MountainTrue

Join MountainTrue and Carolina Mountain Club for a Trail Workday near Asheville, NC 3/28
2025-03-28 08:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, 195 Hemphill Knob Rd., Asheville, NC, 28803
Join MountainTrue and Carolina Mountain Club for a day of trail maintenance work! You’ll help clear and repair national forest trails damaged during Hurricane Helene.
Please bring lunch, plenty of water, and any medications you may need. MountainTrue and Carolina Mountain Club will provide trail work equipment, but you may prefer to bring your personal work gloves. We will have snacks available. Remember to wear appropriate attire for trail maintenance (pants, closed-toe shoes) and bring sunscreen/bug spray/etc.
Meet-up: Meet at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center (195 Hemphill Knob Rd, Asheville, NC 28803) at 8:30AM. We will carpool to the work site from there to make parking easier.
Children that are able to hike in and out to the worksite are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

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MountainTrue Spring Wildflower & Headwaters Hike in Bostic, NC 4/4-CANCELED
2025-04-04 10:00 - 15:00 | Golden Valley Community Club, 127 Jonestown Rd, Bostic, NC, 28018
We regret that this event has been canceled. Join your Broad Riverkeeper, David Caldwell, and MountainTrue’s Resilient Forest Director, Josh Kelly, for a half-day hike up one of the Old CC Roads in the South Mountains. These roads were originally built in the 1930s as Civilian Conservation Corps projects during the Great Depression. They now lie in the 21,000 acre South Mountain Game Lands.
We’ll speak about the importance of maintaining these pristine headwaters of the First Broad River, which is Cleveland County’s drinking water supply. Josh will discuss our Forest programs and help us identify flora and fauna.
Meetup is at 10 am sharp at the Golden Valley Communtiy Center: 35.517449, -81.755543
We will then carpool into the remote Game Lands for our hike.
This is a fairly strenuous hike of about 5 miles and 1000 feet of elevation gain.
While we love our furry friends and kids, please no dogs or children on this hike.
Please bring:

Appropriate outerwear
Sturdy hiking shoes or boots
Water
Lunch and snacks
Walking stick (if you have one)

MountainTrue Post Hurricane Helene Big Hungry clean-up near Flat Rock, NC 5/3
2025-05-03 10:00 - 15:00 | NC
Please join your Green Riverkeeper and MountainTrue’s Cleanup Coordinator to clean up Big Hungry at the confluence of Big Hungry and Green River at the put-in of the Narrows. We will work to remove trash and debris from the banks of Big Hungry. Please note this will be a land-based clean-up, and a hike in is required that is about 3/4 of a mile (so meaning 3/4 of a mile out as well). If you are crossing the riverbed at any point to reach trash on smaller islands, please come dressed to get wet. (You are more than welcome to wear waders if you choose.) This cleanup will require hands-on work in unstable areas, so being able to maneuver around downed debris and tough to reach areas is required. This will be a more strenuous cleanup, so please be prepared.
Please wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, and long sleeves (and waders if you have them), and bring drinking water, lunch/snacks, and perhaps a change of clothes for afterward in case you get wet or dirty. We will have plenty of trash bags, gloves, safety glasses, and buckets for use, along with some hand tools such as shovels, loppers, hand saws, rakes, etc., however, feel free to bring your own if you would like. We will have our dump trailer there for the removal of collected garbage and recyclables.
LOCATION:Green River Fund Access Parking Lot957 Gallimore RdFlat Rock, NC 28731

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Earth Day Wildflower Walk and Garlic Mustard Pull near Hot Springs, NC 5/10 (rescheduled from May 3)
2025-05-10 09:00 - 17:00 | Appalachian National Scenic Trailhead Parking, Del Rio, TN, 37727, United States
Join MountainTrue Biologist Josh Kelly for a 4-mile hike where you will learn about wildflowers, songbirds, and other sights and sounds of the Appalachian Spring. Midway through the hike, the group will stop to pull garlic mustard for two hours and help maintain the native herbaceous diversity in a very rich forest. Wildflowers will be peaking above 4,000′ on this scenic section of the Appalachian Trail. Originally scheduled for May 3rd, this event has been rescheduled to May 10 due to high winds and unsafe conditions.
This is a strenuous hike and participants need to be comfortable walking on steep slopes. Keep in mind this hike will occur above 4,000′ in elevation and it will the 5-10 degrees colder than in the surrounding valleys.
Please remember to bring:Two liters of waterLunchSturdy footwearClothing appropriate for colder weather above 4,000′Rain gear
Carpool Location from Asheville:We will meet to carpool at 9 a.m. at Ingles near Exit 44 on I-40 https://maps.app.goo.gl/WmwcnfdauD1TamiE9We will meet at the Trailhead at 10:15 a.m. https://maps.app.goo.gl/9qjEDkzKPJr3VDEi9

