In the wake of Hurricane Helene, MountainTrue is dedicated to addressing the urgent needs of our community.
Join our High Country Water Team in exploring aquatic wildlife in the Watauga River. We will get up close and personal with many native fish species, such as the tangerine darter. Using view buckets, we can see under the water’s surface and observe the life teeming below.
Join MountainTrue’s Riverkeeper water team staff on a guided tailwater float on the Watauga River. Some of our best MountainTrue river experts have teamed up to spend the Friday afternoon on the water with you!
Join MountainTrue as we team up with The Flying Bike to take out a fleet of electric bikes! We'll start in the River Arts District and make our way downtown, where Chris Joyell, Healthy Communities Director, will share his extensive knowledge about Asheville’s urban core, including stories of how redlining has shaped our city, the infamous Pit of Despair and plans for the I-26 Connector.
Visit the Whitewater Special Interest Area which is renowned for it's unique flora and wildlife. The Forest Service attempted to log 15 acres of the Special Interest Area as part of the Southside Project but MountainTrue and our partners took legal action and won.
The hike will be 4-6 miles and will follow a gated Forest Service road for most of the length. The last portion of the hike will be on steep, uneven ground with no trail. The hike will proceed unless heavy rains or wind are in the forecast.
Congressman Chuck Edwards has the opportunity to make history by creating North Carolina's first National Scenic Area, an idea which has broad local support. Come hike the Big Butt Trail with MountainTrue Biologist Josh Kelly and experience the beautiful forests, views, flora, and fauna of the Craggy Mountains.
The hike will be 4-6 miles and will follow a gated Forest Service road for most of the length. The last portion of the hike will be on steep, uneven ground with no trail. The hike will proceed unless heavy rains or wind are in the forecast.
Join Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell for a fall float along the Broad River. We will be paddling a beautiful and remote stretch of the Broad that few people get to paddle and enjoy!
Join Western Regional Director Callie Moore for a winter hike on the first day of the new year! This 2.3-mile loop is considered moderately challenging; however, avid hikers would likely consider it easy. There are 748 feet of elevation gain over the first 1.3 miles and then descending the same amount over the last mile of the hike. At the top, we'll have a stunning 360-degree view across Nantahala National Forest from the platform of a historic fire tower.
Learn how to identify trees in the winter with Western Region Program Coordinator, Tony Ward. During this walk in the woods along the Tuckasegee River, we will discuss the different ways that you can identify trees in your area.
Join other MountainTrue folks in our 17th annual caravan around the Lake Chatuge shoreline to view a wide variety of birds.
The top of Brushy Mountain had a very old forest that MountainTrue unsuccessfully tried to protect from a logging project by Nantahala National Forest. The site was logged in the fall of 2024. We are seeking volunteers to help document the age of the trees by counting rings on cut stumps. This information will be compiled in a report that we will use to memorialize the forest and raise awareness of the value of old growth.
