Content from Old Salem

All that said, here’s a short slideshow from Old Salem and a list of five urban walks where you can get an eyeful of color in the next few days:

1. Old Salem, Winston-Salem. From north-to-south, Old Salem, the Moravian community dating back 250 years is a half mile long and three blocks wide. Toss in the graveyard and cemetery and you’ve got a good two-plus miles of streetwalking (so to speak). You’ve also got a lot of great color, with an emphasis on brilliant orange sugar maples.
Plan a visit by starting here. 

2. Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Greensboro. Guildford Courthouse is known for vicious Revolutionary War battle fought here on March 15, 1781. Two and a half miles of trail — some paved, some a foot-friendly natural surface — take you to key battlefield sites as well as through a mature hardwood forest bright with fall color.
Plan a visit by starting here.

3. Bollin Creek Greenway, Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill is ripe with fall color, making just about anywhere you walk a delight in fall. Bollin Creek is a little extra special, in part, because like many greenways it follows a floodplain/drainage where older, grander trees are more prevalent.
Plan a visit by starting here.

4. Neuse River Trail, Raleigh. At 27.5 miles, the Neuse River Trail offers lots of paved parking through a riparian corridor, where trees have been spared from the development that dominates nearby. Short walks, long walks are all easily accommodated here.
Plan a visit by starting here.

5. McAlpine Creek/Campbell Creek greenways, Charlotte. This 4.1-mile path, most of which is paved, is centrally located yet offers a quick escape into a colorful, floodplain forest. Part of the Carolina Thread Trail.
Plan a visit by starting here.

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Last Thursday on a trip down east  was my first day on the water and it put me of a mind to spend more time paddling. The quiet, save for the birdsong and the occasional gal-lump of a turtle inelegantly abandoning sunny log for murky water. The wildlife, including an alligator that was even more distracted by the sun and warmth. The emergence of spring, with the pastel buds of green, white and crimson giving the world a soft focus field. The unique calm that only paddling flat water can offer.

Milltail Creek in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and the Dillard’s Creek tributary feeding the Chowan River north of Edenton are both on my list for return trips. But where to go next? That got me to thinking of some other great paddles in the state, places I’d like to get to this year, places you might like to explore as well.

Here are 10 such places. I’ve included a quick description and location. If you’re intrigued, click on “More info here” and you’ll find nearly everything you’ll need to plan a trip.

Charlotte area

1. Lake Wylie Dam
Rock Hill, S.C.

There’s a Jekyll-and-Hyde nature to the 31-mile stretch of the Catawba River below the Lake Wylie dam just over the South Carolina line. At nominal water flow, the stretch is friendly flatwater river paddling, a few rocks here and there, a Class I rapid but no more. But when the volume gets cranked up this stretch requires a whole ‘nother paddling skillset. What exactly do we mean by that? Click on More info here.
More info here.

Triad

2. Lake Brandt
Greensboro

Lake Brandt is one of three main watershed lakes rimming the north side of Greensboro. The lakes were created for drinking water, revered in these modern times for their vast recreational value. Brandt is the middling of the three lakes — Townsend is the biggest ( at 1,542 acres, Higgins the smallest at 226 acres. All are open for paddling.
More info here.

3. Yadkin River (Old 421 Park Access)
Winston-Salem

The 125-mile-long Yadkin River Trail includes 15 access points to help make exploring the river easier. It begins small out of W. Kerr Scott Reservoir in Wilkes County and gains steam as it meanders past Pilot Mountain, Boone’s Cave Park and Tanglewood Park before giving it up to High Rock Lake. Forsythe County’s Old 421 Park Access 20 minutes west of downtown Winston-Salem is close, but it also affords easy access to an easy stretch of the river. This is a 5.4-mile run where a steady current takes you through typical Piedmont countryside.
More info here.

Triangle

4. Falls Lake (Beaverdam Recreation Area)
Wake Forest

There’s a bit of dues paying associated with this paddle. It’s big, open water for the most part, but that changes after you paddle under Old Weaver Dairy Road. You begin paddling amid reedy grass and rushes, and clumps of red maple and oak. You’ll paddle into what looks like a promising channel only to be rebuffed by downfall or a simple dead end. If the lake level is up you paddle another mile and a half and improve your chances of seeing the waterfowl known in the area, the wood ducks and mallards, the osprey and bald eagles.
More info here.

