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Winter Weather Checklist

Winter Weather Checklist

Winter Weather Checklist Wintertime brings a host of exciting options to adventurers eager to get on the trails in the amazing forests of Brevard and Transylvania County. From more expansive views to ice climbing to a car-free Blue Ridge Parkway, the opportunities for experiencing our natural landscape in a whole new way are many.  Like any season, winter comes with risks as well as rewards. Weather can change quickly. Temperatures drop at higher elevations. Knowing how to prepare yourself for cold weather is a critical component of how you can Leave It Better out on the trail, and it will keep you safe and worry-free on your next cold snap adventure. Here are a few tips so you don’t head out (snow) blind: 1 1 CHECK IT OUT BEFORE YOU GO. Many of Brevard and Transylvania’s public lands operate with smaller staffs during the winter months. That’s why it’s critically important to check on the status of trails, roads and landmarks before you go. Updated information can be found here: Pisgah National Forest       |      DuPont State Recreational Forest Gorges State Park      |      Blue Ridge Parkway 2 2 KNOW THE FORECAST. Understanding the local weather forecast goes a long way in knowing what type of conditions to anticipate. If the forecast calls for storms or dropping temperatures, consider rescheduling a long hike or a camping trip for milder conditions. Waterfalls can be particularly treacherous in winter due to freezing temps and require... Read More
Gears and Gills

Gears and Gills

Gears and Gills Double your fun by combining two favorite outdoor activities. The public lands in Transylvania County serve as the backdrop for myriad outdoor activities. For many, it means an opportunity to combine their favorite hobbies. Here are three great starter tips. ​ 1 1 KEEP IT SIMPLE Brevard resident Christian McLauchlin is a passionate mountain biker. But he also enjoys wetting a line from time to time. He likes nothing better than to combine his two passions, especially in the summer. “In the summer you don’t need boots and waders,” McLauchlin says. “So, all you really need is your flies, rod and reel and a pair of good sandals.” The minimal gear can easily be carried in a small backpack. What McLauchlin likes most about using his mountain bike is that it can take him to places he wouldn’t fly fish otherwise. “It allows you to get into places that people can’t get to from their car or that would require a long hike,” McLauchlin says. The appeal is obvious: fewer people, more fish and a more enjoyable experience. 2 2 DISCOVER TENKARA If you want to go super minimalist on fly fishing gear, Kevin Howell at Davidson River Outfitters suggests looking into the art of tenkara. Originating in Japan, this ancient form of fly fishing relies on very simple equipment that can easily be broken down or telescoped to fit in a small backpack. In Japanese, the word “tenkara” translates into “fishing from the skies.” Tenkara... Read More
Five Cool Things to Do

Five Cool Things to Do

Five Cool Things to Do in Rosman, Sapphire and Toxaway Travel southwest on Highway 64 from downtown Brevard and you’ll see a beautiful world unfolding before you. A temperate rainforest. The headwaters of the French Broad – one of the oldest rivers in the world. Spectacular, edge-the-world views from the Blue Ridge Escarpment, waterfalls and starry skies aplenty. These treasures and more are woven into the communities of Toxaway and Rosman, which offer visitors extraordinary opportunities for fun and unforgettable adventure. 1 1 HEADWATERS OUTFITTERS For more than 25 years, this family-owned outfitter has served as an outpost for all things French Broad River-related from paddling, tubing, and fishing to gearing up for your adventure or just hanging out after a good long float at their onsite Forks of the River taproom. Headwaters also plays host to live music, food trucks and special events, so it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on their goings-on when you plan your trip. Learn more about Headwaters Outfitters. 2 2 PARI This 200-acre Space Age Educational Center in Rosman was once a NASA relay station and a Department of Defense tracking station. These days, PARI hosts programs and events that welcome guests of all ages to explore the universe via their telescopes, museum, gallery, and Certified Dark Sky Park. With cabins on premises and special overnight packages on weekends, would-be astronomers can have a celestial experience at a truly out-of-this-world place. Learn more about PARI. 3 3 GORGES STATE PARK With... Read More
The Birds & The Bees

The Birds & The Bees

The Birds & The Bees Catching up with Brevard’s flying friends Brevard’s forests, mountains and streams are home to an endlessly fascinating and diverse population of wildlife to discover during North Carolina’s year of the trail. Some of its most interesting residents tend to go high, soaring over the trees and hovering over flower beds. Brevard is a special place to catch up on the birds and the bees, whether you’re the queen bee of honey hoarders or just looking to put a new feather in your cap. See You Later, Pollinator Adventurers with a sweet tooth will find much to enjoy at Killer Bees Honey in Toxaway. This small, family-owned apiary offers a variety of bee tours and honey tastings. If you want to get a true “hive” experience, you can suit up and drone with the drones themselves. Afterwards, sample some of the sweet stuff with cheese, crackers, meats, fruit, and a beverage (alcoholic or non-). Designated by the North Carolina Wildlife Commission as a Wildlife Refuge, Killer Bees provides a welcoming place for all the insects and animals that pollinate the surrounding Pisgah National Forest. A Warm Wel-Comb  Up the road from Killer Bees, the Southern Highlands Reserve is appropriately celebrated as a spectacular, native Blue Ridge plant arboretum, research center, and an A+ spot for scenic views. Gorgeous gardens, however, depend on happy bees.  Over the last ten years, Reserve staff noticed that “feral” or “wild” honeybees were on site.  For the past two years,... Read More
Mountain Roots Day Camp 2023

