Jockey's Ridge Archives - GetGoing NC!

GetOut! T’was the weekend before Christmas …

JoeMiller — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 18:13:58 +0000

On our weekly Tuesday Night Hike this past week we lingered at hike’s end to take in the three-quarternmoon that lit the tree-lined parking area. While our 3-mile night hike on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail was pretty great, we might have been just as content to hang out in the lot and bask in the moonlight. Imagine, I thought, being under a full moon and in an area with even more exposure.

An area such as Jockey’s Ridge State Park where, atop a dune you have an unobstructed 360-degree view that includes the Atlantic Ocean. And under a full moon? Can you imagine? Well, no need to simply have to imagine such luminescent lunar lusciousness when, on Saturday you’ll have a chance to experience it live, with Hike to the Light, an evening that will include s’mores and hot chocolate (courtesy the Friends of Jockey’s Ridge) and the lit Christmas tree atop one of the dunes. Hike to the Light begins at 5:30, and while it’s free, space is limited so preregistration is required, by calling 252.441.7132. Learn more about the event here.

One of our favorite places to visit this time of year is the Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve in Southern Pines. Populated by pines, including the longleaf, the preserve exhibits a certain glow in winter that makes even a 30-degree day seem warm and inviting. And a great place to be Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m., for the 1.5-mile Wiregrass to Wetlands that will “explore the sandhills from top to bottom.” That is from, those wiregrass and pine covered hills to a curious, swamp-like wetland in the preserve’s lower reaches. Learn more here.

A reminder that the annual Christmas Bird Count is underway: it began Tuesday and continues through Jan. 5. There will be counts aplenty across the state over the three-week period as citizen scientists work a 15-mile area to document the local bird population. One of those counts is this Saturday, from 8 to 10 a.m., at the Walnut Creek Wetland Park in Raleigh. Accomplished birders will be on hand to help novices identify and record the local bird population. Learn more about this count here, about the Christmas Bird Count in general, here.

For those who like to look ahead, two events to make note of:

First Day Hikes. For several years now, State Parks across the country have committed to leading New Years Day hikes, or First Day Hikes as they’ve come to be known. You can find a rundown of First Day Hikes in North Carolina here, in Virginia here.
Hike the Weetock Trail. If you’re looking to make 2022 a true year of adventure, then you can’t get it off to a more adventurous start than with our 2022 GetHiking! kickoff hike on the 11-mile Weetock Trail in the Croatan National Forest. The first half of the hike is a nice ramble on easy-to-follow trail, the second half a true explorer’s dream. Learn more and sign up here.

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An active start to 2022

Get the new year off to an active start with a First Day Hike, then keep the mojo going by committing yourself to a weekly hike. Such as:

Weetok Trail

GetHiking! Sunday Hike Series. Hike every Sunday through winter with this series of hikes that average about 5 miles. Learn more about our 10 a.m. hike series here, the 1 p.m. series here.
GetHiking! Tuesday Night Winter Series. Ten weekly hikes on Tuesday evenings to help you stay active midweek. Each hike is about 3 miles. Learn more here.

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GetOut! A good weekend to go coastal

JoeMiller — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 17:22:39 +0000

Three hikes this Saturday at the coast catch my eye for several reasons. Mainly, though, because they celebrate the coast in a season when it most deserves to be celebrated.

True, most of us think of the coast mostly in summer, when it comes time for the annual week-long beach vacation, a time for heat, sun, surf and crowds.

Come winter, though, and you only have one of those. And it’s all you need. A sunny day at the coast or in the coastal plain is more than enough to ward off the chill of a 40-degree day. The winter sun illuminates the wide-open plains, sounds and beaches, letting us see deeper into nature. Here’s where that focus will be focused on these three N.C. State Parks hikes.

