Cataloochee hike to feature elk and history

A full-day hike Tuesday, Oct. 14, in the Cataloochee Valley area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will give hikers a chance to experience the mountain roads of 80 years ago — winding routes through thick tree canopy and rhododendron — and finish up the day by viewing a herd of elk. 

This Friends of the Smokies Classic Hike will be lead by hiking guide author Danny Bernstein and will cover 8.7 miles of trail, with a total elevation gain of 1,300 feet. It’s an out-and-back route on Pretty Hollow Gap Trail along Palmer and Pretty Hollow creeks. 

Along with stops to enjoy the scenery of flowing mountain streams, hikers will learn about the history of Cataloochee settlers through historical buildings, cemeteries and stories of the annual family reunions honoring the first homesteading families in the Cataloochee area. Friends of the Smokies uses donations to help maintain many of the buildings there. 

$10 for Friends members or free for those who bring a friend; $35 for non-members with one-year membership included. Registration dollars benefit Smokies Trails Forever program. Carpools will leave from Asheville and Maggie Valley. Register with Anna Lee Zanetti, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 828.452.0720. 

Dinner with elk

It will be dinner and a show in the Cataloochee area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park when the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust embarks on its annual Elk Excursion Thursday, Oct. 9. 

The outing will include a 45-minute presentation from an Elk Bugle Corp volunteer about the elk, which were reintroduced to the area in 2001. Guests will then have a chance to explore the valley for a bit before meeting back up for a tailgate dinner while watching the elk engage in their dramatic mating ritual, known as “the rut.”

During the rut, male elk bugle to attract females and to challenge other bulls, an eerie yet enchanting sound that echoes throughout the valley.

$10 HCLT member; $35 non-members with one-year membership included. Dinner included in price. Space is limited — reservations required. 828.526.1111 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..