Phase reopening starts in the Smokies
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park opened most trails and roads when it entered its first phase of reopening last…
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Parkway announces paving projects
The Blue Ridge Parkway will resurface more than 100 miles of its 469-mile length this year.
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Bike trails included among proposed Smokies projects
Planning is underway to address visitor access, safety, transportation and recreation in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and public…
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Parkway closes northern section
The northernmost 13 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which abut Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, are closed as of…
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Tune in to Smokies LIVE
The Great Smoky Mountains Association is bringing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park into living rooms nationwide through its new…
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Connect with nature from home
Tremont Institute is working through quarantine to connect people and nature using its website and social media channels.
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Public land managers discuss closure decisions and plans for re-opening
While people nationwide are lamenting the loss of bars, restaurants, concerts, festivals and countless other aspects of community life amid…
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Smokies to partially reopen May 9
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park plans to reopen many of its roads and trails beginning Saturday, May 9. Campgrounds,…
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Haywood Waterways names new officers
Suzanne Klimek has been named the new president of Haywood Waterways Association.
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Explore nature from home
A new online activity program from the Kids in Parks program aims to keep kids connected to nature while earning…
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N.C. negative for chronic wasting disease
Testing of more than 2,300 deer during the 2019-2020 sampling season did not detect any cases of chronic wasting disease…
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Grow your groceries: Use quarantine time to start gardening
Spring is in the air these days, but so is uncertainty as the COVID-19 crisis continues and millions of Americans…
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Synchronous firefly event canceled
The wildly popular synchronous firefly viewing event in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been canceled this year as…
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Parkway steps up COVID-19 closures
The Blue Ridge Parkway has announced additional closures as a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic.
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Highlands Center offers online experiences
The Highlands Nature Center may not be physically open, but it continues to provide the community with environmental content and…
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Graham County wildfires reach full containment
Firefighters responded to two wildfires late April 14 near Fontana Lake in Graham County. Both fires burned on U.S. Forest…
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Experience the Smokies at home
It’s National Park Week, and a new website from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park featuring videos and activities for…
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A.T. groups request trail closure
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has requested that the federal government officially close the 2,193-mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail in light…
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Visitation high on public lands
Many state forests in North Carolina are seeing visitation two or three times greater than what is typical this time…
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Remember wildlife while doing taxes
Support wildlife in North Carolina with a voluntary contribution to the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund on line 30 of…
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Donate to the Seed Library
The Seed Library of Waynesville is now open, with donated seeds available for free of charge to members of the…
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National forest recreation sites closed
All recreation sites in the National Forests in North Carolina — including the Pisgah and Nantahala — are now temporarily shut…
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Flush only toilet paper
Don’t flush paper towels, napkins, and wet wipes of any kind — even the ones that say flushable — so…
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Planting for a pandemic: Agricultural community navigates through COVID-19 crisis
For farmers and agriculture businesses across Western North Carolina, spring is the time to plan and plant for the green…
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Wildlife experts wanted
Nominations are wanted for three seats on the Nongame Wildlife Advisory Committee to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
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Trout waters to reopen
About 900 miles of Hatchery Supported Trout Waters will open to anglers at 7 a.m. Saturday, April 4.
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Be safe outside
The past week has seen multiple public parks and forests announce closures of outdoor areas in response to overcrowding deemed…
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Canton Middle student designs winning T-shirt
Canton Middle School student Alyssa Smith won first place in the annual Kids in the Creek art contest, winning a…
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Facilities closing in national forests
The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in North Carolina, and the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee are temporarily shutting down…
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Fighting an uphill battle: Motion Makers Bicycle Shop
Emerging from the back of his bicycle shop in downtown Sylva, Motion Makers owner Kent Cranford squeezes around a service…
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Explore with Alarka
Alarka Institute has suspended all of its planned April outings but is offering multiple opportunities to engage with nature through…
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Research indicates high levels of microplastics in WNC waters
Jason Love got interested in microplastics by way of mussels. A wildlife biologist by education and training, he’d long been…
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Camp Daniel Boone fire burning in Shining Rock Wilderness
High fire danger and windy conditions across Western North Carolina and the NC piedmont led to multiple wildfires on Friday.…
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Fire contained in national forests
Firefighters continued to make progress containing the Camp Daniel Boone Fire in Haywood County and the Cals Creek Fire in…
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Burn ban lifted in WNC
A burn ban enacted April 3 on 32 Western North Carolina counties has been lifted following heavy rainfall this weekend.
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Pisgah announces closures
Camping is no longer allowed on the Pisgah National Forest following an order enacted April 13 as part of ongoing…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Social distancing
One hears a lot, in these trying times about “social distancing,” “… a term that epidemiologists are using to refer…
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Dupont closes in response to COVID-19
Dupont State Recreation Forest and neighboring Holmes Educational State Forest are closed in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
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A.T. dreams meet COVID-19 crisis: Some hikers leave the trail as others press on toward Maine
In the last two weeks, the world has changed. From darkened downtown windows to packed-full parking lots at Ingles and…
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Firefighters make progress containing wildfires
Firefighters made significant progress containing the two wildfires burning on U.S. Forest Service lands in Western North Carolina. Firefighters are…
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Outdoor certification courses now enrolling
Landmark Learning, a nationally accredited school in Cullowhee offering certification training for outdoor recreation workers, is enrolling for a variety…
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National forests announce seasonal road closures
Seasonal closures in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests will begin on Jan. 2. Planned opening dates may change depending…
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Riley Howell race postponed
A race scheduled for April 4 honoring hometown hero Riley Howell has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns.
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Grant advances conservation efforts for Canton Motorsports tract
Efforts to conserve the 488-acre property currently owned by Canton Motorsports got a boost when the N.C. Department of Justice…
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Keeping the doorstep green: Canton likely to receive 448 acres for outdoor rec
If all goes as planned, Canton will soon have a 448-acre park for hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor recreation…
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National parks, forests respond to COVID-19
Operations have shifted on public lands in Western North Carolina due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Linville River project wraps up
A major restoration project has been completed along the Linville River.
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COVID-19 impacts outdoors offerings
Coronavirus concerns have prompted a slew of operational and scheduling changes for outdoors-oriented agencies and organizations across the region.
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COVID-conscious farmers market to open in Asheville
An interim farmers market will operate in Asheville amid the coronavirus crises, from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
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National forest burns planned
Prescribed burns are planned for the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest over the coming months, aiming to create healthier, more diverse and…
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