Mountain Roots Day Camp 2023

Discover and learn in the mountains of WNC this summer with Mountain Roots’ fun and educational day camps! Our camps are focused on the outdoors and connecting campers to each other, their community, and the natural environment. Preschool camp (ages 4 and 5): 9am – 12:00pm. Rising 1st-4th grade: 9am-4:00pm. Operating over the course of 7 weeks, the first 5 weeks will take place at Brevard Academy and the final 2 weeks will be at Fern Leaf Community Charter School. [PLEASE NOTE: Camp is in TWO locations]. See why so many families return to Mountain Roots Day Camp year after... Read More
Garden Room Tour–Viewsite

Garden Room Tour–Viewsite

Join us at the Viewsite as we close our 2019 visitors’ season with a Garden Room Tour! These tours offer a new way to experience the Reserve similar to Visitors’ Days, but focusing on a particular area that is in its peak. This is the perfect opportunity for garden lovers who have less time or are not able to walk the full tour. Tours begin promptly at 10 am and will last 1 hour. Please arrive no earlier than 9:30 – 9:45 for check in. Directions provided will give you an idea of approximate drive time. Roads to the gardens are curvy; plan according to your riders’ comfort level. Located at 4,500 feet elevation, we cover varied terrain much like hiking in the mountains of Western NC and the Blue Ridge Parkway. These conditions create a moderate to strenuous hiking/walking experience. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes, bring water bottle, camera, and bug... Read More
Visitors’ Day

Visitors’ Day

Visitors’ Days are held the first Tuesday of each month, April – October. Visitors’ Days provide the perfect outing for backyard gardeners, plant enthusiasts or professionals in the fields of horticulture, design and ecology. Visitors’ Days are best suited for first-time guests to SHR and are led by a Garden Tour Docent. Tours begin promptly at 10 am and will last 2 to 2.5 hours. Please arrive at 9:30 – 9:45 for check in. Directions provided will give you an idea of approximate drive time. Roads to the gardens are curvy; plan according to your riders’ comfort level. Located at 4,500 feet elevation, we cover varied terrain much like hiking in the mountains of Western NC and the Blue Ridge Parkway. These conditions create a moderate to strenuous hiking/walking experience. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes, bring water bottle, camera, and bug spray. We also invite our visitors to bring a sack lunch and enjoy lunch on the Rooftop Terrace or at the Chestnut Lodge picnic table following the... Read More
Azalea Propagation Workshop

Azalea Propagation Workshop

If you can’t get enough of native azaleas, join SHR horticulture experts and learn how to propagate your own…just in time for the coming harvesting season! The workshop will begin promptly at 10 am and will last one hour. Please arrive after 9:45 for check-in. Directions provided will give you an idea of approximate drive time. Be aware that the mountain roads are steep and curvy, so plan accordingly. Located at 4,500 feet elevation, we cover varied terrain much like hiking in the mountains of Western NC and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring a rain jacket. Please also bring a pair of hand pruners and gloves if available, a water bottle and bug... Read More
Visitors’ Day

Visitors’ Day

Visitors’ Days are held the first Tuesday of each month, April – October. Visitors’ Days provide the perfect outing for backyard gardeners, plant enthusiasts or professionals in the fields of horticulture, design and ecology. Visitors’ Days are best suited for first-time guests to SHR and are led by a Garden Tour Docent. Tours begin promptly at 10 am and will last 2 to 2.5 hours. Please arrive at 9:30 – 9:45 for check in. Directions provided will give you an idea of approximate drive time. Roads to the gardens are curvy; plan according to your riders’ comfort level. Located at 4,500 feet elevation, we cover varied terrain much like hiking in the mountains of Western NC and the Blue Ridge Parkway. These conditions create a moderate to strenuous hiking/walking experience. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes, bring water bottle, camera, and bug spray. We also invite our visitors to bring a sack lunch and enjoy lunch on the Rooftop Terrace or at the Chestnut Lodge picnic table following the... Read More
Floral Design Workshop with Kirk Moore of Oakleaf Flower & Garden

Floral Design Workshop with Kirk Moore of Oakleaf Flower & Garden

Learn tips and tricks of working with botanicals available to you from garden designer and historian Kirk Moore of Oakleaf Flower & Garden in Highlands, NC and Atlanta, GA! No matter what’s blooming in your yard, you will understand how to make the best selections and bring them together through harmony, proportion, scale and rhythm for an eye-catching centerpiece or elegant accent. Kirk has worked on significant projects for Colonial Williamsburg, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, Historic Savannah Foundation and countless private clients. His television show, “American Gardener”, on QVC was, for years, a popular source for garden requisites and ornaments. Moore was also a garden and lifestyle correspondent for ABC’s “Good Morning America” television show. For more than 20 years, he and his partner, Don Fry, have developed product collections for major retailers- Smith and Hawken, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Takashimaya, among others. The workshop will begin promptly at 10 am and will last one hour. Please arrive after 9:45 for check-in. Directions provided will give you an idea of approximate drive time. Be aware that the mountain roads are steep and curvy, so plan accordingly. Located at 4,500 feet elevation, we cover varied terrain much like hiking in the mountains of Western NC and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Please dress comfortably and bring a water... Read More
Viewsite Sip & Stroll

Viewsite Sip & Stroll

Please join Executive Director Kelly Holdbrooks to celebrate the season at the Viewsite in its peak with botanical cocktails, wine and hors d’oeuvres prepared by Asheville chef Brekken Casey. August 16  |  5 – 7 pm Casual... Read More