The Wanderers is an easy hiking group that targets 3 to 5 miles with less than 500 feet of climb.  This group hikes at a rate of 1 to 2 miles per hour.  Hikes range from the R1 to R5 difficulty level based upon the Pisgah Hikers rating scale.  The group takes breaks on uphill sections of trails to rest, smell the flowers, enjoy the views and take pictures.   

If you are interested in hiking with the Wanderers, please contact one of the hike leaders listed below.

Hike Leader: Jay Hinze:      rtbzrh@gmail.com   RSVP

Updates:  Updates are posted on the website every Tuesday morning for the next day’s hike.  To receive Updates automatically by email, hikers must subscribe by clicking on the +Follow button at he bottom right hand corner of any webpage and entering their email address.  Otherwise find the Update by selecting the Updates page on the website.  Hikers can Unsubcribe by clicking that button on the top of the Update email they receive.

Assembly Areas:   Pisgah National Forest Ranger Station/Visitor Center in the side lot near the blue dumpster.  Alternate Assembly Areas may be selected depending on the location of the hike.  Directions from Brevard to every Assembly Area can be found by clicking this link:  Assembly Areas

 

Departure Time: 9:00.  Please arrive at the assembly area by 8:45 to organize carpools.

Car pooling is practiced but not required.   Driver fees are determined by the distance to the trailhead from the Assembly Area for the hike. 

 

Hikes may be changed or cancelled based upon the weather forecast.

 

 

7/1 MST–Devils Courthouse
3 mi, 300’cl, R2, $5.00
From the Black Balsam trailhead we hike the MST to Devils courthouse where our shuttle awaits.

7/8  Turkeypen – Pounding Mill
4 mi, 300’cl, R3, $3.00
From the Turkeypen trailhead we hike the South Mills River trail to Pounding Mill cove.  The swinging bridge over the South Mills River was destroyed by Helene.  Therefore, we will enjoy a wet river crossing each way.  After lunch at the cove, we return to our cars via the reverse route.

7/15 To Be Announced

7/22 Whiteside Mountain
2 mi, 500’cl R4, $7.00
Meet at Savmor
If you like vistas, this hike is for you.  From the Whiteside Mountain trailhead near Highlands, we hike the Whiteside Mountain loop counterclockwise.  We will stop at one of the many vistas along the way for lunch. 

7/29  MST – Elk Pasture to Stony Bald Overlook
4 mi, 200’cl, R3, $7.00
After dropping a shuttle at the Stony Bald Overlook on the Parkway, we hike the MST from Elk Pasture Gap (at the junction of NC151 and the Parkway) to our shuttle at the Stony Bald Overlook.

8/5   Big East Fork
4 mi, 600’cl, R5, $4.00
From gravel parking lot near the Looking Glass Rock overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway we hike the MST, Bridges Camp and Big East Fork trail to the group campsite on the Big East Fork.  We return by the reverse route.

Gorges State Park – Rainbow Falls
4 mi, 500’cl, R5, $5.00
Meet at Savmor 
From the Rainbow Falls parking lot in Gorges State Park we hike to Rainbow Falls and back.

8/12  Black Balsam – Tennent
4 mi, 500’cl, R5, $5.00
From the Sam Knob parking lot on FS816 we hike the Art Loeb Spur trail to the Art Loeb trail over Black Balsam and Tennent.  We take a shortcut to the Ivestor Gap trail and return to our cars.

8/19  Panthertown – Warden Falls – Sandbar
4 mi, 480’cl, R4, $5.00
Meet at Savmor 
From the Cold Mountain trailhead in Panthertown we hike to Warden Falls       and the Sandbar before returning to our cars.

8/26  Daniel Ridge Out and Back
3 mi, 200’cl, R3
From the Daniel Ridge trailhead we hike the south leg of the Daniel Ridge loop to “Elbow Falls”.  We return via the reverse route stopping for lunch at Jackson/Tom’s Spring/Daniel Ridge Falls.

9/2  To Be Announced

9/9  To Be Announced

9/16   DuPont – Wintergreen Falls
4 mi, 300’cl R4, $0.00
Meet at the Sky Valley Paring Lot
From the Sky Valley Parking lot in DuPont State Forest we hike several trails eventually arriving at Wintergreen Falls.

9/23  Connestee Falls Ramble
2 mi, 400’cl, R3, $0.00
Meet at the Connestee Falls parking lot.
From the Batson Creek trailhead in Connestee Falls one of our Connestee Falls residents will lead a hike on the Batson Creek trail to Batson Creek/Connestee Falls.  Then we hike the Carson Creek trail to William Falls.  We hike several trails back to our cars.

9/30 Sam Knob
4 mi, 600’cl, R4, $5.00
From the Sam Knob parking lot we cross the meadow and hike up to Sam Knob.  We visit each of the two knobs and have lunch at the south knob.

 

 

 

3/25 Toxaway River Ramble
4 mi, 400’cl, R4, $3.00
Meet at Savmor
From the trailhead near Toxaway Creek we hike to the Lunar Falls overlook, Boushell Falls and Taper Falls before returning to our cars.