Birding 101, Saturday, 10 a.m., Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Kure Beach. Learn the basics of birding in an area where birds are flocking to spend the winter. A great spot for hands-on learning. Free, but registration is required, by calling 910.458.5798. Learn more here.
Soundside Nature Trail Hike, Saturday, 10 a.m., Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Nags Head. Think of Jockey’s Ridge and you think of wading up and down the shifting dunes. But on the west side of the park, nestled against Roanoke Sound, is the 3/4-mile Soundside Nature Trail, which, in a short distance, goes through wetlands, grassy dunes and maritime thickets. Learn about these coastal environments on this 45-minute hike commencing from the Soundside Access. Learn more here.
Biological Wonderland Hike, 10 a.m., Saturday, Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach. A variety of coastal ecosystems can be found in the park, from forests of longleaf pine, turkey oak and live oak to relict sand dunes to shrubby swamps called pocosins. Learn about a number of these on this one-hour hike. Free, but space is limited; call 910.458.8206 to reserve a spot. Learn more here.

You can find other outings this weekend at North Carolina State Parks by going here.

A reminder that Pilot Mountain State Park, a popular fall destination, remains closed as a result of a fire that burned more than 1,000 acres. No report on when the park will reopen.

A reminder, too, that, as we enter the hectic holidays you may find yourself needing a little extra incentive to get out and hike. How about the opportunity to hike either Sunday morning or Sunday afternoon? Or Tuesday evening? Or Friday morning? Maybe even a couple Wednesday afternoons? Those are all options as part of our 15-hike GetHiking! Hike Through the Holidays hiking series. Stress levels are high during the holiday season; you need hiking more than ever. Check out the series here.

And this just in: we have two spots remaining for Saturday’s GetOriented! Finding Your Way in the Woods session at Umstead State Park in Raleigh. We spend the first 20 minutes of this 3-hour class going over basic map and compass skills, then head down the trail and off to put those skills to work. Learn more and sign up here.

Those are our thoughts for the weekend, a weekend that will see temperatures as high as 70, with logs of sun.

GetOut! And enjoy.

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GetOut! A good forecast and lots to do at the coast

JoeMiller — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 16:52:15 +0000

If you checked in with us Wednesday — “Coastal Trails Beckon for Winter Hiking” — you know that as the temperatures drop our interest in exploring the coast and coastal plain rises. With that in mind, some thoughts on this weekend.

Soundside Nature Trail Hike, Saturday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m., Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Nags Head. Think of Jockey’s Ridge and you immediately think of the shifting dunes that can reach up to 60 feet above the level of the sea, which is a near stone’s throw from the park. But Jockey’s Ridge has intriguing backside that explores a maritime shrub thicket along Roanoke Sound. This is a 1-mile hike. Learn more here.

Birding 101, Saturday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m., Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Kure Beach. One of the joys of the coast in winter is the bird population, especially the overwintering birds that start to arrive this time of year from Canada. Come learn about these visitors, where they come from, why they like it here and more. Free, but preregistration is required, by calling 910.458-5798. Learn more here.

Biological Wonderland Hike, Saturday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m., Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach. Learn about the various habitats in the park in this hour-long program on the Flytrap Trail. Space is limited; call 910.458.8206 to reserve a spot. Learn more here.

Paint Hill Discovery Hike, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2 p.m., Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve. This 1.5-mile hike eschews the crowds at park’s main tract by exploring the Paint Hill Tract, “a unique hilltop longleaf pine forest with deep valleys and carpets of creeping blueberry.” For more information, including meeting place, go here.

You can learn more about Fort Fisher and Carolina Beach in Wednesday’s post, and for planning purposes, here are three events at the coast that we have planned:

GetHiking! New Year’s on the Weetock Trail, Sunday, Jan. 2, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Technically, it’s the day after New Year’s Day, but a true first-of-the-year adventure all the same. Read the trail description above, then go here to learn more and to sign up.
GetBackpacking! Winter Series: Neusiok Trail, Friday, January 14 to Sunday, January 16. This 2-night, 22-mile trip is the ideal way to start fulfilling your 2022 backpacking goals. The flat course make these early season miles doable. Learn more and sign up here.
GetHiking! Winter Weekend Escape to Jones Lake, Friday, Jan. 28 to Sunday, Jan. 30. Jones Lake State Park, Elizabethtown. Two days of hiking and two nights of stargazing in minimally light-polluted skies of the coastal plain. Learn more and sign up here.

