Conserving Carolina’s Spring Hiking Series Begins March 3rd!
Conserving Carolina invites the community to enjoy the work that conservation organizations have done over the years to preserve our area’s natural resources. These special places not only provide important habitat for our native flora and fauna, but they also provide the public with the benefit of recreational opportunities such as walking, hiking, mountain biking, birding, botanizing, solitude, and so much more. This series will offer an opportunity to enjoy the spring season through five guided hikes taking place every other Friday.
Starting March 3rd, the first trek will head to the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area in Upstate South Carolina for a 5.6-mile, moderate, out and back hike along the Pinnacle Pass and Naturaland Trust trails to view Moonshine Falls. Hikers will have to crossing Matthews Creek using a cable crossing (one cable for your feet and one cable for your hands). This is the easiest way to cross the creek, but rock hopping and wading may be possible. Register here.
The next hike, on March 17th, will take place at Jocassee Gorges Management Area where the group will follow the Foothills Trail along Laurel Fork Creek to the 80-foot Laurel Fork Falls. This 7.1 mile, out and back hike is of moderate difficulty, with some wet crossings, and will offer the opportunity to view Oconee Bells (Shortia galacifolia) in bloom! The discovery of this rare plant was made by French botanist, André Michaux, and became his most important find. On June 13th, join us to learn more about Michaux and his botanical discoveries in the Carolina mountains by attending the Landrum Library Speaker Series which will feature Charles Williams, an expert on Michaux. Register for the hike here.
On March 31st, the group will head to Pinnacle Mountain (Long Ridge) in Table Rock State Park in South Carolina. The 5.5-mile, moderate hike will traverse areas affected by fires in the fall of 2016 and lead hikers to a granitic bald where, in the late 1990s, more than 600 prehistoric petroglyphs were discovered. The petroglyphs are believed to be created by the Hopewell culture and pre-date the Cherokee. They are thought to be between 1,500 and 3,500 years old. Before the hike, join Conserving Carolina and the Etowah Library on March 22nd for a free lecture about this site when noted naturalist, historian, and outdoor writer, Dennis Chastain, will be presenting, “Native American Rock Carvings of the Carolina Mountains.” Then, on May 23rd, Mr. Chastain will be at the Landrum Library Speaker Series to present on, “Cherokee of the Carolinas.” Register for the hike here.
On April 14th, the group will head to The Nature Conservancy’s Blue Wall Preserve for a 6.8-mile, moderately strenuous (strenuous due to a 1,000’ elevation gain over just one mile), out and back hike along the Blue Wall Escarpment. This hike offers beautiful mountain views, ponds, streams, forests, and a waterfall. Then on April 18th join us at the Landrum Library Speaker Series to learn about the preservation and ecology of this property from Kristen Austin, Upstate Conservation Director for The Nature Conservancy. Register for the hike here.
Finally, on April 28th, join us for NC Year of the Trail and celebrate trails and outdoor recreation in North Carolina as we head to Hickory Nut Gorge for a 5.6-mile, moderate, out and back hike along Conserving Carolina’s newest trail, Strawberry Gap! This hike will take participants past Ferguson Peak and up to Blue Ridge Pastures, offering spectacular views of Hickory Nut Gorge. Register here.