Sunday No. A2404-95      Oct 06, 2024
**CANCELED** Hemphill Bald from Polls Gap 8:00 AM
Hike 9.5, Drive 85, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated A-A,
Thomas Butler, 361-484-3381, butler.tom3381@gmail.com
First Meeting Place: Home Depot off Exit 44 of I-40.
Second Meeting Place: Maggie Valley Post Office at 8:30 AM
900M Contact hike leader via email for reservation. We will hike from Polls Gap to our scenic lunch spot at Hemphill Bald in the GSMNP, with outstanding views. The return route will be via the same trail. This hike is #37 of the 100 Favorite Trails. Note: A parking pass for each vehicle is required in GSMNP. For more info: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fees.htm.
Topo(s): Dellwood

Sunday No. A2404-464      Oct 13, 2024
**CANCELED** Balsam Gap to Greybeard Overlook 8:30 AM
Hike 7.4, Drive 45, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA, at-mst
Kelly O'Rourke, 434-249-5176, kellyleann@comcast.net
Only Meeting Place: Back parking lot of Folk Art Center. Contact hike leader by email for reservation. We will hike through a range of environments and landscapes, including rocky trail sections that require good footwear and hiking poles. This hike takes us from alpine vegetation through old hemlock and lichen-covered oak forest, over open blueberry balds with long-range views, and finally through lovely beech forest and sweeping native grasses to the Greybeard Overlook. We will return to our cars on the same trail. This hike is #85 of the 100 Favorite Trails.
Topo(s): Montreat

scout report: We are going to start at Greybeard Overlook and walk to Balsam Gap. We should have time to walk back to the Overlook seating area and have lunch. The trail is not overly difficult, and we should have some beautiful fall scenery! I have my order in for a nice day! ha-ha.

Saturday No. A2404-531      Oct 19, 2024
**CANCELED** Pisgah Inn to Beaver Dam Gap 10:00 AM
Hike 7.1, Drive 50, 1050 ft. ascent, Rated B-B, at-mst, p400
Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, cell 860-798-9905, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
Only Meeting Place: Tanger Outlets parking lot behind Waffle House off Exit 33 of I-26. The CMC celebrates Great Trails State Day with a hike on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. We begin our hike at the site of the Vanderbilt family's Buck Spring hunting lodge with a tour of the site and a little history. Then we'll head over Little Pisgah and down the Shut-in portion of the MST. Along the way we'll have great views of the Mills River Valley and (hopefully) beautiful fall leaves. This is hunting season; wear orange.
Topo(s): Dunsmore Mt

Sunday No. A2404-983      Oct 20, 2024
**CANCELED** Noland Creek 8:30 AM
Hike 10.2, Drive 140, 900 ft. ascent, Rated A-C,
Danny Bernstein, 828-450-0747, dannyhiker@gmail.com
Only Meeting Place: Food Lion - 35 Westridge Market Pl. Candler. 900M Contact hike leader by email for reservation. Noland Creek Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is famous for its quiet walk along the creek and its many historical artifacts. The trailhead is off Lakeshore Road out of Bryson City, NC. We will walk on an old road and pass a homestead, a power plant (1930s style), a picnic site where we will have lunch and a large cemetery. On our return, we will continue the hike out and back past where we parked to campsite #66 to see a finger of Fontana Lake. See https://friendsofthesmokies.org/blog/trails-forever-hikes-july-2024-recap-noland-creek-trail/ for more information. NOTE: A parking pass for each vehicle is required in the GSMNP. For more information: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fees.htm.

