GetHiking! Southeast's Classic Hikes: Mills River Weekend

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Our second Southeast Classic Hikes weekend trip takes us back to where the concept started last year: the North Mills River Campground in the Pisgah National Forest about 45 minutes southwest of Asheville.

On Saturday, we will hike from the campground up North Mills River to the Hendersonville Reservoir. There, we will catch the Big Creek Trail heading west. We will stop for lunch at a meadow about 5 miles in. After lunch, the Short Hike returns the way we came up, for a 10-mile round-trip), the Long Hike continues another 1.5 miles to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's here where the climbing kicks in, gaining about 2,000 vertical feet. The Short Hike is considered Moderate in difficulty, the Long Hike, about 13 miles roundtrip, is Strenuous. There are numerous creek crossings on this trip: water shoes are required, hiking poles strongly recommended.

On Sunday, we will drive to the Davidson River area, about a half hour away, and hike the Pink Beds Loop. This 5-mile trail circles an upland bog, is surprisingly flat, and makes a nice recovery hike from a long day on the trail Saturday.

NOTE: We only have space for 15 campers on this trip, though additional walk-up space may be available Friday afternoon. When you sign up for this hike, make note in the Comment area below if you plan to camp: the first 15 to sign up will get the spaces. There is also lodging nearby in Asheville/Hendersonville and Brevard.

This hike is part of our 2016 GetHiking! The Southeast’s Classic Hikes (http://getgoingnc.com/2015/12/in-2016-gethiking-the-southeasts-classic-hikes/) series, sequel to 2015’s inaugural GetHiking! North Carolina’s Classic Hikes series.

This is a fee program. Hikes are either $25 for a one-day hike, $35 for a weekend hike, with group camping included for the latter. Membership in the program is $75, which includes your first three hikes (if those hikes are all two-day, weekend hikes, you save $30). The fee also includes a joining gift, a swag bag for each hike, monthly emagazine with details of the upcoming hike and discounts on hiking gear at Great Outdoor Provision Co. You will be sent a PayPal invoice upon signing up for this hike.

Estimated drive time: Charlotte: 2 hours; Greensboro: 3 hours; Raleigh: 4 hours.

For more information on the GetHiking! The Southeast’s Classic Hikes program and to sign up, visit GetGoingNC.com (http://getgoingnc.com/2015/12/in-2016-gethiking-the-southeasts-classic-hikes/). You can also sign up and get more information by contacting Joe Miller at joe@getgoingnc.com.