Calendar of Events

This hike is contingent on good weather.

Park at Craven Gap, this is an in & out hike. – 8.8 miles, 1345′ elevation gain

We will begin hiking at 10:00am, so please give yourself time to get there on time.

We will move at a moderate pace – 2.2 – 2.5 miles an hour or around 24-27 minutes per mile. There are a few vistas so we can stop momentarily to take in views, or snap photos. We’ll also stop for a snack at the lodge ruins.

This will be a “No Political” hike. Please keep your Red/Blue views at home and enjoy the views that the trail offers.

• Wear closed-toed footwear appropriate for hiking. The trail will consist of dirt, rocks, roots, and mud.

• Trekking poles are recommended.

• Well behaved leashed dogs are welcome.

Feel free to post questions not covered in this description in the comments section.

Cell phone service is pretty good along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2021! From April — October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 10 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

Register In Advance

Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Pre-registered participants must check in at the Baker Information Desk no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled program to keep their spot. Unclaimed spots will be offered to other guests.

Guests may sign up for trail walks in the following ways:

• Pre-register online, using the the link below.
• Sign up in-person at the Baker Information Desk.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2021! From April — October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 10 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

Register In Advance

Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Pre-registered participants must check in at the Baker Information Desk no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled program to keep their spot. Unclaimed spots will be offered to other guests.

Guests may sign up for trail walks in the following ways:

• Pre-register online, using the the link below.
• Sign up in-person at the Baker Information Desk.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2021! From April — October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 10 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

Register In Advance

Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Pre-registered participants must check in at the Baker Information Desk no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled program to keep their spot. Unclaimed spots will be offered to other guests.

Guests may sign up for trail walks in the following ways:

• Pre-register online, using the the link below.
• Sign up in-person at the Baker Information Desk.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Join us for Speed Coaching featuring Certified Coaches Wanda Marie and Lesley King. They are both experienced in Business and Life Coaching. To learn more about them, visit CoachWandaMarie.com and LesleyKingEmpower.com. To learn more about the event, visit plrconnectevents.com

Boogerman Loop 
7.4 miles | Difficult
Cataloochee Valley History, Old Growth Poplars, Elk

2021 CLASSIC HIKES OF THE SMOKIES

Discover America’s most-visited national park with a guided day hike! The Classic Hikes of the Smokies feature interpretation of the history, flora, and fauna of park trails. Hikes vary in distance, difficulty, and location within the park to provide a comprehensive overview of the Smokies, exposing hikers to high Appalachian vistas, streams teeming with aquatic life, the best collection of log structures on the Eastern Seaboard, and much more.

After completing registration…
You will receive an email the Friday before the hike with directions, and more information. All hikes begin at 9 a.m

We meet at the parking area of the French Broad River. We leave for the hike no later than 9:10 a.m. and hike 2.5 miles on the MTS trail and back for a total 5 miles hike. We walk at a pretty swift pace (2.7 to 3 mph). Hike is designed for fitness and conversation. We don’t take a break until we reach the turn around point, then we stop for brief water break. We repeat this hike on Friday. Then move on with our regular rotation of hikes.

Hikers who are new to hiking will likely be more comfortable on another meet up hike designed for people who are just beginning hiking or trying to get into shape for hiking. You might consider “WNC Easy Hikers Group,” for instance.

We meet at the parking area of the French Broad River off of Brevard Road. Coming from Asheville, go through the light at the arboretum intersection and you will see the parking area almost immediately on your left. We leave no later than 9:10 a.m. I think this is called the Brent Creek River Park.

Join instructor Jacqueline along with vocal meditation specialist and sound healer Shana Adams for this collaborative workshop experience.

The two will teach different breathing techniques and the benefits of each, linking them together with an asana to create a gentle flow. Shana will play the pan drum during the yoga portion.

After yoga, Shana will lead participants through a few sound activities for the collective group. She’ll then introduce the chakra bowls, in which Jacqueline will lead a point by point relaxation while Shana plays the chakra bowls, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere to fully unwind and release.

