Blue Ridge Conservancy will offer three guided hikes, one farm tour, one campus cleanup day, and one paddle, from April to October. The kickoff event is an Earth Day cleanup at BRC’s Conservation Campus on April 22. The series includes several hikes on properties protected by BRC that are not open to the public.

“The hiking series is a great way to explore beautiful places in the High Country that are not generally open for hiking,” said Leila Jackson, BRC’s Communications Director. “It’s also a chance to learn about how Blue Ridge Conservancy works to protect these properties from development, and to meet other people in the community who have an interest in saving land.”

The two non-hiking excursions are in May and June, and are the least physically strenuous offerings of the series. The May outing will be to YMCA Camp Harrison in Wilkes County, for a canoe/kayak paddle on Broyhill Lake.

In June we will visit Appalachian State’s Blackburn-Vannoy Farm, a 360-acre conservation easement in Fleetwood. This property is used as a historic teaching farm, enabling the upkeep of the land through continued sustainable farming practices and research-based preservation initiatives to maintain the cultural authenticity of the area. This hike will be led by Farm Manager Todd Rudicill. 

July’s hike is a yearly favorite: a guided hike at Old Orchard Creek Farm in Ashe County, capped off with a blueberry picking session. In August we will visit Three Top Mountain Game Land, soon to be part of the Northern Peaks State Trail, to learn about sustainable trail building practices and the progress of the trail.

There is no hike in September, instead, join us for the 23rd annual BRC 5k in Blowing Rock on the 21st. On October 12, the hiking series wraps up with a guided hike at Camp Lutherock in Avery County.

These hikes are considered strenuous, ranging from three to six miles in total length, so please consider this before signing up. Generally hikes begin at 9:00am. Due to limited availability, sign ups for the hikes open the Monday morning after the previous hike on BRC’s website. Directions and hiking logistics will be emailed the week prior to the hike. Please email info@blueridgeconservancy.org with questions.  

BRC 2024 Hike Schedule:

April 22: Earth Day Cleanup at BRC Campus, 2:00 - 5:00pm

May 18: Paddle at YMCA Camp Harrison

June 22: Tour at Appalachian State University’s Blackburn-Vannoy Farm

July 13: Guided hike at Old Orchard Creek Farm & Blueberry Picking

August 17: Guided Hike at Three Top Mountain

October 12: Guided Hike at Camp Lutherock