Saturday No. A2404-375      Oct 26, 2024
**CANCELED** Sams Gap to Rice Gap 8:45 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 50, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-A, at-mst
Jim Magura, 828-606-3989, jqs290@gmail.com and Judy Magura, 828-606-1490, quilter290@gmail.com
First Meeting Place: 160 Zillicoa St. (USFS parking lot) off Exit 25 of I-26.
Second Meeting Place: Publix at 165 Weaver Blvd. Weaverville; lower end of parking lot off Exit 19 of I-26 at 9:00 AM
Form carpools and meet leaders at second meeting place. Contact hike leaders by email for reservation. An in-and-out hike on the A.T. in the beautiful open forest from Sams Gap to Rice Gap, with a visit to Hogback Ridge shelter, built by CMC members. We'll hope for bright leaf color. This is hunting season; wear orange.
Topo(s): Sams Gap

Sunday No. A2404-762      Oct 27, 2024
**CANCELED** Mt. Cammerer from Davenport Gap 8:00 AM
Hike 11.4, Drive 100, 3000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA, ltc
Mike Knies, 828-253-6114, knies06@att.net
Only Meeting Place: Home Depot off Exit 44 of I-40. 900M This hike follows the A.T. from Davenport Gap to the historic fire lookout atop Mt. Cammerer. Strenuous, but the payoffs are a good workout and what Backpacker Magazine calls the best Tennessee view in the Smokies. This hike is #29 of the 100 Favorite Trails. NOTE: A parking pass for each vehicle is required in the GSMNP. For more information: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fees.htm.
Topo(s): Waterville

Sunday No. A2404-962      Nov 03, 2024
Eastatoe Passage and Raven Rock Trail 9:00 AM
Hike 7.8, Drive 130, 1588 ft. ascent, Rated B-A,
Norm Sharp, 864-268-9409, cell 864-609-7182, norm.Sharp@att.net
First Meeting Place: Tanger Outlets parking lot behind Waffle House off Exit 33 of I-26.
Second Meeting Place: Holly Springs Country Store at SC 11/US 178 intersection at 10:15 AM
Contact hike leader by email for reservation. Form carpools and meet leader at second meeting place.First day of EST. Limit of 15 hikers. After meeting at 2nd meeting place, we will drive 6.3 miles to the trailend on Roy Jones Rd. off SC 11 to drop off shuttle vehicles, then drive 5.2 miles to the trailhead at the Jocassee Gorges Visitor Center in Keowee-Toxaway State Park. We will first hike the three-mile Raven Rock Trail loop in the State Park. The loop will take us to the scenic shores of Lake Keowee for lunch and on to a rock known as Party Rock with a great view to the west. We will then hike 4.6 miles on the Palmetto Trail, crossing two suspension bridges that were rebuilt in late 2020 due to flooding damage. Car shuttle.

Saturday No. A2404-101      Nov 09, 2024
Laurel River Trail 10:00 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 60, 750 ft. ascent, Rated B-C,
Marielle DeJong, 828-553-7027, maredejong4@gmail.com
First Meeting Place: 160 Zillicoa St. (USFS parking lot) off Exit 25 of I-26.
Second Meeting Place: Corner of US 25/70 & NC 208 at 10:30 AM - but contact leader first.
Contact hike leader via email for reservation. Hike along the beautiful Laurel River with whitewater, big rocks and surrounding high cliffs to the French Broad River and visit the ruins of the old logging village of Runion. Return via the same trail. This hike is #43 of the 100 Favorite Trails. This is hunting season; wear orange.
Topo(s): Hot Springs

scout report: Fall flowers and lovely weather made for a lovely scout on Laurel River Trail. Danny Bernstein and I got an early start and saw few others on our gentle descent down the trail to the French Broad. We explored the remains of Runion, and saw many Hearts A'Bustin. This is a wonderful hike.

Sunday No. A2404-877      Nov 10, 2024
Hemphill Bald from Cataloochee Ranch 9:45 AM
Hike 5.1, Drive 75, 750 ft. ascent, Rated C-C,
Bev MacDowell, 828-777-5806, bevmacdowellhappy@gmail.com
Only Meeting Place: Home Depot off Exit 44 of I-40. 900M Text or call Bev MacDowell for more information and reservation. Lunch at the newly owned and remodeled Cataloochee Ranch, a rustic retreat above Maggie Valley, from 11-1pm. (lunch averages $25) After lunch we’ll hike to the beautiful views from Hemphill Bald. It is all about the views! Lunch will happen rain or shine. Hikers are expected to participate in the fun lunch.
Topo(s): Dellwood