The workshop will end with a 7-10 minute savasana sound bath.

This workshop is $30. If you have a yoga membership, email or DM us for a 10% off discount code!

7 miles | Moderate Forest Walk, Holiday Celebration

2021 CLASSIC HIKES OF THE SMOKIES

Discover America’s most-visited national park with a guided day hike! The Classic Hikes of the Smokies feature interpretation of the history, flora, and fauna of park trails. Hikes vary in distance, difficulty, and location within the park to provide a comprehensive overview of the Smokies, exposing hikers to high Appalachian vistas, streams teeming with aquatic life, the best collection of log structures on the Eastern Seaboard, and much more.

After completing registration…
You will receive an email the Friday before the hike with directions, and more information. All hikes begin at 9 a.m

Whether you’re a seasoned actor who’s new to improv or an improviser who wants more tools – The Bearded Company is known for our particular performance style and we want to share what we know. Learn our passionate approach to characters, emotions, physicality, language, and connection to scene partners. Improv isn’t just a tool for comedy – join us in bringing love, rage and lunacy to the stage!

About The Bearded Company: 

Since 2006, The Bearded Company have been taking audiences on fully improvised adventures. In 2014, the Beards expanded their reach into Los Angeles. The group has created many sold-out shows including Swords and Sorcery: The Improvised Campaign, Bearded Manor, and their mainstay Epic Adventures. They now also have a new hit podcast, Break the Dice: The Improvised Campaign, created out of their D&D-based stage show. The Bearded Company also performs and teaches on tours and in festivals throughout the country and Canada. Whether they’re at their home theaters in LA or Minneapolis, on the road, or online, expect the unexpected.

Over the years we’ve told hundreds of stories without a script and we want to share what we’ve learned. If you’re a novelist, a screenwriter, or even a TikToker – discover how improv can help your storytelling. We will dive into genre, character work, poetry and more in our exploration of story.

About The Bearded Company: 

Since 2006, The Bearded Company have been taking audiences on fully improvised adventures. In 2014, the Beards expanded their reach into Los Angeles. The group has created many sold-out shows including Swords and Sorcery: The Improvised Campaign, Bearded Manor, and their mainstay Epic Adventures. They now also have a new hit podcast, Break the Dice: The Improvised Campaign, created out of their D&D-based stage show. The Bearded Company also performs and teaches on tours and in festivals throughout the country and Canada. Whether they’re at their home theaters in LA or Minneapolis, on the road, or online, expect the unexpected.

Join Namaste in Nature for a reflective meditation walk in the Park. De-stress during this peaceful hike focused on reconnecting with nature and yourself. Bring your partner or a friend and enjoy this mindfulness experience focused on the season of love and warmth.

Where: Carvers Gap on Roan Mountain Distance: 2.6 miles total. ~600 ft elevation gain. Difficulty: Moderate (5). Trail conditions will be icy. Cost: FREE for all participants Join the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy on February 13 for a hike from Carver’s Gap to Jane Bald in the Highlands of Roan. Participants will travel 2.6 miles atop the highest elevation balds in the Highlands of Roan, widely considered the most spectacular scenery along the Appalachian Trail. At the peak of Jane Bald, we will enjoy a natural, unobstructed 360-degree view. We hope to come across hoar frost and rime ice on our hike. Hoar frost and rime ice are beautiful ice formations that appear after a cold night. However, they form in different ways. Rime ice forms on nights when a cold fog or cloud cover is present. When supercooled water droplets in the fog come in contact with a surface below freezing, the water droplets freeze on contact. On the other hand, hoar frost forms on clear nights when gaseous water vapor freezes onto a below-freezing surface, bypassing the liquid phase. While hiking, our goal will be to find these ice formations. Note: There are many stretches of the trail covered with thick ice. Trekking poles are highly recommended. The weather for Sunday has highs in the mid-20s with a slight chance of snow. Please plan and dress accordingly.