Fall Foliage Hike

🍂 ARTEMIS FALL FOLIAGE HIKE 🍁

The leaves are changing, the air is getting crisp, and we think that is a pretty solid excuse to go wander around in the woods together. 😂

Join us for an easygoing fall foliage hike through Bent Creek at Hard Times Trail — just a few minutes from Asheville.

🍁 THE PLAN

📍 Hard Times Trailhead
📅 November 5th
⏰ Meet at 5:00 PM
🥾 Hike starts at 5:15 PM

We’ll take the Hard Times Trail at a relaxed group pace, soaking up the changing leaves, chatting, taking approximately 700 unnecessary photos of trees 😂, and enjoying that very specific ✨fall in the mountains✨ feeling.

The full Hard Times Loop is about 6 miles, but we will NOT be doing the entire loop for this event. We’re keeping this one shorter and turning around based on our group pace and available daylight so we can enjoy the trail without racing back to the cars in the dark.

🌲 WHAT TO EXPECT

Think:
🍂 colorful hardwood forest
🍁 crunchy leaves
🌿 Bent Creek woods
⛰️ gentle rolling terrain
🦌 possible wildlife sightings
📸 plenty of photo opportunities
😂 probably at least one person saying “wait, this is SO pretty” every 10 minutes

Hard Times is generally considered an easier/moderate trail with a gradual feel rather than a giant mountain climb, making it a good option for a social after-work hike. The area also connects into a much larger trail network, so there are plenty of ways to explore depending on the group and conditions. (Explore Asheville)

🥾 WHAT TO BRING

Fall in the mountains can be a little unpredictable, so dress for “warm at the trailhead, colder than expected once the sun disappears.”

✔️ Comfortable hiking shoes with good traction
✔️ Water
✔️ Light jacket or fleece
✔️ Extra layer — especially if you’re someone who gets cold easily
✔️ Headlamp or small flashlight JUST IN CASE
✔️ Bug spray if you’re still getting eaten alive 😂
✔️ Small snack if you need one
✔️ Phone + portable charger
✔️ Rain jacket if the forecast is questionable

🍂 IMPORTANT: Leaves + rain = slippery roots and rocks. If the trail is wet, expect some mud and watch your footing. Fall foliage is beautiful; eating dirt is optional.

🚗 PARKING

We’ll meet at Hard Times Trailhead, 375 Wesley Branch Rd. Parking can get busy, so please try to arrive a little early and allow yourself time to get parked.

🌙 AND BECAUSE IT’S FALL…

Sunset comes early, so please don’t show up thinking we’re starting at 6:30. 😂 We want enough daylight to actually enjoy the trail and get everyone safely back to the trailhead.

Come for the leaves.
Stay for the questionable trail conversations.
Leave with a few new hiking friends. 🫶

Find your people. Find your wild. 🍂🌙