Roadless Area Hike Series - Boteler Peak near Hayesville, NC 12/6
2025-12-06 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | North Carolina
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

Invasive Plant Removal Workday near Franklin, NC at The Little Tennessee River Greenway 12/6
2025-12-06 13:00 - 16:00 | 803 Ulco drive, TASSEE SHELTER 803 Ulco Drive, Franklin, North Carolina, 28734
Join Mountaintrue for a volunteer workday to remove nonnative invasive plants along the Little Tenneessee River Greenway, in Partnership with FROGs and Mainspring. We will primarily be pulling up roots and using hand tools to remove invasive plants like Chinese privet, burning bush, and multiflora rose. We have large and small tasks available, so you don’t need to be able to do strenuous physical labor in order to participate. No prior experience is necessary; we will provide tools and training.
Please register in advance so that we will have enough tools, gloves, etc. We have large and small tasks available, so you don’t need to be able to do strenuous physical labor in order to participate. Please leave pets at home. Kids welcome but any volunteer under the age of 18 must have a guardian with them for the duration of the workday.
Please bring:
Closed-toed shoes (required)
Long pants
Long-sleeved shirts recommended
Water
Medications you may need
Insect repellent (if desired)
Contact Tony Ward with any questions. tony@mountaintrue.org
RAIN DATE: December 13th

Monday Pint Nights at Iron Key Brewing in Columbus, NC through the end of 2025
2025-12-08, 2025-12-15, 2025-12-22, 2025-12-29 | Iron Key Brewing Co., 135 Locust St., Columbus, NC, 28722
From September 1 through the end of 2025, every Monday at Iron Key Brewing Co. is dedicated to the Green River. They will donate $2 from every pint sold to MountainTrue’s Green Riverkeeper program. Sip your favorite brew, support clean water, and help protect the Green River — one pint at a time.

MountainTrue Non-Native Plant Workday with Blue Ridge Conservancy and Appalachian State University in Fleetwood, NC 12/12
2025-12-12 10:00 - 12:30 | App State Farm/Blackburn Vannoy Estate, 608 Watertank Rd, Fleetwood, NC, 28626
Feeling some seasonal depression? We’ve got just the cure. Get outside with us and eradicate some bad plants! We are joining forces to eradicate Oriental Bittersweet at the beautiful App State Farm and Blackburn Vannoy Estate with our friends at Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) and Appalachian State. Volunteers will cut vines and then chemically treat cut stumps with herbicide. We will teach you everything you need to know.
Please bring snacks and water. It is recommended to wear long pants and sturdy boots for all invasive plant workdays. Some hand tools will be provided, but if you have your own gardening gloves, loppers, or shears, please bring them!
PARKING: please carpool if you can.
Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the workday.

Live staking and Tree Planting Workday with NCWF's High Country Wild Chapter near Banner Elk, NC 1/8
2026-01-08 12:00 - 15:00 | North Carolina
Join your High Country crew, in partnership with High Country Wild, a local chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF) for another live staking workday to kick off the New Year. We will be planting thousands of trees at the park that day, thanks to National Wildlife Federation’s Trees Trees for Wildlife Program. We were not able to host any workdays at the park last year, so this year we are twice as excited! VCCP has a very special place in our hearts, so we are really looking forward to being able to plant along the Watauga and Dutch Creek in that section

Please bring: Plenty of water, lunch/snacks, warm layers & gloves (we’ll be in and around the creek, so dress for the weather and make sure you bring items you don’t mind getting dirty), rubber boots and/or waders and an extra set of dry clothes.
**We will have some waders and boots, but bring your own if you have them! We will also have gloves and loppers available.
Meet-up location: Valle Crucis Community Park (2892 Broadstone Rd, Banner Elk, NC 28604)
All youth under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian for the duration of the workday.
We are looking forward to planting with you soon! https://mountaintrue.org/mountaintrue-faq-live-staking/
All volunteers are eligible for a one year, complimentary annual membership to MountainTrue. To activate your membership, please email members@mountaintrue.org
* Rain date: January 15

Live staking and Tree Planting Workday with NCWF's High Country Wild Chapter in Valle Crucis, NC 1/19
2026-01-19 12:00 - 15:00 | North Carolina
Live staking season is officially here! Join your High Country crew, in partnership with High Country Wild, a local chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF) for another live staking workday to kick off the New Year. We will be planting thousands of trees at the park that day, thanks to National Wildlife Federation’s Trees for Wildlife Program.
Back in August, we held a Community River Exploration Day at this site. We’re excited to show this access some love back!
This opportunity would not be possible without support from Watauga County, Blue Ridge Conservancy, Interface Environmental Engineering and Blue Ridge Resource Conservation & Development Council.

Please bring: Plenty of water, lunch/snacks, warm layers & gloves (we’ll be in and around the creek, so dress for the weather and make sure you bring items you don’t mind getting dirty), rubber boots and/or waders and an extra set of dry clothes.
**We will have some waders and boots, but bring your own if you have them! We will also have gloves and loppers available.
All youth under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian for the duration of the workday.
Meet-up location: Watauga River Paddle Trail Water Access, (66C6+69, Valle Crucis, NC 28679)
We are looking forward to planting with you soon! https://mountaintrue.org/mountaintrue-faq-live-staking/
All MountainTrue volunteers are eligible for a one-year, complimentary annual membership. To activate yours, please email members@mountaintrue.org
*Rain date: January 31

First Saturday of the month clean-up in Chimney Rock, NC 2/7
2026-02-07 10:00 - 13:00 | Chimney Rock Village Public Parking, 432 Main St, Chimney Rock, NC, 28746
Join MountainTrue for a riverside cleanup series in the heart of Chimney Rock Village. Clean-ups will happen the first Saturday of the month beginning in November 2025 and running through July of 2026.
Volunteers will meet up at 10:00 am in the paved public parking lot beside Chimney Rock Smokehouse. MountainTrue will supply trash bags, gloves, safety vests, trash grabbers, shovels, a couple trucks, and a dump trailer. Please wear sturdy shoes (no flip flops) and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
Due to potential safety risks, all volunteers must be age 18 or older to participate.
This event will be rain or shine.
To show our appreciation for the time and energy you dedicate to MountainTrue, all volunteers are eligible to receive a complimentary annual membership to MountainTrue. To activate your membership, please email members@mountaintrue.org.

First Saturday of the month clean-up in Chimney Rock, NC 3/7
2026-03-07 10:00 - 13:00 | Chimney Rock Village Public Parking, 432 Main St, Chimney Rock, NC, 28746

First Saturday of the month clean-up in Chimney Rock, NC 4/4
2026-04-04 10:00 - 13:00 | Chimney Rock Village Public Parking, 432 Main St, Chimney Rock, NC, 28746

First Saturday of the month clean-up in Chimney Rock, NC 5/2
2026-05-02 10:00 - 13:00 | Chimney Rock Village Public Parking, 432 Main St, Chimney Rock, NC, 28746

First Saturday of the month clean-up in Chimney Rock, NC 6/6
2026-06-06 10:00 - 13:00 | Chimney Rock Village Public Parking, 432 Main St, Chimney Rock, NC, 28746