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Trail Maintenance Workday with MountainTrue & Carolina Mountain Club near Asheville, NC 5/30
2025-05-30 08:00 - 14:00 | NC
Join MountainTrue and Carolina Mountain Club for a day of trail maintenance work!
Please bring plenty of water, lunch, snacks, and any medications you may need. Wear closed-toed shoes and long pants, and bring a hard hat, eye protection, and work gloves if you have them. We will provide these if you do not have them, as well as any tools necessary for the work.
Children that are able to hike in and out to the worksite are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
This will be a moderately strenuous workday that includes hiking to a work site and completing trail maintenance work for a few hours.
Location: the exact location will be emailed to participants the week of May 26th. We will be in the Asheville, NC area.

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Naturalist Rally: Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation in Beech Mountain, NC 5/31
2025-05-31 09:00 - 18:00 | Buckeye Recreation Center, 1330 Pine Ridge Rd, Beech Mountain, NC, 28604, United States
“Come join the call to the wild as we gather to explore Beech Mountain. Geared toward local ecology, the rally will feature hikes, talks & programs all day on Beech Mountain. Join for the adventure, stay for the passion!”
Our High Country Clean Water staff will lead a talk at 10 am about “Riverkeeping 101,” covering everything from pollution investigation, sampling programs, debris removal, dam removal, and more! Programs will be ongoing from 9 am-6 pm throughout the day so come join us!
For more information visit townofbeechmountain.com, call 828-387-3003, or email Matt Robinson at mrobinson@townofbeechmountain.com

2025 MountainTrue BioBlitz at Hickory Nut Gap Farm near Asheville, NC 6/21
2025-06-21 12:30 - 17:00 | Hickory Nut Gap Farm, 57 Sugar Hollow Rd, Fairview, NC, 28730
Each year, MountainTrue hosts a BioBlitz to record all the species we can find in a given area. We identify and catalog organisms using the online app iNaturalist. The BioBiltz this year will be on June 21st at Hickory Nut Gap Farm near Asheville, NC.
Volunteers will hike with experts in reptiles/amphibians, mammals, birds, plants and mushrooms.*Group sign-ups are taken at the event and are first come, first serve. Group availability is subject to change.
We will meet at 12:30 pm to complete waivers and sign-up for groups. The BioBlitz will kick off at 1 pm and end at 5 pm. But the fun doesn’t stop there. We hope our volunteers will stick around for the barn dance at Hickory Nut Gap from 5 to 9 pm. All BioBlitz volunteers will receive free admission to the barn dance.
Garage BBQ food truck will be on site where you can purchase dinner. MountainTrue will provide snacks.
Please bring: water, sunscreen, bug spray, notebook (if desired), sturdy close-toed shoes and any snacks, etc. that you may need.
**Kids aged 6 and up are welcome to join if they are accompanied by a parent/guardian for the duration of the trip.
Thanks to our friends at Hickory Nut Gap Farm for hosting us!

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Trail Maintenance Workday with MountainTrue & Carolina Mountain Club near Asheville, NC 6/27
2025-06-27 08:00 - 14:00 | NC
Join MountainTrue and Carolina Mountain Club for a day of trail maintenance work!
Please bring plenty of water, lunch, snacks, and any medications you may need. Wear closed-toed shoes and long pants, and bring a hard hat, eye protection, and work gloves if you have them. We will provide these if you do not have them, as well as any tools necessary for the work.
Children that are able to hike in and out to the worksite are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
This will be a moderately strenuous workday that includes hiking to a work site and completing trail maintenance work for a few hours.
Location: the exact location will be emailed to participants closer to the event. We will be in the Asheville, NC area.

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MountainTrue Hemlock Hike at John Rock near Brevard, NC 7/19-CANCELED
2025-07-19 09:00 - 12:30 | John Rock Loop Trailhead, Fish Hatchery Ln, Brevard, NC, 28712
We regret that this hike has been canceled. We hope you will check out our other upcoming events! Join MountainTrue and Hemlock Restoration Initiative (HRI) on a guided hike at John Rock to see hemlock trees! Learn from Josh Kelly and HRI’s Olivia Hall about hemlock conservation and the importance of these ecosystems.
John Rock Trail Loop is a moderately difficult 5-mile hike with 1,000 feet of elevation gain. We’ll be back to the trailhead by lunchtime, but please bring plenty of water and any snacks you would like along the way.
*Children are welcome if they can hike up to 5 moderately strenuous miles. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the outing.

