Return to Western NC: A Hiking Weekend in Ashe County

Western NC is back from Hurricane Helene and open for exploring! Hike at Paddy Mountain, Elk Knob State Park and Pond Mountain, enjoy an outdoor concert, and check out the mountain towns of West Jefferson and Lansing. Mark your calendar for June 27 & 28.
The weekend's three hikes:

Friday, June 27

Return to Western NC: Hike Paddy Mountain and the Northern Peaks State Trail, 2:30 p.m., West Jefferson. Paddy Mountain in West Jefferson marks the northern end of the Northern Peaks State Trail. Get a peek at the trail on this 3.6-mile hike guided by the Blue Ridge Conservancy. Learn more about this free hike and sign up here.

Backstreet Park Summer Concert featuring the Whitecap Mountain Band, 5:30-7 p.m., West Jefferson. Free outdoor concert in downtown West Jefferson featuring this family-based band with deep roots in mountain music.

Saturday, June 28

Return to Western NC: Hike Elk Knob State Park, 9 a.m., Todd. On this 4-mile out-and-back hike we top out on 5,520-foot Elk Knob, which offers incredible views to the north, of the Southern Appalachians in northern North Carolina and southern Virginia. And the 2-mile hike to the summit, gaining nearly 1,000 verticle feet, relies on well-designed trail to ease the impact of that elevation gain and to usher you safely through some of the mountain's rockier sections. Learn more about this free hike and sign up here.

Return to Western NC: Hike Pond Mountain, 2 p.m., Creston. P ond Mountain is a 2,900-acre game land made possible by the Blue Ridge Conservancy and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Stunning views dominate the 5,000-foot summit plateau, but so does water. According to the Blue Ridge Conservancy, the area got its name from surveyor Peter Jefferson (Thomas's son), "...because of the many natural ponds that dotted the mountain’s high ridgeline. The historic ponds point to the mountain’s special significance as an important water resource. Several important streams and creeks originate on Pond Mountain, including Big Laurel, Ripshin and Big Horse Creeks, all of which flow into the New River, a National Heritage River and one of the oldest rivers in the world." Learn more about this free hike and sign up here.

Questions? Contact Joe.miller@hts.nc.gov. Signing up through the provided links insures that you will get additional information in advance of the hike.

For a look at the entire Return to Western NC weekend lineup, go here.