Trail reopenings announced across Helene-damaged Appalachian Ranger District
The USDA Forest Service announced that several trails and recreation sites damaged by Hurricane Helene have reopened across the Appalachian…
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WCU to hold groundbreaking ceremony for stadium renovations project
Western Carolina University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 12, to kick off the first phase…
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Sliding Rock to open for summer season
Sliding Rock, one of the most popular destinations in Pisgah National Forest, will open for the summer season beginning Memorial Day…
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Smokies Life selects Jim and Leslie Costa as Steve Kemp Writers in Residence
Smokies Life announced Jim and Leslie Costa as the recipients of its 2025 Steve Kemp Writer’s Residency. During their residency,…
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Haywood Farm Bureau announces scholarship recipients
The Haywood County Farm Bureau Board of Directors announced the four recipients of its scholarship, given at the May 19…
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Waynesville gardener honored with award
The Waynesville Garden Club honored Carolyn Taylor with its Outstanding Lifetime Member Award (since 1976) at its May 8 meeting.…
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Damage is done: Macon to make changes following damage caused by debris removal
Over the last few months, Maconians have sounded the alarm on what they see as excessive debris removal in the…
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Word from the Smokies: All hands on deck to rehab a rugged Appalachian Trail section
Somewhere after 2 p.m. on a sunny Wednesday in mid-March, the chaotic wind of a descending helicopter whipped the calm…
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Haywood Waterways offers septic system workshop
Haywood Waterways Association, Haywood County Environmental Health Department and Jennings Environmental are hosting workshops about septic systems and streambank erosion…
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WNC Sierra Club presents ‘Smart Urban Planning and Asheville’
On Wednesday, June 4, at UNCA’s Olli Reuter Center and on Zoom, join Joe Minicozzi of Urban 3 for a discussion…
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Rose show returns to NC Arboretum
The Asheville-Blue Ridge Rose Society will host its annual Rose Exhibition at The North Carolina Arboretum in the Education Center…
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Blue Ridge School hosts soccer camp
Jackson County’s Blue Ridge School is offering a soccer camp at its field. The camp will run from 8 a.m.…
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Jackson County Rec ’Archery 101’ course
Kids ages 10-14 in Jackson County will have the chance to learn the ins and out of archery. The course…
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Renowned outdoorswoman Nancy East publishes a second book
One of the best things about the mountains of Western North Carolina is that even in places we’ve seen a…
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Join Franklin Bird club for Macon County walks
The Franklin Bird Club leads walks along the Greenway on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. through September. Walks start at…
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Word from the Smokies: Dragonflies an unlikely ‘Rosetta Stone’ to understanding mercury contamination
With 360-degree vision, bright-colored bodies that sparkle jewel-like in the sun and acrobatic flight patterns reaching speeds of nearly 35…
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Damage from Helene: Hellbenders may get endangered species listing
By now, the story of Hurricane Helene is a tragically familiar one: the endless rain, the swollen rivers, the angry…
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Word from the Smokies: Shedding light on the nature of venomous snakes
Southern Appalachia affords many opportunities to watch and learn more about our diverse species of wildlife. At my home near…
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Word from the Smokies: Ranger-made goods add personal touch to park stores
Mike Meldrum could claim his current occupation as a third career — if he weren’t so careful to avoid calling…
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Word from the Smokies: Discover Life in America marks milestone in species inventory project
Mindy Fawver is retired from a career in commercial photography and graphic design, while her husband, Doug Bruce, works as…
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Word from the Smokies: Ongoing monitoring builds knowledge of park’s environment
Every day at several locations around Great Smoky Mountains National Park, information about onsite environmental conditions is being added to…
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Word from the Smokies: Monarchs proposed for threatened species listing
Before National Geographic published its famous August 1976 cover story detailing the search for the monarch butterfly’s wintering grounds, nobody…
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Word from the Smokies: Park embarks on cutting-edge hellbender study
With wrinkly skin that comes in various shades of brown, eastern hellbenders aren’t easy to spot. These giant salamanders, which…
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Word from the Smokies: In the fight against litter, volunteer organizations are key
Every year, millions of people visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park to experience its clear mountain streams, verdant views, and…
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Word from the Smokies: For bears, relocation is no happily ever after
The four-state mountain region that includes Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to an estimated 14,500 black bears, but…
