Outdoors
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation awarded $5 million grant for regional tourism
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has secured a three-year, $5.13 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support regional strategies to advance cultural and recreational tourism. The grant activities will benefit dozens of Appalachian gateway communities along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina that host millions of visitors each year.
Paddleboard at Wolf Lake
Jackson County recreation is hosting a stand-up paddleboarding event on Wolf Lake.
Beginners and seasoned paddlers alike are welcome to enjoy the adventure, which will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 20.
Join Franklin Bird club for walks
The Franklin Bird Club leads walks along the Greenway on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. through September. Walks start at alternating locations: Macon County Public Library, Big Bear Park and Salali Lane.
Wildlife Commission offers measures to protect animals from black bears
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) is providing guidance to livestock owners on methods to protect their animals from becoming prey to black bears.
Black bears tend to consume a mostly plant-based diet and are attracted to livestock feed, such as grains and corn.
Smokies announces Cades Cove vehicle-free days
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will offer the first Cades Cove vehicle-free day of the year on June 18. Vehicle-free days provide opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists to experience the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road without motor vehicles.
Smokies Life releases first-ever audiobook
Smokies Life is thrilled to announce its first audiobook, a narrated adaptation of the 2021 release for middle-grade readers, “A Search for Safe Passage,” about an intrepid group of animals trying to find their way across a dangerous highway.
Discover the Smokies with new public programs
This summer and fall, visitors can enjoy family-friendly programs in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, starting June 7. Visitors are invited to take a hike with a ranger, learn about mountain life, meet some of the creatures that call the Smokies’ home, trek into the dark and much more.
Spring road maintenance planned in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The National Park Service will complete important maintenance along popular roads in Great Smoky Mountains National Park this June. This will require temporary partial closures of Little River Road and single-lane closures along the Spur to allow park staff to safely and efficiently complete this work.
DEQ accepting comments on wastewater treatment plan for Helene-affected areas
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Infrastructure is accepting comments until June 30, 2025, on a draft Intended Use Plan (IUP) and Priority Rating System for funding assistance for decentralized wastewater treatment systems in Hurricane Helene-affected areas.