5. Haw River (Swepsonville River Park to Saxapahaw0
Swepsonville

This dammed 5.8-mile stretch of the Haw River is good, reliable paddling year round, but it may be best in summer. Put in at Swepsonville River Park, warm up with a 0.7-mile paddle downstream to the Puryear Dam, then portage — a portage made fun, funky and easy with a set of slides (for your boat, not you). The rest of the trip is on wide, slow-moving water. Take-out is river left, just above the dam above Saxapahaw, which makes for a great after-paddle visit.
More info here.

6. Neuse River (Falls Dam to Buffaloe Road)
Raleigh

Raleigh is often called a city within a park. But did you know there’s a navigable river within the city within the park? From the tailrace of the Falls Lake Dam, the Neuse River flows east and south to the Atlantic Ocean. Along those first 17 miles through Raleigh the city has installed 5 boat launches, divvying up the relatively peaceful Neuse into easily paddlable stretches. A favorite is the 10-or-so miles from the Falls Dam Access downstream to Buffaloe Road, where dense foliage along the river’s banks shields you from the civilization beyond.
More info here.

Coastal plain

7. Black River (Section 5)
Ivanhoe

The Black River may be the most beloved place to paddle in eastern North Carolina, and for good reason. It’s remote, making its way through the Down East farmland of Sampson, Bladen and Pender counties. Despite the fact it passes numerous hog farms, it also has some of the cleanest water in the state, earning Outstanding Resources Waters designation in 1994. And the blackwater swamps through which it passes have some of the oldest living trees in Eastern North America. I shouldn’t need to say more, but I can and will. Read on, by following the link below.
More info here.

8. Merchants Millpond
Gatesville

The 760-acre millpond is peppered with bald cypress and tupelo gum trees that make every stroke an adventure. Sidle up to a trunk and see what creatures might be living in this microclimate. Or, conversely, let the enormity of the swamp wash over you and, before you know it, you’ll have no idea where you are or how you got there. A great place to paddle with a compass and map, though there is a marked trail. Canoes available for rent as well, at $5 an hour.
More info here.

Coast

9. Brunswick River Trail
Wilmington area

Only at the coast could you do a loop trail — on a river. This 16-miler begins at the Davis Creek Estuarine Water Access Area on Cartwheel Branch. After just over a mile, hang a right at the Cape Fear River. At the four-mile mark the Northeast Cape Fear intersects; continue downstream and you’ll be paddling along the Wilmington waterfront. To finish the trip, follow the link below.
More info here.

10. Zeke’s Island (The Basin)
Wilmington area

You’ll find true exploring within the Zeke’s Island area, a lagoon surrounded by Zeke’s Island, North Island, No Name Island, a beach, a barrier spit and fringing marshes and tidal flats. This unusual combination results in a small area — the Zeke’s Island National Estuarine Research Reserve consists of 1,635 acres — with a variety of habitats, from tidal flats, salt marshes, shrub thicket and maritime forest to sand dunes and beach. Great paddling.
More info here.

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Need a boat? Check out our list of 51 places to rent a canoe or kayak in North Carolina.

The post Ten places for a spring paddle appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

The second weekend of summer is perfect for paddling a Carolina Bay, for a taking a high-country hike and for running five races in one.

Coast

Summer is ideal for paddling. But it you don’t have your own canoe or kayak, a leisurely day on the water takes on potential hassles. First, you have to find a place to rent a boat (which we’ve made easy with this handy list). Then you have to get the boat to decent place to paddle (again, we’ve got help with that). And you have to watch the clock to make sure you get the boat back on time (sorry, no help there).

Unless, of course, you take advantage of one of the numerous free boating programs offered throughout the state. Saturday’s Half-Day Paddle at Lake Waccamaw State Park, for instance. Lake Waccamaw is a Carolina Bay, one of numerous such lakes formed under yet-to-be-understood circumstances, mostly in the Southeast. While most bays are small, Waccamaw covers more than 9,000 acres and has 14 miles of shoreline, ensuring a full half-day’s worth of paddling.

Logistics: Saturday, June 19, 9 a.m. Call 910.646.4748 to pre-register and for more info. Check out the park here.

Saturday forecast: High of 90, chance of thunderstorms.

Piedmont

How many times have you run a 5K or a 10K, finished, and thought, “Dang, I feel like running some more”? Wouldn’t it be great if there was a race that actually was two races? Or three? Or five?

