Archived Outdoors

A rare romp in the watershed

A guided hike in the Waynesville watershed preserve, an 8,600-acre tract typically off-limits to the public, will be offered at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9.

The preserve reaches from Allens Creek up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, a massive flank that cradles the southern end of town. The tract serves as the source of Waynesville’s drinking water.

A 3-5 mile ecology hike will be led by Dr. Peter Bates, a forester with Western Carolina University and Naturalist Don Hendershot. Hendershot will offer an additional birding hike at 8 a.m.

Spots fill up quickly. www.townofwaynesville.org or 828.452.2491.

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.