News & Events: Hikes And Outings

Join Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (CMLC) on Saturday, April 27, for a guided wildflower hike through Transylvania County's Sherwood Forest. Hikers will enjoy an easy walk through a rich cove forest to observe a beautiful display of spring wildflowers.

CMLC has protected a total of 3.7 acres among multiple projects within the Sherwood Forest community, including 2.2 acres recently placed in conservation easement in late 2012. While small in size compared to other conservation projects, lands within Sherwood Forest and its vicinity are of particular ecological significance, hosting an abundance of rare plant species. Sherwood Forest is adjacent to the Little River--near its headwaters, and upstream from DuPont State Recreational Forest. It is also proximate to Cedar Mountain Bog, another ecologically-significant CMLC conservation project. Altogether, CMLC has protected 7,600 acres in the Little River watershed.

Total cumulative hiking distance is 2.5 miles. This hike is rated as easy in difficulty, featuring a total elevation gain of 500 feet.

Participants are required to be in reasonable physical condition and capable of completing a two and a half mile hike over uneven, forested terrain. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate dogs on this hike. Hikers should wear sturdy walking shoes (no flip-flops), bring several layers of clothing in preparation for changing warm and cold temperatures, pack plenty of water as well as a snack/lunch to eat during the hike. Hikers who attend are required to participate in the entire duration of the hike.

Space is limited on our hikes, so please reserve your spot today by using CMLC's Online Hike Sign-Up Form. Hike meeting locations and additional details will be sent upon confirmation of your spot on the hike within 1-2 days business days after requesting a spot. This hike can accomodate 20 hikers. Reservations for a spot on this hike will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis using:

CMLC's Online Hike Sign-Up Form

For questions, contact CMLC Outreach Associate Sarah Bromley at sarahb@carolinamountain.org. Please allow one full business day for a response to Hike Sign-Ups and hike inquiries.

CMLC conserves land and water resources to benefit the quality of life of residents and visitors in Henderson, Transylvania, and surrounding counties. Since 1994, the land trust has protected more than 23,000 acres of natural lands in our mountains.

Join Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (CMLC) on Saturday, February 23rd, for a hike through Transylvania County's wild East Fork Headwaters. Hikers will trek an out-and-back route along the Foothills Spur Trail, incorporating the two of the highest mountains in South Carolina: Sassafras Mountain and Whiteoak Mountain. En route to the trailhead, make a short stop and brief walk to East Fork Falls (pictured right), one of the tract's scenic waterfalls. The falls is not typically accessible to the public.

At more than 8,000 acres, the East Fork Headwaters (EFH) tract is the one largest privately-owned, undeveloped tracts in the southern Appalachians. Acquiring the tract may represent one of the last opportunities available to conserve such sizable and significant land in western North Carolina for public ownership ever again. The EFH contains the upper headwaters of the East Fork of the French Broad River, including 50 miles of high quality trout streams and 25 scenic waterfalls.  EFH also hosts nine miles of the Foothills Spur Trail, a branch of the esteemed 77-mile long distance Foothills Trail.

In 2009, CMLC and The Conservation Fund (TCF) acquired 786 acres of the tract buffering the nine mile Foothills Spur Trail along the NC/SC state line. In 2013, the NC Forest Service, TCF, and CMLC expect to acquire 1,500 additional acres of the EFF tract for public ownership.

Total cumulative hiking distance is 4 miles. This hike is rated as strenuous in difficulty, featuring steep trails with a total elevation gain of 1300 feet. This is a CMLC members-only hike. The outing contains a hike from each of  CMLC’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 1.0 (Foothills Trail) and CMLC’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 2.0, a program that challenges hikers to take complete hikes on lands conserved by CMLC.

Participants are required to be in reasonable physical condition and capable of completing a four mile hike over uneven, forested terrain. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate dogs on this hike. Hikers should wear sturdy walking shoes (no flip-flops), bring several layers of clothing in preparation for changing warm and cold temperatures, pack plenty of water as well as a snack/lunch to eat during the hike. Hikers who attend are required to participate in the entire duration of the hikes.

