Poppycock.

The first time I hiked John Rock I was skeptical that the hike, midway up the same escarpment, could have one of the best views around. 

At 3,320 feet? Wouldn’t the best views be from atop the ridge some 2,000 feet higher?

One would think.

And one would be wrong. On both counts. 

Pink Beds gains only 331 feet total over 5.2 miles, making it an anomaly for the Pisgah, and certainly for the Davidson River area where it’s located. That you could hike 5.2 miles here and not be drained is a surprise to first-time hikers. And that John Rock, an expansive rock slab at roughly the midpoint of a 4.7-mile lolipop loop, does indeed have stunning views, including the iconic Looking Glass Rock across the valley, is something of a head scratcher. 

Great views on one hike, an easy 5 mountain miles on another that’s not 15 minutes away … . Hmm …

It didn’t take a genius to realize these two hikes pair well for a long day of hiking. Which is why I’ll be leading both hikes — John Rock in the morning, Pink Beds in the afternoon — on Tuesday, Sept. 9, as part of North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein’s Rediscover the Unforgettable campaign, which aims to let folks know that Western North Carolina is rebounding from last September’s Hurricane Helene and is eager to welcome tourists. A second, similarevent is planned for Sept. 12-14 in Sylva.

If you haven’t hiked the mountains since Hurricane Helene last September, these hikes are a good reason to return. For one, no guesswork about whether the trails — and the roads leading to them — are accessible. They are. There’s also no doubting that these are great hikes: Do a general search of either and you’ll come up with nothing but superlatives:

Of John Rock, Gabrielle wrote on Sunday: “Well-marked and beautiful scenery the whole way through.”

Of Pink Beds, Laura, also on Sunday, wrote: “Really beautiful, very shaded, lots of nice spots to see the water.”

John Rock offers the challenge, gaining 1,000 feet in less than 2 miles (the first two miles), and the payout in great scenery, while Pink Beds makes for a good recovery hike and a more intimate encounter with the Southern Appalachians, in an unusual mountain bog. 

A great opportunity to hike two awesome Pisgah trails in one day. And a great way to reintroduce yourself to western NC.

Hope to see you there.

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Info

To learn more about both hikes:

• Go here for details and to sign up for the John Rock hike
• Go here for details and to sign up for the Pink Beds hike
• For more on the Brevard Rediscover the Unforgettable event, go here
• For more on the Sylva Rediscover the Unforgettable event, go here

The post A Pisgah doubleheader: John Rock and Pink Beds appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Davidson River

With 160 sites you’d think scoring one would be a given. Not the case at this popular campground which takes advantage of both its proximity to the cultural offerings of nearby Brevard and its perch at the base of the recreation-rich Pisgah National Forest.

Location: US 276 1 mile north of US 64/NC 280 in Brevard

No. of campsites: 160 (not all open year-round)

Stuff to do nearby: hiking, mountain biking, tubing, fishing, fly fishing.

More info and reservations: 877.444.6777, or go here

North Mills River

When Davidson River Campground is full, we look to its next-door neighbor North Mills River as our backup. Odds are you can still score a spot at North Mills River, which offers many of the same recreational amenities minus the crowds. Only a 40-minute drive from Asheville.

Location: N. Mills River Road (SR 1345) 4.7 miles from NC 191, Mills River.

No. of campsites: 31

Stuff to do nearby: hiking, mountain biking, fishing

More info and reservations: 877.444.6777, or go here

Rocky Bluff

If ever there was an area set up to accommodate the avid camper, it’s Hot Springs. Located on the Appalachian Trail — the AT runs along a sidewalk through downtown — Hot Springs is a prized destination for thru- and section hikers, with restaurants, libations, the hot springs for which it is named and a laundromat. Alas, the one local National Forest Service campground, Rocky Bluff, is only open from Memorial Day weekend through September, but roadside camping is generally allowed along most gravel roads — and the latter is free.

Location: Three miles from Hot Springs, on NC 209

No. of campsites: 15 at Rocky Bluff

Stuff to do nearby: hiking, whitewater kayaking

More Info: 828.689.9694, or go here

Mount Pisgah

A big advantage at Mount Pisgah for summer camping — and more to the point, summer sleeping — is its elevation: at 5,000 feet, the nights cool into the low 60s and upper 50s, ideal for resting after a big day of hiking nearby trails, including the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the Shining Rock Area and Graveyard Fields, for starters.

