New wildflower trail to open
Nodding Trillium Garden, the Pittillo Family Nature Preserve, will hold a grand opening of its wildflower garden trail on Wednesday,…
Read More
Farmland conservation project concludes in Haywood
A 385-acre tract of productive, scenic farmland in Haywood County has now been permanently protected thanks to efforts from the…
Read More
Forest Service facilities open for the season
Seasonal road openings are beginning on the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests.
Read More
Solar array complete in Murphy
A new solar project is now complete at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel in Murphy following a ribbon-cutting…
Read More
The Naturalist's Corner: Breath still bated
Maybe it’s March Madness, maybe it’s simply madness, but I’m looking at the Lake Junaluska eagles and thinking “they’re gonna…
Read More
Outdoors store opens on WCU campus
Western Carolina University once more has an outdoors store on campus following the closure of Blackrock Outdoor Company.
Read More
Cradle of Forestry to open season with living history
The 2019 season of events at the Cradle of Forestry in America will kick off Saturday, April 6, with the…
Read More
Founder’s grandson reopens RollsRite Bicycles
When John Mudge opened RollsRite Bicycles in 2002, his grandson Zack Moss was only 9 years old. Moss grew up…
Read More
New relay planned for Western NC
A relay race set to debut this year will offer teams of four the challenge of traveling from Asheville to…
Read More
‘Leader of leaders’: New Smokies chief ranger brings impressive career to America’s most visited park
After decades roving the backcountry of some of the largest parks in the Western United States, Lisa Hendy is returning…
Read More
Conservation easement protects Parkway view
A recently conserved 50-acre property is the third conservation easement that George Rector and Joan Byrd have donated to Mainspring…
Read More
Smokies ranger earns national award
A National Park Service ranger who has focused on the scientific and educational significance of the Great Smoky Mountains National…
Read More
Waynesville Parks and Rec wants opinions
The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department is looking for feedback on its programs through a survey now online.
Read More
Fly fishing museum seeks donations
Donations are wanted to help create a display set for the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians and Appalachian…
Read More
The Naturalist's Corner: Bated breath
I am sure I’m not the only one hoping the Lake Junaluska eagles are successful this nesting season. It seems,…
Read More
Cullowhee gets new welcome sign
A new sign along Old Cullowhee Road now welcomes visitors and residents alike to Cullowhee’s historic center, thanks to efforts…
Read More
Dam removal possible for Cullowhee: Draft report gives optimistic findings, but questions remain
A recently released draft report bodes well for the possibility of removing the dilapidated Cullowhee Dam without compromising the water…
Read More
National Park visits up despite shutdown
Despite a government shutdown that lasted most of the month, visitation in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was markedly…
Read More
Parkway visitation falls in 2018
According to recently released statistics from the National Park Service, the Blue Ridge Parkway logged its lowest visitation since 2014,…
Read More
Greenhouse gas inventory released
The Greenhouse Gas Inventory requested by a recent executive order from Gov. Roy Cooper has now been released by the…
Read More
The Naturalist's Corner: The St. Croix chronicles
St. Croix’s adolescent hormones were coursing through his lean muscular body when the urge to leave the Black Hills of…
Read More
Statewide wildfire response drill comes to Haywood
In the midst of an exceptionally warm, dry winter, a wildfire erupted on Mount Lyn Lowry. About 170 acres when…
Read More
First female chief ranger hired in the Smokies
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will have its first female chief ranger following the hire of Lisa Hendy, who…
Read More
Congress votes to reauthorize Conservation Fund
Congress voted to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund following a 363-62 vote of the U.S. House of…
Read More
Community stewardship awards given
Everyone wants to live in a beautiful and litter-free place, and six winners were recognized for their efforts to that…
Read More
Education program earns regional recognition
Muddy Sneakers, an outdoor science education program based in Brevard, recently won two awards in a Blue Ridge Outdoors voting…
Read More
Smokies records highest-ever visitation
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park set a new visitation record for 2018, welcoming 11.4 million visitors to its 816…
Read More
Arboretum to expand environmental education
A $1 million grant will allow the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville to expand its innovative K-12 science education programs to…
Read More
Living soil: Waynesville woman digs into worm farming
Valley View Worms has an origin story that’s about as unusual as the vermiculture business itself, with plotlines hinging on…
Read More
New state natural area achieves milestone
A recent 1,500 acre land purchase by the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and North Carolina State Parks marked acquisition…
Read More
Congress moves forward on Land and Water Conservation Fund reauthorization
The U.S. Senate voted Feb. 12 to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, an important funding source for…
Read More
Agriculture grant winners announced
Five local farms are among the 39 businesses awarded a total of $216,000 in this year’s WNC Agricultural Options grant…
Read More
The Naturalist's Corner: How can somethingthat doesn’t exist be declared extinct?
I believe it was around Jan. 22 of this year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the eastern cougar…
Read More
Pigeon Forge recognized for wildfire risk reduction
The city of Pigeon Forge is gaining national attention for its work to safeguard the community against wildfires, having recently…
Read More
Elk fest coming to Maggie: Event will celebrate elk, wildlife and the outdoors
A new extravaganza will prance into the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds this year — the Smoky Mountain Elk Fest, an…
Read More
Video series celebrates wetlands
The Dogwood Alliance released a new video series on wetlands for World Wetlands Day, which was Feb. 2.
Read More
The Naturalist's Corner: Lake Junaluska eagles – do over?
It appears the eagles that nested unsuccessfully last year at Lake Junaluska are back for another go at it. There…
Read More
Land trust celebrates 100 properties conserved
Conservation of six new places last year brought Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust to a landmark total of 100 conservation projects completed,…
Read More
Disaster payments go out to farmers
The federal government shutdown created some delays in getting applications processed for the Agriculture Disaster Relief Program of 2018, but…
Read More
Water champions honored
Three water champions were recognized for their work to improve Haywood County’s rivers, streams and reservoirs during 2018 at Haywood…
Read More
N.C. efforts aid Texas turkey population
A trap-and-release effort based in North Carolina is helping to boost wild turkey populations in Texas.
Read More
‘Wild West’ agriculture: N.C. Extension tests out cannabis production
Jeanine Davis has spent more than two decades researching new and emerging crops in North Carolina, but she’s never experienced…
Read More
Back to work: Shutdown ends, but effects likely to linger through 2019 season
After 35 days of furlough, National Park Service staff are back to work at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,…
Read More
Road closures to begin in Pisgah
Seasonal road closures are underway in the Pisgah National Forest. Certain roads are closed each winter to help protect wildlife…
Read More
The Naturalist's Corner: Live and die by Lake J
Jan. 4, 2019 was a dreary day. It was more than that; it was a dreary Balsam Christmas Bird Count…
Read More
Donation opens visitor centers for holiday weekend
Despite the ongoing government shutdown, two visitor centers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were open over Martin Luther…
Read More
Southern Highlands Reserve honors volunteers
The Southern Highlands Reserve is honoring two mountain residents as its volunteers of the year.
Read More
Fees to rise on national forest sites
Fees will increase at 24 sites on the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests beginning Jan. 1. For sites that are…
Read More
Grandfather Mountain has record wet year
Wet weather was the norm across Western North Carolina last year, and Grandfather Mountain was no exception — a record…
Read More
View the lunar eclipse
A total eclipse of the moon will occur Sunday, Jan. 20, with multiple opportunities to view this Super Blood Wolf…
Read More