This hike is a CMLC members-only hike. To join CMLC or find out more information, visit www.carolinamountain.org. Space is limited on our hikes, so please reserve your spot today by using CMLC's Online Hike Sign-Up Form. Hike meeting locations and additional details will be sent upon confirmation of your spot on the hike within 1-2 days business days after requesting a spot. This hike can accomodate 25 hikers. Reservations for a spot on this hike will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis using:

CMLC's Online Hike Sign-Up Form

For questions, contact CMLC Outreach Associate Sarah Bromley at sarahb@carolinamountain.org. Please allow one full business day for a response to Hike Sign-Ups and hike inquiries.

CMLC conserves land and water resources to benefit the quality of life of residents and visitors in Henderson, Transylvania, and surrounding counties. Since 1994, the land trust has protected more than 23,000 acres of natural lands in our mountains. 

Green River Preserve (GRP) is CMLC's largest conservation easement and one of the largest in all of western NC. It contains a plethora of natural treasures and abundance of unspoiled mountain slopes making it one of the biggest and most biologically-diverse private wildlife preserves in western North Carolina.  More than 2,600 acres of GRP were conserved with CMLC in 2006. GRP hosts headwaters of the Green River watershed, including 22 miles of its tributaries and 8 miles of the river itself.  The Preserve abuts the 10,300 acre DuPont State Forest; its  seven mile boundary with DuPont serves as an ecological buffer and expands an exceptionally significant wildlife corridor. 

Also steeped in southern Appalachian cultural heritage, evidence of Native American habitation is routinely found in its many caves and secluded coves.  Remnants from the earliest mountain settlers of the Green River Valley are abundant throughout the Preserve, too. 

Join CMLC on Saturday, December 15th for a hike through the lush forests of Green River Preserve to reach Pretty Place, a scenic overlook at the edge of the dramatic Blue Ridge Escarpment. The out-and-back hike will ascend to the Eastern Continental Divide on woods road and exit GRP property to reach Camp Greenville on the North Carolina-South Carolina state line. The view from the Camp's Symmes Chapel, positioned at the edge of a cliff overlooking the South Carolina piedmont, is aptly named "Pretty Place". Total hiking distance is 4.5 miles. Hiking time will be approximately five hours including a stop of lunch while enjoying the view at Pretty Place; this does not include travel time to the hike itself.

This hike is rated MODERATE as it has a total elevation gain of 750 feet over its distance of 4.5 miles. Participants are required to be in reasonable physical condition and capable of completing a five mile hike over uneven, forested terrain. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate dogs on this hike. Hikers should wear sturdy walking shoes (no flip-flops), bring several layers of clothing in preparation for changing warm and cold temperatures, pack plenty of water as well as a snack/lunch to eat during the hike. Hikers who attend are required to participate in the entire duration of the hike.

This is a CMLC members-only hike. If you wish to attend this hike but are not yet a CMLC member, sign-up for CMLC membership. Space is limited on our hikes, so please reserve your spot today by using CMLC's Online Hike Sign-Up Form. Hike meeting locations and additional details will be sent upon confirmation of your spot on the hike within 1-2 days business days after requesting a spot. This hike can accomodate 25 hikers. Reservations for a spot on this hike will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis using:

CMLC's Online Hike Sign-Up Form

For questions, contact CMLC Outreach Associate Sarah Bromley at sarahb@carolinamountain.org. Please allow one full business day (or more around holidays) for a response to Hike Sign-Ups and hike inquiries.

On Saturday, July 21st, hike with CMLC at Tumbling Fun Falls in Sapphire. This protected property, owned by Patrick Horan and Noel Thurner, will be a special opportunity for the public to explore a private waterfall on the Blue Ridge Escarpment.

Adjoining the Nantahala National Forest, the property is home to several streams and waterfalls including the original Tumbling Fun Falls. We’ll hike mostly on logging roads and trails that the owners have worked to clear. The landowners will also offer a garden tour and discussion on incorporating native plants into landscape and food gardens.

 

This is a MODERATELY STRENUOUS 3 mile hike. Hikers must be capable of handling uneven ground and always be aware of their footing, as there are many small, sharp stumps covered by leaves on the trail that could result in injury.  Hikers should also come prepared with proper clothing, footwear, water and a snack or lunch. 

Space is limited for our hikes, so email chet@carolinamountain.org or call (828)697-5777x211 to reserve your spot today! Children 12 and over are welcome to join our hikes. We unfortunately cannot accomodate dogs at this time.