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Word from the Smokies: Couple will focus on insect field guide during park residency
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the crown jewel of the Southern Appalachians, an ancient landscape teeming with life —…
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Word from the Smokies: ‘Wildflowering’ with long-time enthusiast Tom Harrington
It’s wildflower season in the Great Smoky Mountains, and beneath the long morning shadows at Chestnut Tops Trail near Townsend,…
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Hogs and hammocks: Inside this resilient Smokies farm stay
Tucked away in a gentle bend of a placid river near Iron Duff, Smoky Mountain River Ranch has weathered economic…
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Haywood County offers warning amid tick season
Spring and summer mean more time outdoors, but they also mean tick season. Ticks can carry serious diseases like Lyme…
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Mill Town Farmers Market
More than two dozen vendors will take part in the fifth season of the Mill Town Farmers Market, which opens…
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Cosby Area reopened, park completes major culvert replacement
Visitors should plan for single lane closures on Cosby Entrance Road through June. Great Smoky Mountains National Park has reopened…
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Earthquake rattles WNC
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake with an epicenter south of Knoxville was felt throughout the region last weekend. The quake hit…
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Climate speaker comes to Haywood
The Environmental Action Community of Western North Carolina (EAC) will host renowned speaker Andrew Jones, at the Terrace Hotel Auditorium…
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Paddleboard with Jackson County Rec
Jackson County Recreation is offering opportunities for people to enjoy a stand-up paddleboarding session for anyone age 14 or older.…
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Troxler encourages horse owners to vaccinate against mosquito-borne diseases and rabies
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is encouraging equine owners to have their animals vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and West Nile…
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DEQ selects Cherokee project to receive funds to enhance electric-grid resiliency
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) State Energy Office has selected seven projects to receive more than $20…
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Lake Junaluska Golf Course offers seasonal discount
Full-time residents of Haywood, Jackson and Buncombe counties can save money playing golf at Lake Junaluska Golf Course with a…
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Haywood Master Gardeners host plant clinic
Do you have a gardening question? NC State Extension Master Gardener volunteers are available to answer your questions about lawns, vegetables, flowers,…
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Jackson County Rec hosts youth ‘Archery 101’ course
Kids ages 10-14 in Jackson County will have the chance to learn the ins and out of archery. The course…
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A whole lot of heart: WCU softball bat boy defies odds, cheers on Catamounts
Drake Barlow walks up to home plate with the most swagger out of anyone on game days. He sports a…
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River protest calls attention to debris removal
On Saturday, April 26, a group of protesters took to the Little Tennessee River to call attention to what they…
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Get ready for summer with an activity pass to Lake Junaluska
People can get their Lake Junaluska Summer Activity Passes now. Enjoy admission to the lakeside pool all summer long as…
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SCC provides support for wildfire response teams
Shortly after a wildfire broke out in the Lower Alarka region of Swain County, Southwestern Community College’s Megan Nicholson made…
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Smokies begins multi-year rehabilitation of Bullhead Trail to Mount LeConte
The National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with Friends of the Smokies, is beginning a multi-year rehabilitation of the iconic…
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North Shore Cemetery Association hosts cemetery decoration day
On Sunday, May 4 with the cooperation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the North Shore Cemetery Association will…
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Smokies announces selection of park concessioner to operate LeConte Lodge
The National Park Service has selected LeConte Lodge L.P. as the concessioner for the new contract to provide services at…
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Jackson County hosts bike rodeo
Join Jackson County Recreation from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at Cullowhee Valley School for a bike rodeo. This is…
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HRMC to offer free sports physicals to students
Haywood Regional Medical Center is offering free sports physicals for local student athletes on Tuesday, May 13, at the Haywood…
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Master gardeners to answer questions at Haywood farmers market
Master gardener volunteers will be on hand at a booth on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, May through August,…
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Plan for maintenance along the Spur
Visitors should prepare for planned routine road maintenance in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Park maintenance crews will implement temporary,…
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