Explore Haywood
Spend November exploring some of the region’s most beautiful hikes with a slate of excursions offered through Haywood County Recreation and Parks.
• Take a 5.4-mile hike along the Little Cataloochee Trail Wednesday, Nov. 1, meeting guides Jamie and Ruffin at 9 a.m. at Jonathan Valley Elementary School. This moderately challenging hike passes abandoned homesteads and churches that were once home to generations of farming families and may encounter the herd of elk that now live there.
• Walk the lower loop of Canton’s Rough Creek Watershed Sunday, Nov. 5. The group will meet at the Lowe’s parking lot in Waynesville at 12:30 p.m. before embarking on this easy-to-moderate 4.8-mile hike.
• Celebrate the Year of the Trail with a hike from the Blue Ridge Parkway’s John Rock Overlook to Graveyard Fields Saturday, Nov. 11. The group will meet guides Kathy and Phyllis at the overlook at 10 a.m. before hiking toward the flat mountain valley full of wildflowers, fall color and waterfalls.
• Stand on the summit of Green Knob with a strenuous 8.4-mile hike Wednesday, Nov. 15. The group will meet guides Phyllis and Vickey 9 a.m. at Jukebox Junction in Bethel before heading to the trailhead on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
• Take a 6.6-mile moderate/challenging hike Saturday, Nov. 18, up Flat Laurel Creek to Sam Knob, whose twin summits offer spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
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• Hike the first 7.9 miles of the Art Loeb Trail starting from Davidson Campground near Brevard Friday, Nov. 24. The group will meet guides Tara and Steve at Jukebox Junction in Bethel before setting out on this moderate/difficult hike, which includes a 2,232-foot elevation gain.
• Experience the views from Charlies Bunion in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a challenging 8.6-mile hike Wednesday, Nov. 29. Meet guides Phyllis and Vickey at Ghost Town parking lot in Maggie Valley at 8:30 a.m.
Hike registration is $10. Sign up at haywoodcountync.gov/recreation .
