miles, on the Appalachian Trail, is a steady climb, and includes an awesome view of the French Broad River and the town of Hot Springs (see photo). Continue climbing through a mature hardwood forest and mountain clearings. Pass Tanyard Gap and continue to the spur to the fire tower atop 3,700-foot Rich Mountain for more great views on a clear day. There’s a slight retreat on the AT before picking up Roundtrip Ridge Trail for the mellow hike back to town. Twice on this hike we’ve encountered a well-defined snow line at about 2,500 feet. 12.3 miles roundtrip.

Learn more here.

Art Loeb Trail: North End to Shining Rock Ledge

Canton

Consider this a backdoor entrance into the Shining Rock Wilderness in winter. Most of us are used to entering Shining Rock via the Black Balsam access off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Alas, this is the highest run of the parkway, generally above 5,000 feet in elevation, and it’s closed by snow and ice much of the winter. Enter via the north entrance, at the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp and the low elevation road is generally clear. You begin to make up elevation quickly once on the trail, gaining nearly 2,000 vertical feet in the first 3.5 miles up to Deep Gap — and nearly 1,000 more vertical feet if you continue the mile or so to the summit of 5,968-foot Cold Mountain. At Deep Gap, you also have the option of hiking south of the Art Loeb Trail along the Shining Rock Ledge (it’s 2.5 miles along the Ledge to Shining Rock).

Learn more here.

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