 

4/1  Buck Spring In and Out
3 mi, 150’cl, R2, $3.00
From the Wagon Road Gap overlook on the BRP we hike the MST past “Promontory Stump” to the Barnett Branch trai to our shuttle on Yellow Gap road.

4/8  Pisgah Ridge
4 mi, 200’cl, R2, $5.00
From the trailhead on FS816 we hike the Pisgah Ridge (VFT) trail to its terminus at the MST.  Then we hike back to our shuttle at the Looking Glass Rock overlook.

4/15  Tuckasegee River – High Falls
4 mi, 400’cl, R3, $7.00
Meet at Savmor
From the High Falls North trailhead on Shoal Creek Mountain Road north of Glenville, we hike the Tuckasegee River to High Falls checking out Thurston Hatcher Falls along the way.  We should see lots of spring wildflowers on this hike.  We return to our cars by the reverse route.

4/22  North Carolina Arboretum
4.5 mi, 300’cl, R3, $2.00
Meet at Ingles Mills River  (Park in the last row next to North Mills River Road
Alternate Meeting Place: Bent Creek River Park
From the Shut-in Trail parking lot in the North Carolina Arboretum, we hike the Bent Creek trail to the Carolina trail through the Annual Azalea display to Visitor Center for our packed or purchased lunch.  We return to our cars via the Wesley Branch and the Old Mill trail.  Please bring your Arboretum pass if you have one.  Drivers will need it to access the Shut-In trailhead. 

4/29  Beech Bottom Falls – Graveley Mill Falls
3 mi, 400’cl, R3 $3.00
Meet at the Island Ford Road Takeout on the French Broad River
This is a 3 part easy adventure.  From the trailhead on Van Clayton highway, we hike to  the Beech Bottom Falls overlook.  We return to our cars and drive to Sassafras Mountain for a photo shoot.  Then we get back in our cars and hike to Graveley Mill Falls.   Hikers are invited to your leader’s house for refreshments after the hike.

5/6  DuPont–Wilkie Trail –  Quarry Loop
4 mi, 400’cl, R3, $0.00     
Met at the Corn Mill Shoals parking lot 
From the Corn Mill Shoals parking lot we hike Wilkie trail to the Micajah trail to the Rock Quarry trail to the Wilkie trail trail back to the parking lot.

5/13  Buck Spring – Campground Loop
3 mi, 200’cl, R2, $4.00     
From the Pisgah Inn we hike the Buck Spring trail past the Mt. Pisgah trailhead to the Campground trail and back to the Pisgah Inn.  Plan to eat lunch at the Pisgah Inn.

5/20  Ravencliff Falls
4 mi, 525’cl, R4, $0.00
Meet at Cedar Mountain Community Center
From the Ravencliff Falls parking lot on US276 we hike to the overlook for photos and a snack. We return to our cars by the reverse route.  We get back in our cars and drive to Caesars Head for lunch at the overlook.

5/27  Twin Falls
4 mi, 300’cl, R4, $0.00
From the Buckhorn Gap Trailhead on Avery Creek Road, we hike the Buckhorn Gap trail to Twin Falls and back,

6/3   Graveyard Fields to Skinny Dip Falls
4 mi, 400’cl, R5, $5.00
From the Graveyard Fields trailhead on the Blue Ridge Parkway,we hike to the Second Falls for a photo shoot. Then we hike the MST above Dark Prong to Skinny Dip Falls for lunch.  After lunch we hike to our shuttle at the Looking Glass Rock Overlook.

6/10  North Slope
4.5 mi, 400’cl, R4
Meet at the Ranger Station; 8:45
Karen will lead this hike.
From the Pisgah Ranger Station/Visitor Center, we hike the Exercise trail over the new English Chappel bridge to the North Slope trail and Exercise trail to the Pisgah Ranger Station/Visitor Center,

6/17  Cat Gap Loop
5 mi, 500’cl, R5
Meet at the Fish Hatchey parking lot at 8:45
Lindsley will lead this hike.
From the Cat Gap Loop trailhead at the Fish Hatchey, we hike the Cat Gap Loop trail clockwise skipping John Rock.  The loop is made easier by hiking the Bipass trail along the way.

6/24  Fly Poison Hike
4 mi, 500’cl, R4, $7.00
Meet at Savmor
From Bear Pen Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway we hike the Mountains-to-Sea trail to Haywood Gap where our shuttle awaits.  Hopefully the fly poison flowers will be in bloom along the way.

Photo Gallery Previous Hikes

Toxaway River Ramble
DuPont Three Lakes

High Falls – Tuckasagee RiverSchoolhouse Falls
Big East Fork

Bridal Veil Falls

Lake Julia

Pisgah Ridge

Upper Log Hollow Falls

Pisgah Inn – Frying Pan

Sassafras Mountain Overlook

Ravencliff Falls

Rainbow Falls 
Slate Rock

Cedar Rock Creek Rock Hop

Daniel Ridge – Tom’s Spring Falls