Fall has arrived, and you know what that means. Actually, it means two things (probably more, but for our purposes here we’ll stick with two): the hardwoods are starting to change color and the snow birds are changing locals as they relocate south. Both activities you won’t want to miss — and won’t have to thanks to various North Carolina State Parks programs this weekend.

Coast

You know fall has arrived when the coastal state parks start offering guided hikes. Snakes, bugs and other deterrents of summer keep warm weather activities along the coast limited to the water. But when the temperatures and humidity start heading south, it’s time to hit the coastal trail.

Sunday, the coastal trail to be hit is the two-mile Coleman Trail at Merchants Millpond State Park near Gatesville. Merchants Millpond is known for its swamp paddling amid towering bald cypress and tupelo, but its nine miles of trail explore this diverse habitat. Hiking with a ranger who can help make sense of this visual feast is a big plus.

Logistics: Sunday, Oct. 5, 3 p.m., Merchants Millpond State Park, Gatesville. More info: 252.357.1191.

Sunday forecast: Sunny with a high of 68.

Piedmont

It’s an exciting time of year in the bird world, what with the change of seasons and so many of our avian friends on the move. Too often, though, we look on in ignorant admiration of the passing flocks.

Get a better handle on who’s passing through your yard this fall by attending Sunday’s Birding for Beginners at Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve near Southern Pines. Starting at 3 p.m., you’ll stalk birdfeeders for a while and discuss proper use of binoculars and tips on IDing. Then, you’ll venture into the woods to test your new-found skills.

Logistics: Birding for Beginners, Sunday, Oct. 5, 3 p.m., Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines. More info: 910.692.2167.

Sunday forecast: Sunny, high of 68.

Mountains

Itching to get a jump on fall color? Your best bet is to head to the state’s higher elevations, where the color will begin cascading down any time now.

At Mount Jefferson State Natural Area near Jefferson, they’re anticipating the change of season above 4,000 feet with a Fall Season Mountain Hike this Sunday. A park ranger will take you to the best spots for viewing color and explain just who’s responsible for each flash of brilliance.

Logistics: Sunday, Oct. 5, 2 p.m., Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Jefferson. More info: 336.246.9653.

Sunday forecast: Sunny, high of 59.

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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: Check the change appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Since we published that list we’ve heard from an additional 14 municipalities with greenways, from Whiteville’s four greenways totaling a mile in length to Rocky Mount’s 7-mile system to Pinehurst’s 11-mile. Not only we’re we pleasantly surprised that so many municipalities in North Carolina have greenways, but that so many have plans to expand. And not just the Raleigh’s, the Cary’s and the Charlotte’s. Havelock, for instance, will soon add more than 4 miles to its 1-mile system, Albemarle is working on a 3-mile rails-to-trails greenway that will connect its Rock Creek Park and Montgomery Park to downtown, and Sanford, currently with 2 miles, intends to build a 20-mile greenway that will run out to and along the Deep River.

In North Carolina, greenways are alive and growing.

As I’ve mentioned, we’re revamping GetGoingNC.com to include the most comprehensive greenway coverage in the state. Expect some news on that front by the end of May. Until then, the following list should help you track down any greenway in North Carolina. Keep it in mind as you travel the state. Find yourself in Jacksonville on business and in need of a run? Check out the 5.5-mile Jacksonville-Camp LeJeune Rails-to-Trails greenway. On your annual summer vacation to the Outer Banks and looking for a break from the beach? Take a bike ride on Manteo’s 8.8-mile greenway. And if you’re traveling any distance with kids, knowing where there’s a nearby greenway where they can stretch their legs (and burn some energy) can be invaluable.

Click on town names for details on their greenways.

* Indicates new listing from last week’s list.

Photo top: Raleigh’s Rocky Branch Greenway goes through the middle of the N.C. State campus. Here, it swings by the new softball field and State’s track.

Statewide

North Carolina Rail-Trails Includes a rundown of 28 rails-to-trails projects throughout the state as well as projects in development.

Coast

* Burgaw approximately 2.1 mile trail and greenway.

Greenville 3.3-mile greenway.

Jacksonville 5.5-mile Jacksonville-Camp LeJeune Rails-to-Trails greenway.

* Havelock 1.02-mile Greenway at the Recreation Complex off NC 101. Will be establishing a 4-plus mile Greenway on McCotter Canal soon.

Manteo 8.8-mile greenway.

* Whiteville Four greenways that connect and measure about 1 mile.

Piedmont

Triangle

Apex Three greenways, 6 miles.

Chapel Hill Six main greenways/trails.

Carrboro Includes 1-mile Libba Cotten rails-with-trails project.

Cary 47 miles of greenway.

Durham Eight greenways, including about half of the 22-mile American Tobacco Trail.

Morrisville One greenway.

Raleigh 68 miles of greenway with more under construction.

Smithfield 3-mile Buffalo Creek Greenway runs along the Neuse River.

Wake Forest About 8 miles of greenway in 9 sections.

Triad

Greensboro 32 miles of paved greenway.

Guilford County Overseeing the nearly complete 15-mile Bicentennial Greenway bridging High Point and Greensboro.

Winston-Salem 16 miles of greenway

High Point 9 miles of greenway

Wilkesboro 7.4-mile (and growing) Yadkin River Greenway.

Charlotte area

Mecklenburg County 35 miles of developed greenway

Carolina Thread Trail New effort to link greenways in 15 counties in the Charlotte area.

Gastonia One 2.7-mile greenway, one 1.7-mile rails-to-trails project

Kings Mountain 2.3-mile greenway

Concord 4-mile downtown loop.

Kannapolis 2-mile greenway.

Piedmont / elsewhere

* Albemarle Currently developing a 3-mile section of abandoned rail line into a greenway that will connect Rock Creek Park and Montgomery Park to downtown and to each other. About 1 mile is done, with grant funding being sought for development of the remainder.

* Archdale Approximately 3 miles of greenway trails in Archdale which begin in Creekside Park.

* Mount Airy 4.4 miles of greenway (2.2  miles on the Emily B. Taylor Greenway and 2.2 miles on the Ararat River Greenway). Ararat River Greenway also has water access. Three of four city Schools are connected to greenways.

* Pinehurst 6 miles of greenway, built since 2004.

* Rocky Mount About 7 miles of greenway. The longest: 3.1 miles of greenway trail along the Tar River.

* Sanford Two miles of greenway with the recent completion of a 1.4-mile section. Greenway eventually will reach to the Endor Iron Furnace on the Deep River. Long range plan: a 20-plus-mile loop from Sanford to and along the Deep River.

* Southern Pines Eleven miles with two more to be built.

* Statesville More than six miles of greenway with another 2.5 now being paved.

Mountains

Asheville 4.3-mile greenway with plans for 15-mile system with 12 interconnected corridors

Black Mountain More than a mile of greenway, with plans for three more greenways.

* Boiling Springs (Cleveland County) Fifteen to 20 miles of trail for equestrians, mountain bikers and hikers along with being the beginning of an awesome blue way. We are celebrating our 16th birthday this year.

Brevard 5-mile paved greenway links Brevard with Davidson River area.

* Fletcher 3.1 miles of greenway (mix of wood chip, pebble stone and concrete) in Fletcher Community Park running along Cane Creek and Hoopers Creek.

Franklin 4-mile, mostly paved, Little Tennessee River Greenway

* Lenoir Greenway runs 4.76 miles over approximately 25 acres

Morganton 3.8-mile Catawba River Greenway, with connecting .6-mile Freedom Trail.

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