Trip Report: Pink Beds and Waterfall on Barnett Branch

On Sunday, May 3, 2015, we headed out for a family hike in the Davidson River area of the Pisgah National Forest. We were looking for a moderate, family-friendly hike that woudn’t take too long (since — after all — … Continued

Shope Creek, Revisited – For Even Bigger Surprises

In a post last week, I shared some small “discoveries” my family and I made while hiking in the Shope Creek section of Pisgah National Forest near the Riceville community east of Asheville. Ever since that hike, I couldn’t stop … Continued

Shope Creek Offers Small Surprises

Saturday, I found myself on one of those hikes that has no preparation, no particular destination, nor even an expectation of what I might like to find. I took the family out to the Shope Creek section of Pisgah National … Continued

Collier Cove Nature Preserve Trip Report

posted in: Trip Reports, WNC Hiking | 1

I’d heard about some new trails on a Buncombe County property that I wanted to check out. So January 4, 2015, when I got the opportunity, I headed out there with the family. What we found was a nice little … Continued

Hickory Nut Gorge Offers New Hiking Trails

Throughout the last few years, hiking opportunities in the Hickory Nut Gorge area southeast of Asheville, NC have slowly been expanding. While locals have been hiking in the area for decades, there haven’t been a lot of publicly sanctioned trails, … Continued

New Trail Opens in DuPont State Forest

In celebration of National Trails day on June 1, 2013, several new trails were officially opened in DuPont State Recreational Forest, including a new connector between the end of Turkey Knob Road at Pinnacle Mountain Road and Little Briery trail. … Continued

Alexander Mountain Bike Park Revisited

posted in: Trip Reports, WNC Mountain Biking | 2

So I had some time after work today, and I decided it was time to hit up little old Alexander Mountain Bike Park, along the French Broad River in northern Buncombe County. Boy, was I not disappointed! The newer Left … Continued

Grandfather Mountain Profile Trail Track on Breadcrumbs

posted in: Trip Reports, WNC Hiking | 0

Our latest “Field Research” is up on Breadcrumbs: check out Grandfather Mountain State Park’s Profile trail. The trail is beautiful this time of year, and would make a good, cool summer hike too (on a clear day) thanks to its … Continued

Spring Hiking at Connemara

posted in: Trip Reports, WNC Hiking | 1

You don’t have to be a great appreciator of the arts, poetry, or even Carl Sandburg to enjoy a visit to Connemara – the poet’s historic homestead at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. From the moment you start down … Continued