Ancient Forest Trail at George Landis Arboretum

Within Landis Arboretum are 30 acres of old-growth forest whose trees range from 150-300 years old. The Ancient Forest Trail is home to many white and red oaks, yellow birch, sugar maple, eastern hemlock, American beech, black birch, hop hornbeam, American basswood, bitternut hickory, and paper birch. The oldest trees along this trail are eastern … Continue reading Ancient Forest Trail at George Landis Arboretum

Hurricane Mountain Fire Tower

Hurricane Mountain is part of the ADK Fire Tower Challenge that we would like to complete. The kindest trail to the top of Hurricane Mountain starts at Crow Clearing off O’Toole Road and rises just over 1500 feet in three and a half miles or so. The first mile is mostly flat and passes near … Continue reading Hurricane Mountain Fire Tower

Normanskill Ravines Park Hike

The Town of Bethlehem is creating anew, 147-acre natural park to open a gorgeous landscape of forests, ravines, floodplains, and Normans Kill shoreline to the public. It’s relatively short with a few steep sections for a 3-4 mile hike. Continue reading Normanskill Ravines Park Hike

Good Luck Lake and Cliffs

An easy 3 mile round trip hike at Ferris Lake Wild Forest just off of Route 10 south of Piseco Lake in the Town of Arietta in Hamilton County that includes some options. The hike leads to a cool campsite on Good Luck Lake. After checking out the camp site, we took a short (but … Continue reading Good Luck Lake and Cliffs

Trout & Salamander Loop Trails

With its rolling emerald expanse and meandering walkway through reedy wetlands and shadowed forest, and, of course, its perpetually inviting playground, you’d be forgiven for imagining the Cashiers Village Green as something out of a storybook. We are always looking for exciting places eat, visit and to hike, this will be a day filled with … Continue reading Trout & Salamander Loop Trails

Courthouse Falls

What a gorgeous hike to Courthouse Falls! It descends into a cove into Pisgah National Forest. The waterfall is about 45 ft. from a narrow chute into a beautiful swimming hole! It’s an easy hike at only 1 mile from the forest service road. Located off NC Highway 215 the trailhead to Courthouse Falls hike … Continue reading Courthouse Falls

Linville Falls Hiking Trails

Directions: From Sylva, it’s about a 2-hr drive via I-40 east to Marion, then north on US Highway 221. When we reach the village of Linville Falls, turn right onto NC Highway 183. After a mile turn right onto the unpaved road at the “Linville Gorge” sign. The parking lot is just ahead on the … Continue reading Linville Falls Hiking Trails

Bent Creek Arboretum and Lake Loop

LONG LAKE LOOP HIKE DESCRIPTION: We will start at Bent Creek River Park no later than 10:00 am. Proceed under Hwy 191, then into the Arboretum along the paved entrance road to the Gatehouse parking lot. Once in, the Arboretum trails will be as follows: Old Mill trail (0.3 mile) followed by the Wesley Branch … Continue reading Bent Creek Arboretum and Lake Loop

Hiking in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

This 2.5 mile figure-8 loop trail travels through a spectacular, virgin forest, one of the largest contiguous tracts of old-growth forest in the Eastern United States. The forest around this trail is designated as the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, a part of the larger Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness. This is a fitting, living monument dedicated to … Continue reading Hiking in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

Chestnut Branch Trail

The Chestnut Branch Trail is a great Smoky Mountain hike at 4.2 miles round trip. The trailhead can be found at the Big Creek Ranger Station, 2.3 miles from Interstate 40 exit 451. Once an old logging road, Chestnut Branch was home to around nine residents before the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National … Continue reading Chestnut Branch Trail