This weekend offers a reprieve from the recent run of summerlike weather. With highs no higher than 75 forecast statewide, the weather should be good for just about any pursuit, from birding at the coast, to hiking in the Piedmont to ride in the mountains.

Coast

We find the outdoor experience is enhanced when we know a little more about the outdoors we’re exploring. When we’re exploring the coast, which is especially rich in flora and fauna, that can be a real challenge.

That’s why we’re recommending Sunday’s Birding on the White Oak River. Actually, becoming more creek-smart is just one reason we suggest this event. Also: 1) it’s on the White Oak River and Bogue Sound, which goes from intimate to expansive in a short distance, enhancing its intrigue; 2) it benefits a worthy organization, the N.C. Coastal Federation, which does a great job protecting our coastal resources; and, 3) it’s led by local birding expert Joanne Powell. The trip is on a covered ferry.

Logistics: Sunday, May 18, 10 a.m., Swansboro. $20. More info at 252.393.8185 or here.

Sunday forecast: High of 74, mostly sunny skies.

Piedmont

The Piedmont hiking season will soon draw to a close: somehow, warm, muggy summer weather fails to inspire a soul to hike a cobweb-crossed trail.

But this weekend, the weatherpeople have given us a reprieve: a cold front arriving shortly will drop weekend temperatures into the mid-70s under sunny skies — perfect weather, in our opinion, for a hike. A long hike. Which is what GetHiking! Triangle has planned for Sunday: as part of its ongoing celebration of Mountains-to-Sea Trail Month, the group will hike a 15-mile stretch of the MST along Falls Lake, from NC 50 west to Santee Road. (Shorter options of 7 and 11 miles are available).

Added attraction: Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail Executive Director Kate Dixon joins the group to answer any question you may have about the MST and its march to become an 1,150-mile statewide trail, linking Clingman’s Dome on the Tennessee line with Jockey’s Ridge at the coast.

Logistics: Sunday, May 18, 7 a.m., Santee Road Access. For more information and to register, visit GetHiking! Triangle.

Sunday forecast: High of 75, mostly sunny skies.

Mountains

Mountain rides can be intimidating, in part because most are centuries that offer, as an “easy” option, a metric century. Sixty-two miles in the take-no-prisoners Appalachians may be easier than 100, but still a heck of a challenge, especially for those of us residing in the more casually undulating terrain of the Piedmont and coastal plain.

That’s one reason we recommend Saturday’s Joyride out of Carrier Park in Asheville. Yes, it’s got a monster 77-mile route and a slightly less monstrous 50-mile version. But for those of us yet to get our climbing legs under us, it also has a civil 25-mile option. (There’s also a much shorter Fun Ride for kids.)

The other reason we recommend it is the cause it supports. For that, we refer you to Karen Chavez, outdoors editor of the Asheville Citizen-Times, who covered the ride in yesterday’s paper. Read Karen’s story here.

Logistics: Saturday, May 17,  1 p.m., Carrier Park, Asheville. $5.15 for the Fun Ride, $51.50 for the longer rides (Karen’s story explains the curious pricing structure). More info: rdudasik@ymcawnc.org, 828.210.9607 or 828.210.9622, or go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 61, 40 percent chance of rain.

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

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Benefit the land this weekend with ride at the coast or a hike in the mountains, benefit yourself with a crazy 5K scavenger hunt in Charlotte.

Coast

You don’t get many chances to take a group ride at the coast, so when you do it’s wise to act. Saturday is one such chance, when the N.C. Coastal Federation holds its Cycle for the Coast fund raiser. Ride options of 20K, 40K and 80K are available, on a route that takes in Emerald Isle, Salter Path, Indian Beach, Pine Knoll Shores and Atlantic Beach along bike-friendly NC 58.

If you belong to the Federation — the N.C. Coastal Federation, not the other Federation — it’s $35 to ride, $50 for those of you outside the federation. Begins and ends at the Salter Path Public Beach Access (milepost 10.5 on NC 58), with the 80K riders heading off at 8 a.m., the smaller K riders thereafter.

More info, call the Federation at 252-393-8185.

Piedmont

The Charlotte area is overrun with 5K races this weekend, but only one of the races promises to “test your brains as much as your legs.” That would be the Charlotte Challenge, an urban adventure race that requires you to “solve tricky clues, strategize the best route, and explore undiscovered corners of the city.” Costumes are encouraged (to the extent there are two $50 prizes for best costume), and if you come in fourth or fifth you win a $50 bar tab. (First place, btw, gets $300 in cash.) Speed is important, but so is the quick thinking required to solve 12 clues to navigate the course.

Race begins and ends at StrikeCity at EpiCentre, 210 E Trade St. Packet pick-up is 11:30-12:45 , the races commences at 1 p.m. The Challenge is one of 37 being held nationwide this year.

More info here.

Mountains

Here’s another rare opportunity you shouldn’t pass up: a guided hike on mountain land that few people know about and that hasn’t changed much in 80 years. That opportunity comes Saturday when the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy hosts a 3-mile hike into the Swannanoa Mountain Range. According to the SAHC, “hikers will begin passing through a gorgeous stand of poplars before entering the oak-hickory forests with some very large, tall trees and even areas of virgin old growth forest. Numerous wet coves also provide for a very rich and diverse herbaceous layer home to various rare plant species.” Note, too, that there’s about 850 feet of elevation gain on this hike, scheduled to run from 10 a.m. -2 p.m.

For details on the hike, including where to meet, contact Rich Preyer at rich@appalachian.org or visit here.

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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.

The post It’s a weekend with challenges appeared first on GetGoing NC!.