WNCOutdoors.info Blog

As reported in this Asheville Citizen Times article, more greenways are envisioned for Western North Carolina - including connections to Hendersonville, Brevard, Dupont State Forest, and Tennessee from Asheville. But don’t hold your breath. Only 6 of 29 miles of greenways planned for the city of Asheville are on the ground, and they’re short and disconnected. Let’s finish what we already have planned first before dreaming that big!

North Carolina has agreed to pay $24 million for the coveted piece of land. More importantly, the park owners were willing to accept it - after asking $55 million to begin when the park was put up for sale. You can find articles about the sale on the Chimney Rock Park page.

The iconic tower atop 6,684′ Mount Mitchell has been torn down. It will be replaced with a 10-foot high circular platform, and the formerly stairstepped summit path will be paved, thus making it completely accessible. Get more information in this article in the Asheville Citizen-Times

A 245-acre proposed logging project on Case Camp Ridge, in the Davidson River area between the base of Looking Glass Rock and the Blue Ridge Parkway, will likely become an eyesore in addition to a headache for recreationalists as trails are closed. Get More Information.

Conservation Road, the most convenient route from High Falls to Bridal Veil Falls in Dupont State Forest, has once again been gated and blocked. DuPont corporation, the Forest’s namesake, has once again taken over the industrial facility in the heart of the State Forest for the purpose of cleaning up the polluted site. Until this is finished, and the remainder of the land is transferred to the State, the road will likely remain blocked. Here is a good article about this in the Hendersonville News. It discusses impacts to forest visitors and a possible negotiation to reopen the road within “months, not years”.