Saturday doesn’t look half bad, with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s. However, the wind is expected to kick up in the afternoon, with a steady blow of 15-20 mph winds out of the southwest, with gusts up to 35! That’s especially problematic if you worry about dead wood showering down upon you from the canopy.

So, on Sunday:

• Spring Hike: Naturally Wonderful Waterfalls, 3 p.m., Stone Mountain State Park, Roaring Gap. From the upper trailhead parking lot a ranger will lead this 1.2-mile out-and-back to Stone Mountain Falls (pictured above), which tumbles down the east shoulder of Stone Mountain, a 600-foot-high granite dome. Build in the time to hike the Summit Side of the Stone Mountain Loop Trail, accessible from the same trailhead, which will take you to the dome’s largest exposure. Learn more about the hike here.
• In the Pines: Guided Hike, 4 p.m., Gorges State Park, Sapphire. If you find yourself in the western part of the state, drop by the drop-dead gorgeous Gorges State Park for this short hike to check out the various pines that inhabit the park. The hike, which originates from the White Pines Picnic Area, is notable because it’s rated “Moderate” in difficulty, possibly the only “moderate” hike in the park. Learn more here.

OK, we won’t completely ignore Saturday. We’ve got one program early, before the wind is expected to whoosh through, one late that should benefit from the wind.

• Trail Building at Horseshoe Road Nature Preserve, 8:45 a.m. to noon, 3018 Horseshoe Road, Creedmoor. Join the Tar River Land Conservancy in its effort to open 2 miles of trail at its Horseshoe Road Nature Preserve. The supervised workday will include a variety of tasks: building wooden footbridges and benches, installing signs, trail clearing and more. Learn more here.
• Stars and Planets, 7:45 p.m., Mayo River State Park, Mayodan. One great thing about the wind is that it tends to scour the sky, leaving it free of debris. Combined with a half moon that should leave lots of stars visible, stars that the Greensboro Astronomy Club will be more than glad to help you see with their sophisticated telescopes. More info here.

On the spring wildflower front, you may see the leaves of the trout lily, but the flowers have pretty much passed. You’re more likely this weekend to see spring beauties, bluets, rue anemone and bloodroot.

Enjoy!

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Before our GetBackpacking! trip last weekend on the 22-mile Neusiok Trail, we had a little hygiene talk: Share a little less on this hike, I advised. Handle your own water, resist the urge to sample a fellow hiker’s Cherry Cocoa Nib dehydrated breakfast. But I also said we would be spending the weekend in one of the safest places around: the wide-open spaces of the outdoors: few people, lots of room to breath in peace. Our typically worry-free playground seemed even more so in these uncertain times.

We seek solace and escape on the trail, and we seek it more than ever now. So take advantage of this relatively safe environment and be sure to get out this weekend. Some thoughts on how and where you can make that happen.

A quick note: If you elect to attend one of these events, double check beforehand to make sure it’s still a go. Word reached us late Thursday that the Triangle Land Conservancy has canceled its March in-person events. Other entities may follow.

Supplejack Spring Hike, Saturday, 11 a.m., Dismal Swamp State Park, South Mills. Another thing I mentioned before our hike in the coastal Croatan National Forest: time’s running out to explore, on foot, at the coast. The temperature warms much more and you’ll be dealing with the pests, slithering and blood-sucking, that make a coastal outing less appealing. Thus, our recommendation for Saturday’s 2-mile hike on the Supplejack Trail, which winds through the dense vegetation common to a coastal woods. Degree of difficulty: easy. Learn more here.

Spring Hike: Naturally Wonderful Waterfalls, Saturday, 1:30 p.m., Stone Mountain State Park, Roaring Gap. When we head to the high country, we typically have two objectives: mountaintop views and waterfalls. The latter is the focus of this 1.2-mile hike to the top of Stone Mountain Falls, a 200-foot cascade with great access thanks to a wood staircase with several observation decks. You can achieve the second objective — views — after the hike by hiking a mile to the exposed summit of Stone Mountain. Learn more and sign up here.

Eno River Association Spring Series: Penny’s Bend Nature Preserve, Sunday, 2 p.m., Durham. Penny’s Bend boasts a bonanza of spring wildflowers, from Dutchman’s Breeches to Painted Buckeye, making this the spring wildflower hike of the season. This hike is mostly off trail, includes difficult terrain, and will last about three hours. Learn more here.

GetHiking! this weekend

What are our GetHiking! groups in North Carolina and Virginia up to this weekend? Plenty, thanks for asking …

Live the video

Today’s video is from our weekend GetBackpacking! trip on the Neusiok Trail. Learn more about our upcoming backpacking programs here, more about the Neusiok Trail here.

More Weekend Options

Looking for more options for weekend adventure? Check out our GetOut! Find An Adventure resource page here.

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

A person could get used to this weather, no? Temperatures in the 70s, sunny skies, crisp, dry air … . Just the incentive for getting out in the wild. We have some thoughts on the subject of where you might explore this weekend — and suggestions for where you can find more options. Just be sure to get out and enjoy!

Ranger-Led Hike on the Renovated Nuwati Trail, Saturday, 1-4 p.m., Grandfather Mountain State Park, Banner Elk. Storms a year ago put the hurt on trails throughout the high country, including those at Grandfather Mountain. The Nuwati and Cragway trails in particular were hammered, forcing their closure while they could be rerouted. That process has been completed, and Ranger Musumarra will be leading a hike on the new trail Saturday afternoon. Sturdy footwear, snacks and water are advised, as is clothing appropriate for the weather, which as of late Thursday was looking cool (low 60s) and sunny. Learn more here.