Location: Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 408

No. of campsites: 70.

Stuff to do nearby: hiking

More info and reservations: 877.444.6777, or go here 

Hanging Rock SP

Love a good adventure weekend? Then pack the gear and head to Hanging Rock State Park, where your campsite serves as basecamp for: 1) hiking on 18 miles of trail that visit vista-filled summits (Hanging Rock and Moore’s Knob) and cozy, rhododendron-choked gorges rife with waterfalls; 2) climbing on Cook’s and Moore’s walls, which extend nearly two miles in length and reach heights of 400 feet; 3) paddling, including stretches of Class III water on the nearby Dan River.

Location: 1790 Hanging Rock Park Road, Danbury

No. of campsites: 73

More information and reservations: 877.722.6762, or go here

Cedarock Park

Cedarock Park offers a mini-weekend escape between the Triad and Triangle. Pitch your tent, then check out the several miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, paddle on Rock Creek (canoe and kayak rentals available), play disc golf on one of two 18-hole courses, go fishing or explore the restored 19th Century historical farm.

Location: 4242 R. Dean Coleman Road, Burlington

No. of campsites: “Several,” according to the park

Stuff to do nearby: Hiking, mountain biking, paddling (canoe and kayak rentals), disc golf, fishing

More info and reservations: 336.570.6759, or go here

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area / Parker’s Creek

It’s not the biggest campground at Jordan Lake and it doesn’t have the greatest concentration of sites with water and electrical hookups, all of which helps Parker’s Creek fly under the radar at popular Jordan Lake, a good thing if you’re looking for a more solitary urban camping getaway.

Location: 280 State Park Road, Apex

No. of campsites: 250

Stuff to do nearby: flat water paddling, fishing, short hikes

More information and reservations: 877.722.6762, or go here

Falls Lake State Recreation Area / Shinleaf

You have to hike in a ways to the campsites (up to a quarter of a mile), but the reward is worth it in solitude and ease of finding a spot at the last minute — even on a busy weekend. Big plus: the statewide Mountains-to-Sea Trail runs past the campground.

Location: 13304 Creedmoor Road, Wake Forest

No. of campsites: 47

Stuff to do nearby: Hiking, paddling, fishing

More info and reservations: 877.722.6762, or go here

McDowell Nature Preserve

Exploring the camping scene doesn’t get much easier in Charlotte than at at McDowell Nature Preserve, where you can rent a tent site that comes complete with a tent! Once you’re settled in, check out the park’s 7 miles of hiking trail, the playgrounds, the paddling opportunities on Lake Wylie and the overall beauty of this 1,107-acre preserve.

Location: 15222 York Road, Charlotte

No. of campsites: 56

Stuff to do nearby: Hiking, paddling, playgrounds

More information and reservations: 704.583.1284, or go here

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Camp with us

This summer, our GetHiking! Weekend Escapes will focus on the three sections mentioned above. For each Weekend Escape, we’ll do a short hike Friday evening, spend the day on the trail Saturday, and do a short-ish hike Sunday before heading out around 1 p.m. Each Weekend Escape is camping based and includes breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning, lunch Saturday and Sunday, and dinner Saturday night. Here’s a quick description of each hike; click the link for more info and to sign up.

• Summer on the MST Weekend Escape to Doughton Park, June 10-12, 18 miles of hiking. Go here.
• Summer on the MST Weekend Escape to Mount Pisgah, 22.5 miles of hiking, July 22-24, go here.
• Summer on the MST Weekend Escape to Price Lake, 20 miles of hiking, Sept. 9-11, go here.

The post Thinking of camping? These 9 campgrounds are our faves appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Go to the mountains. At least to the Pisgah National Forest.

