Coast

Pettigrew State Park offers frequent tours of the Scuppernong River. Usually, those tours are by canoe, a great way to experience the Scuppernong but not everyone’s cup of tea-colored water. Saturday, the park lets you leave the paddling to others on its afternoon Scuppernong River Tour.  One advantage: without having to deal with navigation you can focus on the waterway’s abundant wildlife and natural beauty.

Logistics: Saturday, Nov. 23, 1:30 p.m. Free, but space is limited and preregistration is required, by calling 252.797.4475.

Saturday forecast: High of 54, 40 percent chance of rain.

Curious about the boat pictured? Learn more here.

Piedmont

Our GetHiking Triangle! hikers wind up their fall season with a 10-mile hike at Hanging Rock State Park north of the Triad. We’ll start with the 4.3-mile Moore’s Wall Loop Trail, pausing for the great views atop Moore’s Wall. Upon returning to the trailhead at the park’s Visitor Center, we’ll head out for Hanging Rock and Wolf Rock, about a 5-mile loop before returning to the Visitor Center. Finally, we’ll do a short hike to Upper Cascades Falls.

All hiking abilities welcome; our hikes are led from the rear, making it impossible to get dropped

Logistics: Saturday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m., Visitor Center at Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 54, 30 percent chance of rain.

Mountains

Among its programs, the Swannanoa Valley Museum in Black Mountain sponsors various hikes throughout the year. No surprise, the hikes focus on the region’s rich cultural and natural history; as such, they often take advantage of long-established paths that were once the I-40s of their day. Saturday’s Swannanoa Creek and Tunnel Hike is just such a hike, following a route that intially served as a key Native American trade route, later as a route used by Gen. Griffith Rutherford in the Revolutionary War, and after that served as a popular stagecoach route.

Saturday’s hike is four miles and described as “mostly downhill, very rough and rocky in places.”

Logistics: Saturday, Nov. 23, 9:30 a.m. Hike departs from the Swannanoa Valley Museum, 223 W. State St., Black Mountain. Free, but pre-registration is required: info@swannanoavalleymuseum.org or 828.669.9566.

Saturday forecast: High of 54, 60 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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The post This weekend: All paths lead to good times appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

Pretty sure we’ve recommended this before and that’s fine: it’s a trip we can’t recommend enough. It’s Saturday’s paddle on the coastal Scuppernong River portion of Pettigrew State Park. Pettigrew is noted for its record old-growth trees, which you’ll find along the Scuppernong as well. Here, you’ll find ancient Atlantic white cedars (known locally as junipers) that reach diameters of three feet and heights of 100 feet. The area is also a wildlife oasis, assuring lots to see on this paddle.

Logistics: Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m. Free, but preregistration required by calling 252.979.4475.

Saturday forecast: High of 82, 40 percent chance of rain.

Piedmont

Like the idea of paddling big water with the kids but are a little tentative? Check out Sunday’s Family Kayak Tour on Lake Wylie, sponsored by Charlotte’s McDowell Nature Preserve. You’ll get to paddle along the border with South Carolina while taking in views of the Buster Boyd Bridge, Copperhead Island and more. Led by a guide who can help take the mystery out of paddling a larger body of water.

Logistics: Sunday, May 19, 1:30 p.m. at Charlotte’s McDowell Nature Preserve on Lake Wylie. $15 for a single kayak, $20 for a tandem. 704.588.5224 to register.

Sunday forecast: 50 percent chance of rain, high of 81.

Mountains

Looking for a good trail race in the high country? Newbies and veterans alike will find opportunity in Saturday’s concurrent Cradle to Grave 30K/Hunter Subaru Rock-A-Bye 5K trail races. Both begin at the Cradle of Forestry off U.S. 276 north of Brevard and offer prime scenery on the trails of Pisgah National Forest.

Logistics: Saturday, May 18, 30K starts at 8 a.m., 5K at 8:30 a.m. Both from the above-mentioned Cradle of Forestry outside Brevard. $35 for the 5K, $65 for the 30K. Register online and learn more here.

Weekend forecast: High of 79, 50 percent chance of rain.

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

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

* * *
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The post This weekend: Trails paddled, trails run appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Odds are, when you think of Pettigrew State Park you think of some of the state’s oldest trees. Narrow your Pettigrew-related thoughts to water, you likely think of Lake Phelps, the state’s second largest (natural) lake. But since 2004 you’d have to expand those watery thoughts of the park to include a stretch of the Scuppernong River, which offers some of the easiest, most intimate coastal paddling in the state.

Sample some Scuppernong paddle magic Saturday on a ranger-led canoe trip beginning at 10 a.m. from Spruill’s Bridge in Creswell. No idea where Spruill’s Bridge — and perhaps Creswell — is? Find out when you call to reserve a spot on this free, but registration-required paddle trip.

Logistics: Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m. Free and all equipment and a ranger guide provided, but preregistration is required, by calling (252) 797-4475. Learn more about the park and local ecology here.

Saturday forecast: Sunny, high of 59.

Piedmont

There’s a statewide star party at state parks throughout North Carolina, and you’re invited.

One such party is at Mayo River State Park near Greensboro. Beginning at 8:30 p.m. Friday night, “Park staff, armed with telescopes, will give a tour of the night sky from a field near the picnic shelter.” Participants wielding flashlights are asked to use red filters, and despite our never-ending winter, you are advised to pack bug spray. Find out about other star parties in the State Park system here.

Logistics: Friday, April 5, 8:30 p.m., Mayo River State Park. Free. Weather dependent; call before hand to make sure the event is on: 336.427.2530

Friday night forecast: High in the 50s, rain clearing.

Mountains

You know nice weather’s gotta be around the corner when you see the first road ride of the season. Tour de Lure may not be the absolute first of 2013, but to us it always signifies the start of the mountain riding season. For those of you up to the challenge, there’s the Dewey Hughes Memorial Route, a 71-mile romp with 5,900 feet of climbing in the McDowell County/Lake Lure area. Just getting back on the bike? Then considering the Corpening YMCA Fun Route, a more gently rolling 22-mile cruise.

Logistics: Saturday, April 6, 9 a.m., beginning and ending at the Corpening Memorial YMCA in Marion. $45. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Sunny, high of 63.

* * *

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

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

* * *
Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

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The post This weekend: Paddle, pedal, (star) party appeared first on GetGoing NC!.