As much as we love our furry friends, no pets are permitted on this hike.
Please remember to:
-Wear sturdy hiking shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather (including rain gear).
-Bring water, lunch, snacks and any medications you may need
The trailhead for John Rock Loop Trail is to the left of the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. Park and meet our group at the trailhead at 9 am.
The RAIN DATE for this event will be July 26th. Please save both dates in your calendar.

Art in Action: a guided course in drawing nature under threat with artist John Springer & MountainTrue in Pisgah Forest, NC
2025-08-23 10:00 - 14:00 | Pink Bed Picnic Shelter
Join MountainTrue and artist John Springer for a guided outing and drawing course in Pisgah Forest, NC. Reconnect with nature in a place currently under threat from the Pisgah-Nantahala Forest Management Plan. Selected artwork from the outing will be featured in a silent auction, raising funds for the Resilient Forest Program. Mark your calendar for the opening event- Endangered Impressions: a collection of drawings highlighting nature threatened by the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Management Plan.
Meet-up location: Pink Bed Picnic Shelter in Pisgah Forest, NC (coordinates: Latitude 35° 21′ 13.0000″ N Longitude 82° 46′ 40.0001″ W)

From Asheville: take 19/23 to 151 South to the Parkway, and then turn right and travel to 276.

From Brevard: Take US 276 north for about 11 miles.

Look for a large sign on the road indicating the picnic area entrance .

Time: 10 am to 2 pm
This event will be rain or shine. As much as we love our furry friends, please no pets.
Please bring: Weather-appropriate layers, rain gear, water, snacks/lunch and your sense of wonder.
All art supplies will be provided to participants. Donations to help support MountainTrue and artist John Springer are welcome, but not required to participate.
Description about the drawing course:
What is it that draws people to sit along riverbanks? What is it about walking a forest path that awakens curiosity and contemplation? This exercise is geared towards noticing relationships in the visible world by searching for elements and instances in nature that strike you as the participant to pause and ponder. With some initial instruction, we will engage in a series of sketches from a motif. By drawing rapidly, we can put trust in our eyes and declutter our minds, igniting our fluid imaginations to reveal truthful renderings that are unique to us and the moment. By studying the light and dark relationships, we will begin to hone in on the essential elements and reveal the harmoniousness that brings you to your chosen place and aspect, consciously or unconsciously. This is an experience meant to lead towards discovering yourself in nature and the nature within you.
You will receive guided instruction from the artist before setting out on the Pink Beds Loop Hike to draw.
About the hike: This relatively flat loop hike (5.1 miles round trip) – which features a shortcut option – is all about water. You’ll see rare mountain bogs, including glimpses of some rare and endangered species of plants if you’re lucky. You’ll pass through a forest in transition, as beavers have dammed the South Fork Mills River to form their ponds, which are drowning out the trees. You’ll also find crystal clear brooks, wildlife meadows, scenic fern-filled woods, and an optional waterfall. More info here.
About the artist (John Springer)
John Springer (b. 1990, Columbus, GA) is an American artist who lives in Aix-en-Provence, France. By observing particular patterns within nature John seeks to render visually through painting and drawing the universal truths of the human-environment relationship. John’s work emerges at the confluence of nature and culture and it is in this commingling where he sees potential harmonies that can give meaning to our existence. By knowing ourselves and our place in nature John believes each of us can live more fully, more cohesively and more sustainably in the changing modern world.

Why this area?
The Soapstone Ridge, which is just to the south of the Pink Beds, is an extremely diverse forest with numerous rare species and two very popular trails. It is one of the areas prioritized for logging by the Trump Administration and the Pisgah Forest Plan. The Trump administration has directed National Forests to increase logging by 125% annually through 2034. Additionally, there have been two serious attempts to sell up to 3 million acres of National Forest Land this year, and while those proposals do not yet include North Carolina, it is likely that land sale proposals will continue.

Want more information about the art show and silent auction? Click here.
Photo credit: John Springer

Conservation Conversations with MountainTrue in Franklin, NC 8/26
2025-08-26 17:30 - 19:00 | Lazy Hiker Brew Co.-Franklin, 188 W Main St., Franklin, NC, 28734
Join us in the lounge at Lazy Hiker for a conversation with MountainTrue’s Resilient Forests Director, Josh Kelly, and Western Regional Director, Callie Moore, about threats to our public lands. Topics will include the gutting of NEPA, the budget reconciliation bill, reorganization of USDA, the repeal of the Roadless Rule, and more!
A first round of beverages will be covered by MountainTrue. Bring a friend who cares about our national forests!