Fred’s devastating visit to the mountains earlier this week caused flooding and downed trees that initially closed the entire Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest. As of today, these areas had reopened:

Pisgah Visitor Center

• Davidson River Campground

• North Mills River Campground

• Lake Powhatan Campground

• Sunburst Campground

• Wash Creek Horse Campground

• Kuykendall Group Campground

• Coontree Picnic Area (restrooms closed)

• Pink Beds Picnic Area

Many areas remained closed, as are the following roads:

• Davidson River Road (FS 475); (multiple slides, long term closure anticipated)
• Courthouse Creek Road (FS 140); (multiple slides, long term closure anticipated)

• Yellow Gap Road (FS 1206)

• Pilot Mountain Road (FS 229)

• Avery Creek Road (FS 477)

• Headwaters Road (FS 475B)

• Bent Creek (FS 479)

• Wash Creek (FS 5000)

If you do plan to head to the mountains, you would be well advised to check with the appropriate land manager to make sure that you can access your destination. Below are links to the more prominent public land managers:

• North Carolina State Parks
• Blue Ridge Parkway
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Croatan, Nantahala, Pisgah and Uwharrie National Forests
• Shenandoah National Park
• George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
• Virginia State Parks
• Appalachian Trail

What can you do on a weekend with a typical summer forecast (high around 90, chance of afternoon thunderstorms)? Some opportunities from North Carolina State Parks:

• Trees through the Eyes of Early American Woodworkers, Saturday, 9:30 a.m., Pilot Mountain State Park, Pilot Creek Access, Pinnacle. Hike the Pilot Creek Trail with a park ranger who identifies trees along the way and discusses their value to early woodworkers. Since you’re only hiking a small stretch of the trail, allow time afterward to hike the entire 3.3-mile trail, a quiet path on the north flank of the mountain. Learn more here.
• Tools of the Turpentine Trade, Sunday, 2 p.m., Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines. Tree utility for $400, Alex. Which industry made great use of the longleaf pines that once dominated the Southeast? What is the turpentine industry? That is correct! On this short walk you’ll learn how the naval stores industry thrived (while the longleaf did not) for more than a century. Learn more here. (See photo above.)
• Tracks and Scat at Occoneechee, Saturday, 10 a.m., Occoneechee State Natural Area, Hillsborough. When it comes to critters, we’re all aspiring Encyclopedia Browns.This 2-hour session will give you a chance to confirm your suppositions on scat, your theories on tracks. Learn more here.

GetOut! And enjoy!

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Do your own adventure

Looking to do your own adventure, but not sure where to go or the best way to make it happen? Check out our guides to the places we most love to hike by going here.

The post GetOut! (But maybe not to the Pisgah) appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Today, we take an overdue look at how to get the most out of your National Forest adventures by getting familiar with their websites, starting with the fact that National Forest home pages are broken down by state, not specific forest. For the Pisgah National Forest, for instance, you’ll start on the North Carolina National Forest page (likewise for the Croatan, Nantahala and Uwharrie national forests). In Virginia, you’ll find the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests on the Virginia page.

Our look at the National Forests is overdue because of all the playgrounds we have at our disposal in the Southeast, National Forests are far and away the biggest. In North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, there are a combined 4.2 million acres of National Forest Service land alone. That compares with about 570,000 acres of State Park land. That’s why it’s important that you know what’s going on in your local National Forest, where so many of our trips occur.

Before you take that camping trip …

Let’s say you’re planning a weekend camping trip. A quick visit to the News & Events page of your local National Forest website will reveal all sorts of helpful information, including: 

• Latest COVID-19 information and what facilities are open and closed as a result of the pandemic.
• Fire danger. That group camping trip? I dunno about you, but and a campfire — winter, spring, summer or fall — is a vital part of the group camping experience. Check beforehand to make sure the fire danger isn’t high — and that you are allowed to have a fire — before heading out. This is especially important for winter trips, when a fire not only helps ward off below-freezing temps, but makes it possible to stay up past a 4:30 p.m. sunset.
• Closures: For instance, in Virginia, if you’re planning a hike to Spy Rock from from the Montebello Fish Hatchery, you better think again! That trail and parking lot are closed as of Dec. 18 and will be until April 30. There is, however, an alternate route to Spy Rock which you can find on the site. Over on the Tennessee page you would learn that Unaka Mountain Road is closed due to winter weather, which could affect a visit to the Unaka Mountain Recreation Area. 
• Map information. Maps! Maps! Maps! Don’t even think about heading out into the wild — even the semi-wild — without a map. Each site will have map recommendations, including the best online app maps for the forest. The Virginia National Forest site, for instance, directs you to Avenza for map app coverage of their forests. 
• Alerts & Notices. This category covers some of the above plus a vital bit of information for campers and backpackers: where bears have been active. Checking on the latter, for instance, can tell you whether a bear canister is required in certain areas for backpacking. Or whether a camping area has been closed because of bear activity. One helpful feature you’ll find for the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests in South Carolina is a compilation of current conditions at both national forests’ recreation areas. For instance, it is here that you would learn that the Parsons Mountain Recreation Area is closed and will not reopen until May 1, 2021. You can then scan up and down to check your Recreation Area options.