Weatherwise, it’s looking like a good weekend for a visit Down East, with sunny skies and daytime temperatures around 70 on Saturday, about 10 degrees cooler Sunday.

Whatever you do this weekend, GetOut! And enjoy!

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Resources for a steamy weekend of cool, wet fun

JoeMiller — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 20:34:22 +0000

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!

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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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Options considered for coastal Mountains-to-Sea Trail

JoeMiller — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:53:19 +0000

The Croatan's wet nature requires lots of pricey bridging and boardwalk, such as this stretch on the Weetock Trail.

My idea of a good time when I can’t be outdoors?
Sitting around a big conference table with the head of the state’s largest trail system and a newly minted map.
Wednesday, Kate Dixon, executive director of the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail attended a meeting in New Bern about the path the MST would take from New Bern to the Outer Banks. Thursday, she took a few minutes to update me the latest developments on the statewide trail, a 1,000-mile work in progress that will one day run from atop Clingman’s Dome on the Tennessee border across the Tar Heel state to Jockey’s Ridge at the lip of the Atlantic.
A little over half of the trail is done. There’s a 300-mile continuous stretch in the mountains, mostly along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and another good chunk through the Triangle. East of Clayton, though, there’s a long dry spell before you reach the MST’s exciting conclusion along the coast. It was that dry spell that Dixon wanted to talk about.
Specifically, the meeting a day earlier had been about routing the MST through the coastal Croatan National Forest, from New Bern east to the Outer Banks.
“The problem with the Croatan,” she said, “is that it’s wet.”
Indeed. You can’t go far in the 160,000-acre national forest before you run into a wet area known as a pocosin, or upland swamp. Dixon traced her index finger across a number of old roadbeds that seemed to penetrate the forest. Alas, her finger would stop in a pocosin or simply disappear into the mass of coastal jungle growth. Another option, which the FMST isn’t crazy about, is piggybacking on a US 70 bypass around Havelock. Not a lot of esthetic reward in hiking alongside a divided four-lane highway.
Dixon threw a curve ball, though, when she pointed out a sparsely used rail line that runs between the Cherry Point Marine facility near Havelock to Camp LeJeune in Jacksonville, a path roughly perpendicular to a trail coming down the Neuse River. A trail paralleling the Neuse has long been considered the route the MST would take through the coastal plain. The rail line came nowhere close to the Neuse.
“How would that work?” I asked.
“We’re thinking about three types of routes to the coast,” Dixon said.
One would be a paddle route, down the Neuse, to New Bern. Another would be a bike route, following the Neuse as close as possible on less-traveled country roads and passing through the Neuse communities of Goldsboro, Kinston and New Bern. The hiking trail would follow a southerly route, parting ways with the Neuse at Smithfield.
Running a hiking trail along the coastal Neuse is proving problematic on several fronts, Dixon said. In spots, especially in the Let’Lones area below Smithfield, the land is perpetually wet. That’s a problem because the public corridor along the Neuse is only 50 feet wide and much of the surrounding land is privately owned,much of it by folks who have been slow to warm to a public trail running across their property.
So instead, the FMST is looking at dropping the hiking trail south of Smithfield to Bentonville and on to the Bladen Lakes area east of Fayetteville. There, it would make its way east to Jacksonville and pick up the aforementioned rail line, where they might be able to strike an access arrangement. The trail would then tap into the Croatan’s Neusiok Trail and head east to the Outer Banks. Another advantage to the southerly route: there’s more public land to run the trail through.
“It’s just something we’ve started looking at,” says Dixon.

Options for the MST

View Mountains-to-Sea Trail / coastal options in a larger map

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