Saturday at 9 a.m. we kick off our GetHiking! Winter Wild series of hikes designed to take advantage of a woefully under-appreciated season for being in the woods. Winter offers access, vulnerability, brilliant sunlight and best of all, few fellow hikers. That’s especially true on our Winter Wild hikes, which are largely off-trail. We take advantage of old roadbeds, of game trails, of the lack of undergrowth, to explore places inaccessible the rest of the year. Our first hike: the Eno Wilderness.

The Eno Wilderness is an 820-acre tract of land brought into the park in 2004 with the help of the Eno River Association. The beauty of this parcel: it remains an undeveloped part of the park — and it hides some wonderful treasures, including old homesteads, narrow valleys and the highest point in the park. Best of all, we still have four spots remaining for this hike. 

If you’re interested in joining us — the forecast for Saturday morning is for sun and temperatures in the 30s and 40s — you can learn more and sign up to join us here.

Also this weekend:

• 

  How to Build a Campfire, Saturday, 3 p.m., Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle. You ever look around when you’re camping and notice everyone else has a raging bonfire going, an RBF that seems to occur with a snap of the fingers? How do they do that? you wonder. (You suspect lighter fluid, but you’re not sure.) Come and hike a trail or two at Pilot Mountain, then head to the Visitor Center at 3 p.m. where a ranger will share tips and tricks for building the campfire of your dreams. Learn more here.

• Occoneechee Mountain Geology Hike, Saturday 2 p.m., Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, Hillsborough. This hike is done monthly; we recommend it for this weekend because the fall color at Occoneechee is still good, giving you a second reason to sign up. Learn more here, sign up by calling 919.383.1686.
• Freshwater Otters, Sunday, 11 a.m., Eno River State Park, Durham. I was hiking once in the Shenandoah and was about to cross a small creek when I noticed a dark rock flapping its fins. Either that’s one cute rock or an otter that seems really big for such a small creek. How does an otter live in such a small body of water? This and other otter-related questions will be answered in this 1-hour session at the Fews Ford Picnic Shelter. Learn more here. 

We’re heading into a busy time of year when you might not havemuch time to get out. Take advantage of the good weather while you can.

GetOut! And enjoy.

The post GetOut! Cool temps, sun and lingering color … appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Well savor it while you can, people, because it won’t be summer forever! The fall equinox is just 40 days off, and Labor Day, the emotional start of fall, is just 24 days away. So take advantage of the heat while you can. This weekend, for instance:

Relaxation Paddle, Sunday, 9:30 a.m., Morrow Mountain State Park, Albemarle. “Relaxation paddle” — in our book that’s a bit of an oxymoron: Isn’t paddling all about relaxing? If not, then you can rest assured it will be on this 1-hour leisure paddle on Lake Tillery. Free, but registration is required, by emailing Alden.Early@ncparks.gov. PFDs (personal flotation devices) are required). Learn more here.

Spider Insider, Sunday, 10 a.m., Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area (pictured at top), Hillsborough. I like this line in the class description: “We will take a moderate hike to see if we can find any [spiders].” “Moderate,” in our experience, would be stepping out of the car and — AHHH! Come and learn about the spiders that live among us and how they benefit the environment. More info here.

Owls Among Us, Sunday, 9 p.m., Lake James State Park, Nebo. Says the event description: “Once you recognize the myriad sounds owls make, a whole new world of appreciation opens. Ranger Jamie Cameron will lead a group of curious owl-seekers on a short hike along the Lake Channel Overlook trail at the Catawba River Area side of the park. We’ll start from the campground parking lot at 9 p.m. Bring a headlamp or flashlight, binoculars if you have them and a pair of comfortable hiking shoes for this 45-minute program.” Learn more here.

Lake Johnson Park Nature Explorers, Sunday, 1:30 p.m., Lake Johnson Park, Raleigh. If you’re looking for something to do outdoors with the kids, here’s a good bet, because they’ll spend about an hour and a half getting to “Flip over logs, dig a hole, or sift through leaves .… “ The best $2 you’ll spend all week. Learn more and find out how to register here.

You’ll notice that our recommendations are all for Sunday. Despite our apparent love for the heat as expressed by our intro waxing over the waning days of summer, we recognize that it’s better to be out Sunday, when temperatures throughout the Piedmont will be in the low 80s, as opposed to Saturday, when they’re still expected to top 90. So if you have chores for the weekend, do ‘em Saturday and save your adventure time for Sunday.

GetOut! And enjoy!

The post GetOut! It won’t be blazing hot forever! appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

This weekend appears to be a carbon copy (here’s a history lesson, kids) of last weekend: lots of rain during the week, lots of sun on Saturday — and this weekend, Sunday, too. That being the case, some thoughts on how to spend a sunny first weekend of 2019:

• ERA Sunday Hike Series: West Point on the Eno city park, Sunday, 2 p.m., Durham. The Eno River Association kicks off its popular Sunday afternoon Winter Hike series with a 4.5-mile hike up the Eno from West Point on the Eno to Guess Road and back. One of the flatter hikes around, with open views of the Eno and a visit to the rock-bound pool called Sennett Hole. More info and sign up here.
• Good Night Monadnuck, Sunday, 4:30 p.m., Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, Hillsborough. One of our favorite hikes is to ascent mighty Occoneechee, the highest point in the Triangle at 867 feet, and catch the sun setting over Efland at dusk. More info here.
• GetHiking! Winter Wild: Off Trail at Umstead, Saturday, 10 a.m., Umstead State Park, Raleigh. We launched our Winter Wild program last week in the Eno Wilderness (check out the video) and are extremely excited about it. We take you to the places you thought you knew, and show you things you haven’t seen before on a hike that’s mostly off trail. Saturday’s hike will be about 8 miles. Learn more and sign up here.
• GetHiking! Winter Program for Beginning Hikers, Sunday, noon, Eno River State Park, Durham. Another new program that we’re excited about. If you’ve vowed to give hiking a go in 2019, this is the place to start. Sunday’s hike will be a mellow mile-and-a-half introduction; over the course of the next 8 weeks we’l build up to 4 miles, on trails around the Triangle. Learn more and sign up here.

As always, you can find more opportunities this weekend here:

• North Carolina State Parks have a variety of adventures planned for the weekend. Check those options here.
• North Carolina Environmental Education Centers has an extensive calendar of what’s happening at its affiliates; check it out here.
• You can also find more adventures right here, at GetGoingNC.com

Live the video

If you’re inspired by today’s video, you can hike off trail with us on our Winter Wild series; learn more about exploring Eno River State Park, here.

The post GetOut! Your Friday Nudge for Weekend Adventure appeared first on GetGoing NC!.