HALF-DAY SUNDAY HIKES
Hike Ratings
First Letter Second Letter
Distance Elevation Gain
AA: Over 12 miles AA: Over 2,000 ft.
A: 9-12 miles A: 1,500-2,000 ft.
B: 6-9 miles B: 1,000-1,500 ft.
C: Under 6 miles C: Under 1,000 ft.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-320 Jan. 7
Warren Wilson College Ramble 1:30 PM
Hike 5.5, Drive 20, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leaders, Barry and Heather Fletcher, 828-299-4776, hmflet@aol.com . This pleasant in-and-out walk is along the Swannanoa River and through wooded land of the Warren Wilson College campus, on the River and Dam Pasture Trails.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-500 Jan. 14
MST: US 25 to I-26 1:15 PM*
Hike 3.2, Drive 15, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Pat Elias, 828-687-1651, patelias@bellsouth.net
*Note early start time. A pleasant winter hike through the woods, parallel to the Blue Ridge Parkway between I-26 and US 25. Short car shuttle. *Meet at Westgate at 1:15 PM to form carpools, and meet hike leader at Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 south of I-26 at 1:30 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-168 Jan. 21
Pink Beds 1:00 PM*
Hike 4.2, Drive 65, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Laura Stallard, 828-697-1579
P400 *Note early start time. This is an easy loop hike with little elevation change, off US 276, not far from the Cradle of Forestry. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station at 1:30 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-499 Jan. 28
French Broad River Greenway 1:30 PM
Hike 4, Drive 10, Rated C-C
Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net
Asheville’s Greenway System now provides several opportunities for city walking. The leader, a member of the Greenway Commission, will describe plans for extending this riverfront trail and other existing and planned greenways within the City.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-316 Feb. 4
Carl Sandburg Park 1:00 PM*
Hike 4, Drive 50, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Lucy Prim, lucette32@mchsi.com , 828-693-6580
*Note early start time. Traverse the same trails that poet/biographer Carl Sandburg enjoyed by climbing Big Grassy Mountain behind his farmhouse. *Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at parking lot of Carl Sandburg Park at 1:30 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-064 Feb. 11
Fletcher Creek 1:00 PM*
Hike 6, Drive 48, Rated B-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703
P400 *Note early start time. From the Hendersonville Reservoir, we will hike for a brief time on the Big Creek Trail, then take a loop using Spencer Branch, Middle Fork and Fletcher Creek Trails. The hike includes a few stream crossings.*Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools, and meet hike leader at parking area just before the North Mills River Recreation Area at 1:30 PM.
Half-Day No.H0701-153 Feb. 18
Caney Bottom-Cove Creek Loop 12:30 PM*
Hike 6, Drive 80, 1000 ascent, Rated B-B Non-members call Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net P400 *Note Early Start Time We will park at the entrance to the Cove Creek group camp ground, follow Caney Bottom Trail (with a side trip to Jackson Falls), then Cove Creek Trail, stopping at beautiful Cove Creek Falls. Then we will follow Cove Creek Trail back to Caney Bottom trail and back to our cars. Two of the Pisgah Ranger District's hidden treasures.
*Meet at Westgate at 12:30PMto form carpools and meet hike leader at the Pisgah Ranger Station at 1:10 PM.
HALF DAY No. H0701-522 Feb. 25
Dupont Forest: Lake Imaging P.L. #2 12:30 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 94, 1200 ft ascent, Rated B-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Rusty Breeding, 828-692-0359, bree_lw@planetusa.net
*Note early start time. From the Lake Imaging parking lot, we will climb the newly re-opened Jim Branch Trail, and on a combination of other trails, we will visit Lake Dense, High Falls and Triple Falls, ending at the Hooker Falls parking lot. Short car shuttle. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet hike leader at parking lot of Bi-Lo at intersection of US 276 and NC 280 in Pisgah Forest at 1:00 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-553 Mar. 4
Montreat Loop #4 1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 40, 1000-ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Joe Burchfield, 828-298-8413, jdburch@wpo.cso.niu.edu
A moderate hike ascending the Lookout Trail over Lookout Rock and then following the East Ridge Trail to Sourwood Gap. Return will be by the Toll Road, the Buck Gap Trail, and the Old Trestle Road to the Lookout Trail. There will be a moderately steep ascent and a short rock scramble combined with an easy walk. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald's in Black Mountain off exit 64 of I-40 at 1:20 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-498 Mar. 11
High Windy 12:30 PM*
Hike 6, Drive 40, Rated B-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Renate Rikkers, 828-298-9988, rerikkers@aol.com
*Note early start time, and that this is the first day of DST. From the grounds of the 12,000-acre Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, we will combine the Carolina Loop Trail with the High Windy Trail for a gradual but steady ascent to the 4370-ft. summit of High Windy for rewarding views. *Only meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s in Black Mountain off exit 64 of I-40.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-344 Mar. 18
Pulliam Creek in the Green River Game Lands 12:30 PM*
Hike 6.5, Drive 60, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com
This pretty in-and-out hike goes along Pulliam Creek for part of the way, and our break might include viewing kayakers on the Green River. Join leader for dinner at Cracker Barrel after the hike.*Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet hike leader at NE corner of parking lot of Cracker Barrel off Exit 53 of I-26 at 1:00 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-196 Mar. 25
Vineyard Gap Loop 1:30 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 55, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net
P400 We’ll do a dry-foot loop hike on the Vineyard Gap and Riverside Trails, including a scenic trail along the S. Mills River. Note that there is a steep 400 ft. climb near the end of the hike. *Meet at Westgate at 1:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at Turkey Pen parking area at 2:00 PM. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map
HALF-DAY No. H0701-046 Apr. 1
Bent Creek Loop #12, MST side 1:30 PM
Hike 5, Drive 20, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net
P400 This loop hike will pass by Lake Powhatan and ascend to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail via the Sherman Stambaugh Trail. We will then descend on the Sleepy Gap Trail and wander along the Explorer and Pine Tree Trails.