Sunday No. A2404-862      Nov 17, 2024
Cove Creek Gap to Swag 8:00 AM
Hike 11.0, Drive 62, 1900 ft. ascent, Rated A-A,
Lorraine Bernhardt, 828-699-8857, lsbernhardt50@gmail.com
Only Meeting Place: Home Depot off Exit 44 of I-40. 900M Limit of ten hikers. Contact hike leader for reservation. This shorter version of #862 will follow Cataloochee Divide Trail, with great views of valleys and distant mountains, to The Swag. Return on same trail.
Topo(s): Cove Creek Gap

Saturday No. A2404-439      Nov 23, 2024
Pounding Mill Loop 8:30 AM
Hike 9.5, Drive 36, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated A-B, p400
Les Love, 828-230-1861, lesrlove55@gmail.com and Catherine/Mrs Les Love, 828-658-1489, catmlove2@gmail.com
First Meeting Place: Tanger Outlets parking lot behind Waffle House off Exit 33 of I-26.
Second Meeting Place: Ingles on NC 191/280 N end of parking lot in front of Pardee Urgent Care (Mills River) at 9:00 AM - but contact leader first.
Contact the hike leaders by email for reservation. This rarely led hike takes the South Mills River Trail from Turkey Pen Gap to the Pounding Mill Trail and on to Squirrel Gap Trail. We'll continue onto Pea Gap and then return on the Bradley Creek Trail. This is hunting season, wear orange.
Topo(s): Pisgah Forest

Sunday No. A2404-372      Nov 24, 2024
Big Fork Ridge to Rough Fork Loop 8:00 AM
Hike 9.6, Drive 70, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated A-A,
Donna Lanning, 828-606-7956, dblanning@bellsouth.net
Only Meeting Place: Home Depot off Exit 44 of I-40. 900M Contact hike leader via email for reservation. From the end of the road in Cataloochee Valley, hike up the Big Fork Ridge Trail, then turn right onto the Caldwell Fork Trail. Pass by record-size tulip poplar trees, then turn downhill on the Rough Fork Trail.
Topo(s): Dellwood

Sunday No. A2404-142      Dec 01, 2024
Jerry Miller Trail to A.T. to Big Firescald Knob 8:30 AM
Hike 10.5, Drive 92, 2050 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA, at-mst
Tish Desjardins, 828-380-1452, tishdesjardins8@gmail.com
First Meeting Place: 160 Zillicoa St. (USFS parking lot) off Exit 25 of I-26.
Second Meeting Place: Corner of US 25/70 & NC 208 at 9:15 AM
Form carpools and meet leader at second meeting place. No reservation needed. This moderate version of #142 will go up the Jerry Miller Trail to Bearwallow Gap, then right on the A.T. to Big Firescald Knob for lunch and exceptional views. After lunch, we'll retrace our route back to our cars.
Topo(s): Greystone

Sunday No. A2404-499      Dec 08, 2024
Greenways around Asheville 9:00 AM
Hike 8.8, 100 ft. ascent, Rated B-C,
Karen Schultz, 312-241-3329, schultz.karenj@gmail.com and Ken Scharmann, 847-772-4693, kennethscharmann@gmail.com
Only Meeting Place: Parking lot on Craven St. just north of New Belgium Brewery (west side of river). Contact hike leader via email for reservation. This variation of hike #499 is a lollipop loop hike and follows the greenways along the French Broad River. Our hike will include the newest greenway behind New Belgium Brewery to Carrier Park. We will continue along the French Broad to Hominy Park, where we will turn and travel back through Carrier Park, past the future Karen Cragnolin Park, up and over Amboy Bridge and return to the Craven St. parking lot along the bike trail on Lyman and Riverside Drive.
Topo(s): Asheville

Saturday No. A2404-989      Dec 14, 2024
Fawn Lake P.L. # 6 - Turkey Knob East 8:00 AM
Hike 8.6, Drive 85, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B,
Carroll Koepplinger, 828-231-9444, cakoep29@gmail.com
First Meeting Place: Tanger Outlets parking lot behind Waffle House off Exit 33 of I-26.
Second Meeting Place: Pisgah Forest Walmart parking (back of center aisles close to Taco Bell) at 8:30 AM
Contact hike leader via email for reservation and selection of meeting location. We will leave Fawn Lake P.L. at 9:15 am and carpool to Turkey Knob trailhead (limited parking), which is 2 mi. from Fawn Lake P.L. This is an in-and-out hike through open woods in DuPont Forest with all trails (Turkey Knob, Twin Oaks & Table Rock Trails) rated as moderate. There is one minor rock-hop shallow stream crossing. This is hunting season; wear orange.