National Public Lands Day Panthertown Trail Workday with Friends of Panthertown near Glenville, NC 9/27
2025-09-27 09:00 - 14:00 | Salt Rock Gap Trailhead, Breedlove Rd., Glenville, NC, 28736, United States
Join MountainTrue and Friends of Panthertown to celebrate National Public Lands Day. We will meet at the Salt Rock Gap Trailhead and work on the Panthertown Trail, focusing on maintaining water bars. Expect to hike up to four miles and to use digging and cutting tools. We will be working in the stunning Panthertown Valley, one of the crown jewels of Nantahala National Forest. Following the event, we will have a tailgate celebration of public lands at the trailhead with free refreshments, snacks, swag, and beer from Innovation Brewing.
Please pack at least two liters of water, lunch, and wear long pants and closed toed shoes. Please pack appropriate layers for the weather. Tools, gloves, and protective equipment will be provided. Participants should expect hard physical labor. Kids 12 and over are welcome! No pets allowed.

MountainTrue Invasive Plant Removal Workday at Doublehead Knob near Asheville, NC 10/5--THIS EVENT IS FULL
2025-10-05 13:00 - 17:30 | NC
This event is FULL. Please check out our volunteer page for other opportunities. Join MountainTrue for a workday! Participants on this workday will hike to scenic Doublehead Knob and remove invasive plants from a rare glade ecosystem. The hike is moderately strenuous and four miles round-trip.
Please wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toed shoes. Bring plenty of water, snacks, and anything else you need to be safe and comfortable.
The event will be cancelled in the event of rain.
This hike is not recommended for children under the age of 12 and please no pets.
Meet-up location: The event will begin at the intersection of the Bent Creek/Wash Creek Road at 1 p.m. https://maps.app.goo.gl/9s5CRj97E33QGkhS9 . There will be a carpool from the Ingles on Brevard Rd. at 12:30 p.m. We will congregate near the gas pumps. https://maps.app.goo.gl/A6dt4hRS1aokH46m7

Roadless Area Hike Series - Balsam Cone near Asheville, NC 11/22
2025-11-22 09:00 - 17:00 | Folk Art Center, 382 Blue Rdg Pkwy, Asheville, NC, 28805
To highlight the importance of the Forest Service Roadless Rule, MountainTrue will be leading monthly hikes to roadless areas. In November, we will hike the incredibly unique and scenic Black Mountain Crest trail through the Balsam Cone Roadless Area.
*Children age 10 and up are welcome if they can hike strenuous miles. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the outing.

As much as we love our furry friends, no pets are permitted on this hike.
Please remember to:
-Wear sturdy hiking shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather (including rain gear).
-Bring at least 2.0 liters of water, lunch, snacks and any medications or personal items you may need
This is a strenuous hike with high elevation so please bring warm layers.
The hike will depart from Mount Mitchell State Park and follow the Black Mountain Crest Trail. We will carpool from the Folk Art Center on the Parkway at 9 a.m. https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ryqv6qoffMaun1tf7

Roadless Area Hike Series - Boteler Peak near Hayesville, NC 12/6
2025-12-06 10:00 - 17:00 | NC
MountainTrue is holding a series of hikes to Forest Service Roadless Areas to highlight the importance and success of the 2001 Roadless Rule, which protects 58.5 million acres nationwide. In December, we will visit one of North Carolina’s lesser known 5000′ peaks, Boteler Peak in the Nantahala National Forest of Clay County. This is a moderately strenuous hike, about 4.5 miles with 1,400′ of elevation change. Participants will experience a diversity of forest types and ages and a good view from the rocky summit of Boteler Peak.
*Children age 10 and up are welcome if they can hike strenuous miles. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the outing.

As much as we love our furry friends, no pets are permitted on this hike.
Please remember to:
-Wear sturdy hiking shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather (including rain gear).
-Bring at least 2.0 liters of water, lunch, snacks and any medications or personal items you may need
The hike begins at the Chunky Gal Trailhead, northbound, on US HWY 64 https://maps.app.goo.gl/ytNfRwnZH8CSsSjY9.
**Carpool from Asheville at Cracker Barrel at Exit 44 on I-40 at 8:15 a.m. https://maps.app.goo.gl/UtHDAv2FkNe2MYWJA