Wolf Rock Hike, Saturday, 1:30 p.m., Stone Mountain State Park, Roaring Gap. At Stone Mountain State Park, Stone Mountain gets all the attention: it’s always “Stone Mountain this,” and “Stone Mountain that” … . Honestly, you’d think the park’s other mountains might develop a complex. Not Wolf Rock, another extensive slab surface which is accessed via a gradually climbing trail and offers great views to the north and west. About 3 miles hiking total, bring water and snacks. Learn more and sign up here.

Full Moon Hike, Sunday, 8 p.m., Medoc Mountain State Park, Hollister. If you’re one of those types who seeks to squeeze every last minute out of the weekend, then check out this last-call hike at Medoc Mountain State Park northeast of Raleigh. In fact, head up early, while the sun’s still up, and check out the park’s 10 miles of mostly gently rolling trails before hiking under the lights (those lights being the headlamps you provide). If you’re going, please let Heidi know by calling 252.586.1770. Learn more about the hike and the park here.

GetHiking! this weekend

What are our GetHiking! groups in North Carolina and Virginia up to this weekend? Plenty, thanks for asking … .

GetHiking! Charlottesville: Appalachian Trail to Rt. 60, Saturday, October 12, 8 a.m., Fontaine Research Park, Charlottesville. Strenuous. 11-miles. Hike highlights: Appalachian Trail, Cow Camp Gap Shelter, Cow Camp Gap. Learn more here.

GetHiking! Charlotte: Crowders Mountain Figure Eight, Saturday, October 13, 8 a.m. Crowders Mountain State Park, Kings Mountain. 8-miles through the peaks of Crowders Mountain and Pinnacle Mountain. Learn more here.

GetHiking! Charlottesville: Cole Mountain Hike, Sunday, October 13, 9 a.m., Barracks Road Shopping Center, Charlottesville. Moderately Strenuous. 6-mile hike leading up to the peak of Cole Mountain. Learn more here.

GetHiking! Triangle: Sunday Morning on the MST, Sunday, October 13, 9 a.m., Bayleaf Church Road, Raleigh. Moderate. 5.8-mile hike through flat terrain and cool air. Learn more here.

Live the video

The Wilson Creek area on the southeast flank of Grandfather Mountain doesn’t get near the attention you might expect, what with its view-giving cliffs, its ubiquitous waterfalls, it’s multiple pools. Learn about this awesome area, much of which is a Wilderness Study Area, and plan your own visit, starting here.

More weekend options

Looking for more options for weekend adventure? Check out our GetOut! Find An Adventure resource page here.

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

It’s November, and Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend (Sunday at 2 a.m.). Make the most of the last day of extended afternoon sunlight by taking in:

Astronomy Program, Stone Mountain State Park, Roaring Gap, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. A park ranger plays the role of Dick Clark rocking in Standard Time with this countdown to the stars — literally, with the aid of the Forsyth Astronomy Club. More info here.

Fur, Fangs and Feathers Fall Festival, Crowders Mountain State Park, Kings Mountain, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Educational events, food trucks, live music — and, presumably, fur, fangs and feathers — to help mark the passage of another fabulous season of DST. More info here.

Good Morning Monadnuck, Occoneechee Mountain State Park, Hillsborough, Saturday, 10:30 a.m. What’s a “monadnuck”? Find out as you get the opportunity to walk around one at mighty Occoneechee, at 867 feet the tallest mountain from Hillsborough to the coast. More info here.

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.

Learn more about where we spent last weekend, featured in the video, by visiting Eno River State Park.

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

What to do on the last weekend of July? We have a thought or two …

Geology of Stone Mountain, Saturday, 9 a.m., Stone Mountain State Park, Roaring Gap. No doubt you’ve looked at that strange forehead protruding from the ground, the one from which Stone Mountain gets its name, and wondered, How did that happen? Here, at this one hour program at the Hutchinson Homestead, is your chance to find out. And if you’re left at the end yearning for more, eager to know all about Stone Mountain, then stick around until 2 p.m. for “All About Stone Mountain.” (You can do some hiking in between to pass the time.) For more info on both programs and to register, go here.

Night Hike Along the Great Blue Heron Trail, Saturday, 8 p.m., Haw River State Park Iron Ore Belt Access, Greensboro. We love a night hike, and we especially love one where we’re not compelled to watch our every footstep to avoid rocks and roots in the trail. On the smooth-as-sandstone 3.8-mile Great Blue Heron Trail you’ll be able to focus on the wonder of the night. Bring a flashlight/headlamp with red or blue filter, bring bug spray and water. For more info and to register, go here.

Guided Hike: Balsam Nature Trail, Sunday, 11 a.m., Mount Mitchell State Park. Visiting Mount Mitchell, which tops out at 6,684 feet, is like visiting another world — so many unusual things to see at that elevation. Sunday, let a ranger explain what it is your seeing and why it’s there on this guided hike on the Balsam Trail. More info and register here.

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.

And learn more about where we spent this past week, featured in the video, by visiting the web sites for Umstead State Park and Eno River State Park.

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