Sunday No. A2404-509      Dec 15, 2024
Sky Valley P.L. #1 - Stone Mtn. 9:00 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 80, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B,
Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, cell 828-567-9443, bbente@bellsouth.net
First Meeting Place: Tanger Outlets parking lot behind Waffle House off Exit 33 of I-26.
Second Meeting Place: Pisgah Forest Walmart parking (back of center aisles close to Taco Bell) at 9:30 AM
Contact hike leader via email for reservation. Form carpools and meet leader at second meeting place. This moderate hike will start at the Sky Valley parking lot in DuPont State Forest, with a steep climb up Stone Mountain, the highest peak in Dupont State Forest. Short car shuttle.
Topo(s): Standingstone Mtn

Sunday No. A2404-212      Dec 22, 2024
Sassafras Mountain to Drawbar Cliffs & Return 8:00 AM
Hike 10.5, Drive 92, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA,
Kathy Cornn/Kyle, 828-458-1282, katherinenkyle@gmail.com and Michael Cornn, 828-458-1281, mwcornn@gmail.com
First Meeting Place: Tanger Outlets parking lot behind Waffle House off Exit 33 of I-26.
Second Meeting Place: Pisgah Forest Walmart parking (back of center aisles close to Taco Bell) at 8:30 AM - but contact leader first.
Contact the hike leaders by email for reservation. This out and back hike will begin at Sassafras Mountain, following the Foothills Trail downhill toward Table Rock State Park. We'll stop at our lunch and turnaround spot on Drawbar Cliffs with fantastic views and granite rocks. The Foothills Trail is a well-maintained trail with gradual slopes. The return trip will be mostly uphill. If time permits, option at end to take a short trail to the peak of Sassafras Mountain, the highest peak in South Carolina.
Topo(s): Table Rock

Saturday No. A2404-290      Dec 28, 2024
Shut-in Trail through Bent Creek 9:00 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 10, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-C, at-mst
Karen Lachow, 703-395-5879, heyk127@hotmail.com
First Meeting Place: Tanger Outlets parking lot behind Waffle House off Exit 33 of I-26.
Second Meeting Place: Bent Creek River Park off NC 191 at 9:15 AM - but contact leader first.
Contact hike leader by email for reservation. This hike starts on the Shut-in Trail, a section of the MST paralleling the Blue Ridge Parkway with winter views of the French Broad River and some distant mountains. We will turn off into Bent Creek Forest onto Hard Times Trail, taking the Rocky Cove Trail into the NC Arboretum to the Bent Creek Trail where we can wander in and out of the Creekside Trails. Next, we’ll take the Carolina Mountain Trail to a lovely spot next to the creek for lunch. We will continue through the Winter Lights decorations in the gardens, make a stop at the Education Center, then take the Wesley Branch Trail down to the gatehouse and back to our cars. This is hunting season; wear orange.
Topo(s): Asheville

Sunday No. A2404-458      Dec 29, 2024
Raven Cliff Falls Trail to Dismal Trail 8:00 AM
Hike 10.0, Drive 74, 2500 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA, wc100
Henry Kassell, 845-656-5528, hkassell@gmail.com
First Meeting Place: Tanger Outlets parking lot behind Waffle House off Exit 33 of I-26.
Second Meeting Place: Pisgah Forest Walmart parking (back of center aisles close to Taco Bell) at 8:30 AM - but contact leader first.
Contact the hike leader by email for reservation. This hike will begin on the Raven Cliff Falls Trail, a mostly level trail with some rolling ups and downs. We will then take the Dismal Trail down, with a steep elevation change of 1200 ft. The decision to continue to Moonshine Falls will be determined after it is scouted by the leader. Return the same way. (NOTE: $3 fee per person for park entry).
Topo(s): Table Rock