Five!? Madness, you say? Actually, it’s called the Ultimate Runner and it’s this Saturday at Hanes Park Track in Winston-Salem. You start by running a mile. Then you run a 400-meter race, then 800 meters, then 100 meters and finally, a 5K. We’re guessing that after the 5K you’re appetite for running will be sated. At least for the day.

Logistics: Saturday, June 29, 4:30 p.m. $50. More info here or by calling 336.782.0957

Saturday forecast: High of 88, mostly cloudy.

Mountains

Our favorite place to be in summer is the mountains on a cool, cloudy day. It’s the ultimate escape from summer’s oppressive weather, and it’s what’s in the forecast this Sunday at Elk Knob State Park near Todd (between Jefferson and Boone). And Elk Knob on Sunday is the site of a nature hike to the park’s mile-high summit.

The flora here is unlike what you’ll find throughout much of the Southern Appalachians: the mountain’s rich, amphibolite soils coupled with the altitude support flora more common to northern hardwood forests. A nice escape.

Logistics: Sunday, June 30, 2 p.m. More info by calling 828.297.7261. For more info on the park, go here.

Sunday forecast: High of 75, 40 percent chance of rain.

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

The post This weekend: Paddle, hike, RunRunRunRunRun appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Memorial runs in support of the victims of Monday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon — a phrase that is still incomprehensible to read or hear — are springing up all over the country.  Here are the runs we know about in North Carolina:

Charlotte

Runners for Boston, Monday, 6:30 p.m., all for Run For Your Life stores in Charlotte. Runners are encouraged to wear the Boston Marathon’s signature blue and yellow colors, or any Boston Marathon apparel. “Runners for Boston” t-shirts will be sold, with the entire $20 sales price going to The One Fund Boston, Inc. More info here.

Kernersville

Tribute Run, Sunday, noon, First Presbyterian Church, 611 Oakhurst St., Kernersville. Sponsored by Running on Faith Ministry, First Presbyterian Church. “The goal is to have a prayerful walk/run, meet new people and complete a collective marathon (26.2 miles).” More info here.

Raleigh

Boston Memorial Run, Sunday, 3 p.m., Tir na nOg Irish Pub & Restaurant on South Blount Street. 3-mile run through downtown, raffle tickets ($5 for one, $20 for 5) sold with proceeds to aid victims. Prizes include entries into various races and items donated by local running stores. Sponsors include Tobacco Road Marathon, RunRaleigh Races, nOg Run Club, Raleigh Galloway, City of Oaks Marathon, NCRC, Big Boss Run Club, Blue Run Club, WFAR, Black Girls Run, WOB Run Club. More info here.

A Mile in Memory, Monday, 6 p.m., Wilmington and Morgan streets, downtown Raleigh. One-mile run sponsored by Change the Triangle. Donations accepted with proceeds to the American Red Cross in Boston. More info here.

Winston-Salem

Run for Boston, Monday, 6 p.m., Strollway in Old Salem, off downtown Winston-Salem. 1-, 3- or 5-mile loop runs. Sponsored by Fleet Feet Winston-Salem. Gathering afterward at Foothills Brewery. More info here.

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For additional runs that may be organized in the Triad area, check Eddie Wooten’s “Running Shorts” blog for the Greensboro News & Record. If you know of a run not listed here, feel free to post it on our GetGoingNC.com Facebook page.

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• At GetGoingNC.com: Go to the left rail of the home page, look under “Where to Play in North Carolina” (highlighted in green). Run your cursor over “Camping”  and a drop-down menu gives you the option of “Winter Car Camping: 15 Year-Round Campgrounds” (which we recommend) and “Local Campgrounds.” Click on it and you’ll be given your five local options for the seven markets. Here, you’ll find the basic information for each campground, with the option for More info here to find additional details, which are on the Great Outdoor Provision Co. Web site.
• Your other option is to go directly to the Great Outdoor Provision site.

These are not the only options in each market. In fact, if you know of a campground that should be added, drop us a line and we’ll add it to the list.
Let the listings serve as a reminder that you don’t need to spend five hours behind the wheel to go camping. If you’ve got time to eat eat and sleep, you’ve got time to camp.

Find a campground:

• Chapel Hill
• Charlotte
• Greensboro
• Greenville
• Raleigh
• Wilmington
• Winston-Salem

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