May 15 ESTATOE AND ANDY COVE
4.5 miles, 213’ ascent, R2, no car fee
Out and back from Lowe’s parking, it is a “lollipop” hike to and behind the Forest Service building.

May 22 SOAPSTONE RIDGE
6.2 miles, 600’ climb, R6, $3.00
From the gauging tower off Yellow Gap Rd. we hike in on the South Mills River trail, take a right onto a “user trail” hike up Soapstone Ridge to Barnett Branch, right, then down to Pink Beds, right, right again

May 29 BENT CREEK/ARBORETUM
4.5 miles, 200’ ascent, R4, suggested car fee:  $5.00
A shuttle hike (We will leave a car at the entrance to the Arboretum):  From Rice Pinnacle parking we hike out Deer Lake Lodge trail, left onto Hard Times Connector, left on Road 480, left on 480A (Old Bent Creek Gap rd., enter the Arboretum, right on Creekside trail, right on Wesley Branch trail to Visitor Center for lunch, take Carolina Mtn. trail to car(s) parked at the Arboretum entrance.

June 5 PANTHERTOWN, EXPLORING THE EASTERN SIDE
6 miles, 860’ ascent, 860’ descent, R7, car fee:  $5.00
Mac’s Gap trail, right at Little Green trail, diversion to Tranquility Point, back, diversion to Schoolhouse Falls, back to Panthertown Valley Trail, right, back to cars.

June 12 DUPONT STATE FOREST, QUARRY TRAIL
500’ ascent, 4.8 miles, R5, car fee $2.00
 An “in and out” hike, this hike begins at the Rich Mountain Rd. trailhead for the Cannon Creek Trail.  We follow this trail to Buckhorn Creek Trail and on to the Rock Quarry Road.   Lunch at the quarry, then return.

June 19 DANIEL RIDGE LOOP
5.6 miles, 900’ climb, R6, $2.00 car fee
From the Daniel Ridge parking we hike into the forest going clockwise completing the loop.

June 26 MST, CRAVEN GAP TO FOLK ART CENTER
5.4 miles, 300’ ascent, 1,125’ descent, R6, suggested car fee:  $5.00
A shuttle hike, we meet at the Folk Art Center about 9:45 AM, leave car(s) and carpool to Craven Gap to start the hike.  There is a nice rock promontory for lunch above the Parkway.

July 3 FISH HATCHERY TO MCCALL CEMETERY
7 miles, 830’ ascent R7, suggested car fee:  $2.00
An out and back hike from the Fish Hatchery.  We go up Cat Gap Loop, right on Butter Gap, right on Long Branch trail, right on Cemetery Loop a short distance to McCall Cemetery and return.  There is a good lunch stop back on Cemetery Loop near Long Branch trail.

July 10 GRAVEYARD FIELDS LOOP 2 (variation)
5 plus miles, 700’ ascent more or less, R8, $5.00
From Big Sam parking we hike out Ivestor Gap to Graveyard Ridge trail, turning right onto the Mountains to Sea Trail and returning to Rd 816 and hiking back to cars.

July 17 COVE CREEK/CANEY BOTTOM
4.7 miles, 700’ ascent, R4, $2.00 car fee
From parking (road from fish hatchery) we hike in on a gravel road and do the loop.

July 24 BUCK SPRINGS TO PISGAH INN
5.9 miles, 1,250 ascent, 65’ descent, R7, car fee: $4.00.
A shuttle:  leave a car at the Pisgah Inn, we will begin our hike at the Buck Springs parking on HWY 276.   There are 15 stream crossings and 8 switch-backs.  Let’s plan to have lunch at the Pisgah Inn?

July 31 OUT OF TOWN

August 7 MOUNTAINS TO SEA, GRAVEYARD FIELDS
6 miles, 1,100’ ascent/descent, R6, suggested car fee:  $5.00
From midway on Ranger Road 816 we hike around Black Balsam Mtn. to a junction with the Graveyard Ridge trail on the far side of Graveyard Fields, the go down to the lower falls for lunch.  We hike up to the BRP and hike back on that highway to 816, then return to our cars.  A “Plan B”  would be to hike from 816 and end the hike at Graveyard Fields.