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Dear Traveler:
After a long winter’s quiet, a springtime walk in the woods can be a pretty noisy affair. The birds have returned. The animals are stirring from their winter slumber. The waterfalls are frothing with the winter’s melt and the spring rains. It’s a marvelous time to explore Transylvania County’s natural splendor in the weeks before each bend in the stream becomes a wading pool, a family picnic or a secret hideout for summer campers.
That is, of course, if you have time. April offers more than just dreamy rides and hikes through the forest in Brevard. This month’s calendar is so jam packed with amazing events and activities, it may be hard to find the time to stop and smell the spring flowers. I look forward to seeing you at a few.
Catch you in May,
The Adventurist
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PICTURE PERFECT
Assault on the Carolinas
Warm-Up Ride
Downtown Brevard
Friday, April 10, 3:30-5pm
Riders planning to tackle one of the many routes of this ever-popular cycling event probably signed up months ago (it’s long sold out) and have been training since, roughly, last year. Although you may not be able to suit up for this year’s big event, you can join the pack for a relaxing warm-up ride.
Finish Line Celebration
Downtown Brevard
Saturday, April 11
1-4pm
If you’re not quite ready to ride, join the crowds of fans and well-wishers at the finish line for live music, awards and an afternoon celebration in Downtown Brevard.
Get geared up here.
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WELCOME BACK TO THE PAST
Opening Day Celebration: Old Time Plowing and Folkways
Cradle of Forestry
Saturday, April 11
9am-5pm
Take a little field trip to the way things were at this fantastic, immersive opening day event at the site of the Biltmore Forest School. Watch spectacular Percheron draft horses plow the vegetable garden, then try it yourself. Pack a picnic, prepare to wander and see living history volunteers bring traditional Blue Ridge culture to life.
Enter here for Time Machine.
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NESTLE DOWN
Birdhouse Basics
Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education
Saturday, April 11
2-3:30pm
Birds make great neighbors, so why not give them a fantastic new place to move into your backyard. This fun afternoon class teaches kids age 7+ the basics of bird habitats while equipping them with all the tools they’ll need to take home a swanky new pad for a nice feathered family this spring.
Fly over here for more details.
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PEDAL TO THE METTLE
Oskar Blues Pisgah Stage Race
Pisgah National Forest
April 13-15
If you’re looking for a real challenge (or simply like watching one), you could do worse than this five-day, single-track combination endurance test and adrenaline rush. As an unmatched sampler of the some of the best single-track in the country, the course includes the East’s most rugged trails with rhododendron tunnels, picturesque creek crossings, incredible leaf colors, and rooty, rocky singletrack.
Set your wheels spinning, here.
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FARMAPALOOZA
Opening Day and Earth Day Celebration
Transylvania Farmers Market
Saturday, April 18
8am-12pm
Spring having sprung, the Farmer’s Market welcomes the start of another glorious, green season with local produce, crafts, plants, flowers, food and live music on what promises to be a delicious Earth Day Celebration.
Grab your basket and head this way.
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FANCY FOOTWORK
Clogfest
Brevard Music Center
Friday, April 24, 6-9pm
Saturday, April 25
When the folks competing in this year’s Clogfest describe a song as “a real footstomper,” they’re not kidding around. This all day event (with special Friday night kickoff) promises to show off some of Appalachia’s finest dance moves and toe-tapping rhythms. Friday night’s kick-off concert features live music by the Crooked Pine band, for those looking for a warm-up.
Dosey-do here.
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POETRY IN MOTION
4th Friday Gallery Walk
Downtown Brevard
Friday, April 24
5-9pm
All great art collections start somewhere. So grab your favorite connoisseur and take a stroll through the shops and galleries of downtown Brevard at this beloved monthly event. Sip wine, sample delicious food and find the absolute perfect piece to add to your own personal gallery.
Draw your attention here.
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HOME RUN
Legacy Run
Downtown Brevard
Saturday, April 25
7:30-10pm
Kick off a sunny springtime Saturday with this family-friendly, running event, featuring a 15K, a 5K and a kid’s ½ mile fun run. Come out and enjoy a sunny morning jog, then stick around for fun finish line activities. All proceeds benefit Inheritance of Hope, a local charity benefiting young families facing the loss of a parent.
Ready, set, go
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SET YOUR SIGHTS
Tour De Falls
DuPont State Recreational Forest
May 2-3
A much-anticipated, yearly event, this twelve-mile journey (literally) over the river and through the woods provides families and folks with limited hiking abilities a chance to see some of the most spectacular sights in Transylvania County. Shuttle buses provide falls-to-falls service throughout the park on Mother’s Day weekend. And the days conclude with light refreshments in the lodge overlooking scenic Lake Julia. All funds raised go to support the Friends of DuPont Forest, a non-profit dedicated to enriching the experiences and preserving the natural resources in this treasured state recreational forest.
Point your camera here for the best view.
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THE FINAL FRONTIER
Space Day
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI)
Saturday, May 2
10am-4pm
If you've ever wondered what keeps us stargazing, this all day event at PARI might offer some of the answers you've sought. Spend a whole day on the PARI campus examining the telescopes, learning about the institute's current roster of projects and checking out their exciting new gem and mineral display. For those that prefer a more terrestrial adventure, mountain bikes will be available for rental on site.
Explore strange new worlds here
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My Transylvania is a new regular feature, highlighting places and experiences that make the Land of Waterfalls so special. This month’s spotlight is on Rainbow Falls, located in Nantahala National Forest, but accessed through Gorges State Park.
JOHN ROCK HIKE
What is it? A moderate-to-challenging hike to a beautiful vista.
How long does it take? Give yourself half a day to enjoy the walk and the summit.
What makes it special? John Rock is a local favorite and with good reason. This well-marked loop summits along the smooth granite face of John Rock and affords breathtaking views of Looking Glass Rock and the distant ridgeline of the Pisgah Range to the northwest. The trail offers a nice combination of flat walking and rigorous climbs. Bring a picnic lunch in your day pack. The face of John Rock is a great place to soak in the views and enjoy some al fresco dining. But be careful. When wet, John Rock can be treacherous. It’s a 200 foot drop to the rocks below. And if you bring your dog, be sure he or she is leashed at all times around the summit.
Distance: 5 miles
Trails: Cat Gap Loop, Cat Gap Bypass, John Rock
Starting Point: Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, Pisgah Forest
Directions to trailhead: From intersection of US-276/US-64/NC-280, enter Pisgah National Forest. Go 5.3 miles on US-276. Turn left onto FR-475 and go 1.4 miles. Turn left into parking lot for the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. For a more detailed description and directions go here.
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