Wednesday Wanderers

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:
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:   
Default:  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.
 
Note:  Hikers shouldn’t hike if they aren’t feeling well or have had recent exposure/tested positive for COVID, RSV or the flu. 
 
Wednesday Wanderers Summer 2026 Schedule

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.

Wanderers Devils Courthouse

7/8  Turkeypen – Pounding Mill
4 mi, 300’cl, R3, $3.00
Meet at Walmart Pisgah Forest near Goodwill Truck
From the Turkeypen trailhead we hike the South Mills River trail to “Pounding Mill Cove” on the river for lunch.  We return to our cars via the reverse route.
Note:  The swinging bridge over the South Mills River was destroyed by Helene and has not been rebuilt.  Therefore, we will enjoy a wet river crossing each way.  Hikers should use trekking poles and wear old hiking shoes that you don’t mind getting wet or put on water shoes for the crossings.  

Turkeypen – South Mills River Crossing

7/15  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.

Wanderers – Rainbow Falls Trailhead

 

7/22  Andy Cove – Exercise Trail – North Slope

 7/29   Big East Fork
3 mi, 450’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.

Wanderers – Big East Fork

8/5  MST – Elk Pasture to Stony Bald Overlook
3.5 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) for lunch at the Stony Bald Overlook.

Wanderers – Stony Bald Overlook

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 – Schoolhouse Falls
4,3 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  Sherwood Forest Ramble
2.6 mi, 300’cl, R2
Meet at Sherwood Forest Robin Hood Barn 
Brett will lead us on an easy hike in Sherwood Forest visiting 4 lakes along the way.  After lunch there will be opportunities to swim in one of the lakes.

9/9 To Be Announced

9/16   DuPont – Wintergreen Falls
4 mi, 250’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.

 
Photos Gallery Previous Hikes

Wanderers at The Wilds

 

 

Tuckasagee River High Falls

 

 

 

 

Wanderers and Cold Mountain


Toxaway  River Ramble

DuPont Three Lakes

2024-08-07 18.33.57Big East Fork
2024-08-21 11.06.07
Bridal Veil Falls

2024-04-18 06.48.50Pisgah Inn – Frying Pan

2024-05-01 09.44.11-1Sassafras Mountain Overlook

2024-05-22 10.39.30Ravencliff Falls

2024-06-19 20.28.47Slate Rock

2024-03-13 12.58.21-2Daniel Ridge – Tom’s Spring Falls

IMG_8699
Camp High Rocks