It’s closed … and where is it?

Checking these websites is not only prudent before taking a trip — a trip that could be torpedoed because the access road is snowed in or the campsite is closed — but it can also prove a productive rabbit hole, providing a way to discover new places to explore. That Unaka Road Closure notice from the Cherokee National Forest site, for instance, made me wonder where Unaka Road is and what impact it might have on an adventurous type. So I Googled it and discovered it fed something called the Unaka Mountain Recreation Area, which I discovered abutted North Carolina, my home state. I plugged Unaka Mountain Recreation Area into AllTrails and discovered five trails, several of which would be worth the four-hour drive. Great information considering my 2021 dance card is filling fast.

So, two good reasons to check out your National Forest Service websites. One, to make sure the hike you want to take is a hike you can take. And two, the sites can help you find places to explore that you didn’t know were there. 

The Unaka Mountains, for instance, where we’re planning to visit this spring. After, that is, we check to make sure Unaka Mountain Road has reopened.

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USFS News & Events

Click the following links to visit the News & Alerts pages for the following Southeast U.S. National Forest Service locations.

• North Carolina National Forests: Croatan, Pisgah, Nantahala, Uwharrie
• Virginia National Forests: George Washington, Jefferson
• Tennessee National Forest: Cherokee
• South Carolina: Francis Marion, Sumter National Forests

GetHiking! Southeast Podcast

Among other things on this week’s GetHiking! Southeast Podcast we discuss using the resources of the National Forest Service websites to help you plan your trips. Give a listen here.

The post National Forests: Check the Site before Taking the Hike appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

If you’re simply looking for all-out fun this weekend, you can do no better than this weekend’s Cape Fear Kite Festival at Wrightsville Beach. This is a non-competitive kite-flying event, which means you should feel good about bringing your own homemade work of art. Yet it also attracts serious kiters, looking for one last chance to fly in the 2013 season.

Logistics: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 2 and 3, all day, at the Shell Island Resort on Wrightsville Beach. More info: 910.520.1818.

Weekend forecast: Sunday’s looking better than Saturday. Click the link for the latest.

Piedmont

We know, we should be recommending hikes to catch the fall color, what with all the fall color and all. Yet we can’t help but think what great potential there is in Friday’s Night Hike at South Mountains State Park. South Mountains’ 40-mile trail network is ideal for hiking at night; much of the trail system is old roadbeds and as such, the trails are generally wide and devoid of the ankle-grabbing rocks and roots that trip so many of us up on our night hikes. Besides, you can always arrive a couple hours before the 6 p.m. hike and take in some park color on your own.

Logistics: Friday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m., South Mountains State Park, Connelly Springs. More info: 828.433.4772.

Friday forecast: Daytime high of 70 dropping to 45 at night, 80 percent chance of rain.

Mountains

It’s hard to think of a better way to spend the first weekend of fall, with sunny skies and highs forecast in the upper 50s, than by taking a hike. A hike, say, in the Pisgah National Forest southwest of Asheville, where the color is still good and you can begin to break out your cold weather gear. That’s the Carolina Mountain Club’s plan for Sunday, when they do a 14.5-mile loop hike encompassing Squirrel Gap and Horse Cove Gap in the Pisgah. If you’re unfamiliar with these trails, don’t be surprised; as the CMC notes, these are “lesser-used trails” that promise great scenery.

Logistics: Sunday, Nov. 3, 8:45 a.m. (carpool from Asheville). More info by contacting hike leader Carroll Koepplinger, 828-667-0723, carrollkoepp@bellsouth.net More info on the route, here.

Sunday forecast: High of 59, sunny skies.

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

The post This weekend: Kites ‘n’ hikes appeared first on GetGoing NC!.