Before we get to organized options, if you’re looking to hike on your own this weekend, remember that this gorgeous weather brings out hordes of occasional hikers, and that finding a slice of solitude might be more challenging than usual. It doesn’t have to be that way, however, as we noted in Wednesday’s blog, “It’s Spring! Here’s how to avoid crowded trails.” Find it here. 

Now, for those of you interested in tapping into a a weekend hike or program, here are some offerings:

• Lower Haw River State Natural Area: Whack Attack! Invasive Species Removal Workday, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lower Haw River State Natural Areal Bynum. This natural area (pictured above) is a sliver of land running along the Haw River between Bynum and U.S. 64. It’s one of the more wild areas in the region; so wild, in fact, that it’s all but impassible during the warm weather months. It also doesn’t have a true trail; rather, a game path escorts you along the river. But that’s starting to change, and this workday, sponsored by the Friends of the Lower Haw State Natural Area, is part of an effort to make that happen. A great opportunity to learn about invasive plants — them remove them. Pre-registration is required, by emailing ncmlynch@gmail.com. Learn more here.
• BW Wells Heritage Day, Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., BW Wells Recreation Area, Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Wake Forest. This annual event is a rare opportunity to explore this portion of Falls Lake, where pioneering N.C. State University botanist Bertram Wells retired. At least four walks, all lasting an hour or so, and other events are scheduled. Learn more here.

• 

  Secret Pond Wild Things, Sunday, 2 p.m., Carvers Creek State Park, Spring Lake. A good opportunity to introduce yourself to this relatively new (2013) 4,000-acre park near Fayetteville. On this outing, a ranger leads a search for macro invertebrates and amphibians. Plan to work in a hike on the 3 miles of trail here at the Long Valley Farm access while you’re there. Learn more here.

• Caraway Creek Preserve Trail Workday, Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon, Caraway Creek Preserve, Asheboro. Nothing like getting a sneak peak at new trail network, especially if that trail network is still emerging. Come by a part of the construction crew building 3 miles of trail. Learn more here.
• Sunday Wildflower Hike: West Point on the Eno, Sunday, 2 p.m., West Point on the Eno city park, Durham. The Eno River Association’s weekly spring wildflower hike series visits this popular Durham park this week with hopes of seeing mountain laurel in bloom. This is a slow-paced hike with lots of stops to check out spring growth. Learn more here.

Those are some pretty good offerings for an early spring weekend that’s looking pretty swell. Take advantage: GetOut! And enjoy.

* * *

Ferreting out less-frequented trails, II

Finding those less-popular trails, those stealth trailheads, those spots that elude the masses, isn’t hard, but it doesn’t hurt to have a few extra insights into the topic. Our “Explore Your Neighborhood” guide can help you do just that. Written at the start of the pandemic, it was intended as a way to find hidden adventure gems close to home. But the tips that help you do just that also apply to helping you identify stealth spots at large. Learn more and check it out, here.

The post This weekend looks truly springlike appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Winter Wild, to be exact.

For the last several years we’ve celebrated winter with a series of monthly hikes in a series called Winter Wild. In some instances, we head to places you’ve likely heard of, but explore parts of those places didn’t know were there. In other cases, we take you places you didn’t know were there, or if you did, never thought of exploring. Places such as:

Eno Wilderness, Eno River State Park, Durham. Eno River State Park holds a spot dear to many in the Triangle area; on fall weekends in particular, the trails from the Fews Ford Access are packed with hikers seeking fall color. The first half mile of our adventure experiences those crowds. Then, we head down a long abandoned and don’t see anyone for the next three hours as we pass old homesteads, walk along a rocky creek through a beech forest, climb a remote peak and basically lose ourselves in the 820-acre Eno Wilderness. 

Lower Haw River Natural Area, Bynum. Few people know there’s a a state natural area running along the Haw River between Bynum and US 64. Fewer still know there’s a 4-mile trail that runs its length. Though the land has been part of the N.C. State Parks system for 20 years, it remains undeveloped and a mystery. A mystery because there are only a couple months of the year when the overgrown banks die back enough to allow access to the surprisingly diverse — from bottomland forest to outcrops tumbling down to the Haw — terrain.

Birkhead Mountain Wilderness, Uwharrie National Forest, Asheboro. Yes, an actual federally designated wilderness area in the heart of the Piedmont. Through a mix of existing trail, old roadbeds and off-trail adventure, we explore the northern half of the wilderness, which includes ridgeline rambling and passage past remnants of the pre-wilderness past, including a gold mining operation dating to the 1800s.

Three Sisters, Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury. You know popular Hanging Rock, where everyone from the Triad and Triangle goes on a fall weekend. But very few know the park’s Three Sisters, a trio of peaks on the park’s east end, and marking the eastern extent of the ancient Sauratown  Mountains range. The same great views, plus some rock scrambling that will take you back to childhood. You won’t see another soul on this hike.

Caswell Game Lands, Yanceyville. Game lands? Aren’t those for hunting and fishing? Yup, and they’re also for hiking — if you know where to go. And a great place to go is the R. Wayne Bailey – Caswell Game Land area of Caswell County. With more than 18,000 acres, there’s plenty of room to explore here in the Piedmont plateau. On this hike, we’ll visit old farm ponds, walk along a rocky creek, and enjoy a rare adventure in the north-central part of the state.

We’re not looking past fall, no way. As we’ve said in this space over the past few weeks, it’s the best time of year to explore in the Southeast. But we also won’t be blue when it cedes to winter and that season’s own unique draw, the draw of the wild. 

Go Wild with us

Here’s the quick skinny on our 2021-22 Winter Wild Adventures. All hikes start at 9 a.m.

• Eno Wilderness, Eno River State Park, Durham. Saturday, November 20, 6-7 miles. 4 hours
• Caswell Game Lands, Yanceyville. Saturday, December 18, 7 miles. 3 hours. 
• Three Sisters, Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury. Saturday, January 8, 6-7 miles. 5 hours
• Lower Haw River Natural Area, Bynum. Saturday, February 5, 7 miles. 4 hours
• Birkhead Mountains Wilderness, Uwharrie National Forest, Asheboro. Saturday, March 12, 8 miles. 5 hours

We have only 10 spaces for each hike. If you sign up for the series, you are guaranteed a spot on each hike. In addition, if you sign up for the series, you get our GetOriented! Finding Your Way in the Woods class, a three-hour map and compass class that starts with a 30-minute introduction to using a map and compass, then spends two and a half hours putting those skills to work in the field. The series also includes tip sheets for water crossings, hiking in the rain, hiking off trail. Cost of the series is $195.

Any spaces remaining for a hike will be offered a week before the event, for $45.

For more information and to register, go here.

The post Winter Wild heeds the call of nature’s honest season appeared first on GetGoing NC!.