In the wake of Hurricane Helene, MountainTrue is dedicated to addressing the urgent needs of our community.
We will hike the Appalachian Trail and enjoy stunning displays of wildflowers in the largest protected grove of ash trees along the Appalachian Trail. Along the way, we will pull a beginning infestation of Garlic Mustard. In addition to being a noxious weed, garlic mustard makes a fine pesto, and there will be plenty of raw material if folks want to take some foliage home with them. Registration is required for this event.
Join Mountaintrue's Ecologist & Public Lands Director Bob Gale as we explore the trail leading to Rattlesnake Lodge. More than thirty varieties of flowers are known to live on the way to the lodge, including dwarf larkspur, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and blue cohosh. Click the link to learn more and/or register for this hike!
Lewis Creek Preserve is an eight-acre preserve protected and managed by Conserving Carolina. MountainTrue Ecologist & Public Lands Director, Bob Gale, will lead a slow hike along the nature trail, interpreting the plant life, wildflowers, and value of pollinators on this property. The boardwalk overlooks an example of the remaining rare Southern Appalachian Bog ecosystems. Bob and MountainTrue have special expertise in managing these bogs and in addressing their threats, including non-native invasive plants. Registration for this nature walk is required.
Join MountainTrue for a hike in the proposed Craggy Mountain National Scenic Area. The Craggy Mountains are one of the mightiest mountain ranges in eastern North America and are traversed by the Blue Ridge Parkway. The National Forest Lands of the Craggy Mountains have popular support to become a national scenic area designed to permanently protect the scenic and biological values of the area. Join biologist Josh Kelly for a six-mile hike through the spectacular high elevation forests and vistas of the Craggies. Along the way, we will appreciate the flora, fauna, and natural history of the area. Registration for this event is required.
Spend the morning in the heart of Nantahala National Forest with MountainTrue western regional director, Callie Moore. We'll start with an easy-to-moderate 1-mile loop hike that includes beautiful Rufus Morgan Falls. Then we'll drive to Wayah Bald, stopping at the historical Wilson Lick Ranger Station. At Wayah Bald, we'll take an easy short hike from the summit parking area and climb an old stone fire tower, built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, to witness panoramic views that on clear days extend all the way to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Registration is required for this event.
Come join MountainTrue's Public Lands Biologist, Josh Kelly as he leads this Plant & Mushroom ID hike near Linville, NC. Registration for this event is required.
Join MountainTrue's Ecologist and Public Lands Director, Bob Gale, for a lovely hike on the Rich Mountain Tower Trail near Hot Springs, NC. We should see breathtaking views and lots of fall color! Registration is required for this trip!
MountainTrue's Western Regional Director, Callie Moore will lead this easy to moderate fall scenic hike on a section of the Mountains-To-Sea trail accessed from a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway that tracks the Jackson-Haywood county line. This high-elevation out-and-back hike in the Middle Prong Wilderness affords sweeping views of our beautiful National Forests. Register to join us!
Did you know there are over 30 Forest Communities in the Southern Appalachians? Join us as we immerse ourselves in the Tanawha Trail's spruce-fir Forest and High Elevation Red Oak Communities on a guided hike with our Public Lands Director and Ecologist, Bob Gale. We'll learn how to identify forest communities and individual tree species, including Red Spruce, Fraser Fir, Yellow Birch, Fire Cherry, Mountain Ash, Sugar Maple, and more. We'll also take in stunning valley vistas surrounded by neighboring Ravens Rock, Table Top, and Hawksbill Mountains. This strenuous 4-mile hike can be steep in a few places, and various rocky areas make footing somewhat tricky. Please consider your ability to climb over rocks, traverse root systems and maintain physical balance before signing up for this hike. Registration is required.
Join MountainTrue's Western Regional Director, Callie Moore to get a crisp start to the New Year with an easy to moderate hike on a section of the Appalachian Trail that's accessible even when snow is on the ground! Check out views of Nantahala National Forest that are only available in winter on this 4-mile round-trip out and back. There is 801 feet of elevation gain over 1.5 miles, but nothing very steep. Bird watching and winter tree identification are additional activities on this outing.
