More National Trails Day Events

A couple of weeks ago I posted some local/regional events for the upcoming National Trails Day. Since then I've come across a few others that you might be intrested in.

National Trails Day is the American Hiking Society's signature trail awareness program, and it will take place on June 5th this year.

* The Great Smoky Mountains will be putting volunteers to work on two trail locations from 9 a.m. and 3 p.m: the Grassy Branch Trail near Cherokee and the Crooked Arm Ridge Trail in Cades Cove. Equipment, including work gloves, will be provided.

* Shenandoah National Park will offer a variety of guided hikes as well as some trail skill seminars for hikers and backpackers.

* The Southern Appalachian Back Country Horsemen will be doing trail maintenance work on the Mill Branch and the Iron Gap trails in the Cherokee National Forest.

* The SORBA Chattanooga chapter is sponsoring a work/play weekend at Big South Fork Recreation Area.

* The Cumberland Trail Conference will sponser two hikes along the Cumberland Trail near Soddy Daisy.

* Construction of a missing link of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail around Waterrock Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway is being directed by the Carolina Mountain Club. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Fork Ridge Overlook at milepost 229. 828.658.1489 or ccf108@gmail.com.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a four-mile, moderate to strenuous work hike with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Konnarock trail crew in the vicinity of Tellico Gap. Meet at Westgate Plaza in Franklin (opposite Burger King) at 8 a.m. 828.369.1983.

Here are a few other events I mentioned in my previous post:

* The Smoky Mountain Hiking Club will utilize the day as a trail repair and construction event. They will meet in Gatlinburg at 7:30 a.m. that morning.

* The Carolina Mountain Club will host a couple of hikes, including the Lakeshore Loop near Fontana Lake in the southern Smoky Mountains.

* Chimney Rock State Park will be offering free guided hikes on the hour from 11am to 3pm with park education staff and rangers who will discuss the plants and wildlife at the park.

* The Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club and will host a hike to Grassy Ridge Bald on Roan Mountain.

You can get more details on each of these, and see the complete list of events across the country, by clicking here. Please note that more events are being added as we get closer to June 5th.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

National Trails Day

American Hiking Society's signature trail awareness program, National Trails Day, will take place on June 5th this year.

One of the goals of National Trails Day is to inspire the public and trail enthusiasts nationwide to seek out their favorite trails to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails while participating in educational exhibits, trail dedications, gear demonstrations, instructional workshops and trail work projects.

There will be many events all across the country. The Smoky Mountain Hiking Club will utilize the day as a trail repair and construction event. They will meet in Gatlinburg at 7:30 a.m. that morning.

The Carolina Mountain Club will host a couple of hikes, including the Lakeshore Loop near Fontana Lake in the southern Smoky Mountains.

Chimney Rock State Park will be offering free guided hikes on the hour from 11am to 3pm with park education staff and rangers who will discuss the plants and wildlife at the park.

The Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club and will host a hike to Grassy Ridge Bald on Roan Mountain.

These are just a couple of examples. You can get more details on each of these, and see the complete list of events across the country, by clicking here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

National Trails Day at Shenandoah

Shenandoah National Park and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club will celebrate National Trails Day on June 5th. New hikers and experienced backpackers alike are invited to learn new trail skills and practice old ones at the Beyond the Trailhead event at the Byrd Visitor Center, milepost 51 on Skyline Drive. Come participate in hikes, demonstrations, and presentations throughout the day.

A variety of hikes guided by experienced Trail Patrol members will be offered for people of all ages and experience levels: hikes suitable for families with children and easy, moderate, and advanced hikes for adults. Hikers will need to meet at the registration table at Byrd Visitor Center 15 minutes before the hike time to sign in. Hikers should wear footwear and clothing for the season, and bring plenty of water.

Click here for the schedule of hikes. For more information on many of the trails in Shenandoah National Park, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

National Trails Day 2010 announced

The American Hiking Society has recently announced the date for National Trails Day 2010.

On June 5th, 2010, the American Hiking Society and outdoor enthusiasts across the country will celebrate the 18th annual National Trails Day, a celebration of America's magnificent trail system and its countless supporters and volunteers. More than 1500 events will take place around the country including trail maintenance, hiking, biking, paddling, horseback riding, bird watching, running and trail celebrations.

The theme for this years' National Trails Day, Find Your Happy Place, encourages all Americans to get outside, connect with local hiking clubs, outdoor retailers, local parks and recreation departments or federal land managing agencies to experience, appreciate and celebrate the outdoor places that make us happy.

National Trails Day is a celebration of trails that evolved from the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors, sponsored by President Ronald Reagan. The 1987 report recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing steps. The recommendation, dubbed Trails for All Americans, became the impetus behind several public and private parties joining American Hiking Society in launching National Trails Day in 1993.

For more information and to host an event, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.