Exploring 100 Years of Grandfather Mountai: A State Park Centennial Celebration
9872 NC-105 #6
Banner Elk, NC 28604
USA
August 26th & 27th
“Exploring 100 Years of Grandfather Mountain – A State Park Centennial Celebration” with Dr. Patrick McMillan
Friday, August 26
7:00pm to 9:00pm (Social from 7 to 7:30pm, Presentation begins at 7:30pm)
ASU Library, 218 College St, Boone (Room 114) (Google Map: https://goo.gl/ancIb2)
We hope that Friday evening’s presentation will inspire you to join us on Saturday for special Expeditions on Grandfather Mountain. These will be guided hikes on the Nuwati and Cragway Trails. Naturalists, scientists and environmental educators will be stationed along the way to enliven your hike with spirited presentations. Hikes will leave on the half hour from the Boone Fork Parking lot from 11am to 1:30pm. The Nuwati Trail is moderately easy with a 700’ gain in elevation. The trail surface is uneven and rocky with some stream crossings. There is an optional strenuous climb to Story Teller’s Rock where we will turn around. Total hiking distance is three miles, round-trip, and will take two hours.
Longer guided hikes will leave at 11:15am and 12:15pm for a four mile loop on the Nuwati, Cragway and Daniel Boone Scout trails. These hikes will not include interpretive stations along the way. This four mile loop gains 950’ in elevation, with 700 of those on the mile long Cragway Trail, which is strenuous, very steep, rocky, and rutted. Participants must be prepared for a strenuous hike and must be wearing appropriate closed toe shoes and must have water. Plan on three hours for this loop.
———–
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27
Expeditions on Grandfather Mountain
Saturday, August 27
11:00am; last expedition hike leaves at 1:30pm
Location: Boone Fork Parking Lot; Blue Ridge Parkway, just north of mile marker 300 (GPS: 36.120076, -81.781358) (Google Map:https://goo.gl/P3YjBb)
- Nuwati Hikes leave every 30 minutes beginning at 11:00am, the last hike leaves at 1:30pm.
- Cragway loop hikes leave at 11:15am and 12:15pm
- Plan two hours for the Nuwati Trail; three hours for the Cragway loop.
- No pets, please.
- Bring water.
- Dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes, appropriate for hiking.