Learn how to prepare for backcountry emergencies
Cullowhee-based Landmark Learning is now enrolling for a variety of wilderness medicine certification courses planned for the winter months.
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Ringing out the Year of the Trail: A highlight reel of trail news in 2023
Declared to be the Year of the Trail more than a year before it even began, 2023 had a lot to…
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Set your race calendar
With a new year approaching, it’s the perfect time to start setting fitness goals — and to plan for participating…
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Hike into the 2024
The standing tradition of starting the New Year off on the trail will continue at N.C. State Parks Monday, Jan.…
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The Winter Hiking Challenge
Registration is open for the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s fourth annual Winter Hiking Challenge, asking participants to complete 60 miles…
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Forest Service enhances 128 plans with old growth protections
The U.S. Forest Service has issued a proposal that would amend all 128 forest land management plans in its jurisdiction…
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Celebrate biodiversity
Delve into the amazing biodiversity of the Southern Appalachians with a program offered at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, at…
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N.C. sees uptick in hunting accidents
Across the state, there has been an increase in firearm-related hunting incidents involving serious injury and fatalities.
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Year-in-review tool breaks down weather trends
The N.C. State Climate Office has launched a year-in-review tool that gives a review of trends and records at weather…
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Dine with Haywood Waterways
Celebrate the Pigeon River Watershed during Haywood Waterways Association’s annual membership meeting and holiday dinner 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6,…
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Billion-dollar catch: Report reveals economic impact of N.C. trout fishing industry
The economic impact of trout fishing in North Carolina has more than tripled since 2014, clocking in at $1.38 billion…
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Expanded bear season proposed for WNC
A significantly expanded bear hunting season and loosened rules about bait usage are among the rule changes the N.C. Wildlife…
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Last WNC wildfires contained
For the first time since Oct. 23, Western North Carolina is free of active wildfires.
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Extreme drought leaves North Carolina
Drought conditions are the best they’ve been in a month, according to the latest map from the Drought Management Advisory…
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Explore the world of snowmaking
Go behind the scenes with snowmaking at Cataloochee Ski area with field trips offered Tuesday, Jan. 23, and Tuesday, Feb.…
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Wildlife photo contest open
The Wildlife in North Carolina Photo Competition is now open, accepting entries until 5 p.m. Jan. 31, 2024.
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Namesake chosen for red spruce greenhouse
A namesake has been chosen for the $2 million greenhouse the Southern Highlands Reserve in Lake Toxaway is building to…
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Nose for adventure: New program gets Sarge's shelter dogs hiking
Monday mornings have a bad reputation, but for dogs at Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation in Waynesville, they’ve become the best part…
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Race Cataloochee
The racing season is back at Cataloochee Ski Area, starting in January for ages 8 through adult.
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Misfit Mountain seeks to help animals and owners alike
The holiday season is among the toughest times in the animal rescue world. Adopting pets isn’t always front of mind…
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Study reveals the red wolf’s ecological impact
According to a study published last month in the scientific journal Animal Conservation, wild red wolves in eastern North Carolina…
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Franklin County deer tests positive for CWD
A 2.5-year-old female white-tailed deer harvested during firearm season in Franklin County has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease, an…
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Money available for farmers who experienced lending discrimination
Through Jan. 13, farmers, forest landowners and ranchers who have experienced discrimination in farm lending from the U.S. Department of…
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Friends group launches for Cherokee National Forest
Friends of the Cherokee National Forest, a new nonprofit based in Knoxville, aims to become a driving force in preserving…
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Casting for Canton: Papertown gets its first fly shop
Doug Mcelvy was only 3 or 4 the first time he picked up a fishing rod, but it sparked a…
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Smokies burn ban lifted
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has lifted a burn ban that’s been in effect for weeks amid drought conditions…
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Endangered snail reintroduced to the wild
After 20 years of living only in captivity, the federally endangered magnificent ramshorn has been returned to the wild.
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Farmland preservation grants available
County governments and conservation nonprofits have until Dec. 18 to apply for farmland preservation grants from the N.C. Agricultural Development…
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Arboretum leader to lead landscape architecture association
Drake Fowler, deputy executive director at The North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, has been named president of the N.C. Chapter…
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Drought disaster funding available for farmers
Family farms across the region are eligible for emergency loan assistance from the Farm Service Agency due to damage or…
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Grants awarded to protect N.C. farmland
Western North Carolina is well represented in the more than $15 million recently awarded to protect working farms and forests,…
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Outdoor businesses selected for mentorship program
Mountain BizWorks has named eight outdoor businesses that have been selected for the fifth cohort of its annual Waypoint Accelerator…
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Hope for the hemlocks: Hike explores past, present and future of WNC hemlocks
Under the gray, misty November sky covering Panthertown Valley near Cashiers, we swish through shin-deep leaves in search of hemlock…
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Accessible trail opens in Old Fort
A new hiking trail is now open in Old Fort, offering an opportunity for people with disabilities to get outside.
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Race raises $110K to support the Smokies
Held Sunday, Nov. 12, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cades Cove Loop Lope raised more than $110,000…
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Highlands Biological Foundation appoints interim director
Winter Gary has been appointed interim executive director of the Highlands Biological Foundation as the organization works through a leadership…
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See ‘Winter Lights’
Check out Winter Lights at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville with a group leaving from the Waynesville Recreation Department at…
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Data bodes well for N.C. outdoor rec economy
Newly released economic data measuring the outdoor recreation industry’s impact on the U.S. economy shows that, despite ongoing economic challenges,…
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Spend Friday nights on the slopes
Registration opens Dec. 1 for a program offering discounted rates to ski and snowboard Cataloochee Ski Area on Friday nights…
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Reimagine Bartram’s travels
A visual exploration of the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail will be on display through Jan. 6, 2024, at The Bascom…
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New trail under construction at Old Fort
Work has started on a new 3-mile trail near Old Fort.
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Bike Chestnut Mountain
Ride the trails with an experienced mountain bike instructor at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Chestnut Mountain Nature Park…
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Word from the Smokies: What we can learn from wild turkeys
If you plan to travel around Western North Carolina or East Tennessee to visit friends or family and eat turkey…
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Lakeview Drive reopens
Lakeview Drive in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Bryson City is now open, but rehabilitation work on the…
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Santa to visit Chimney Rock
Old Saint Nick will visit Chimney Rock State Park in Rutherford County Saturdays, Dec. 2 and 9, for the 26th…
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No Man’s Land Film Festival returns to WNC
The No Man’s Land Film Festival, the premier all-woman adventure film festival, will screen at New Belgium Brewing’s Liquid Center…
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Tons of trout coming to WNC
More than 67,000 pounds of trout will be stocked in the mountain and piedmont regions of North Carolina between Nov.…
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Air quality report reveals good news for N.C.
North Carolinians continue to breathe the cleanest air in decades as emissions of harmful air pollutants like nitrogen oxides and…
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Forest Service advisory group seeks new members
The committee responsible for advising on U.S. Forest Service recreation fees is looking for new members.
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Workforce grants available for ag employers
Through Nov. 28 agricultural employers can apply for grants through a pilot program designed to improve the resilience of the…
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