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Mt. Mitchell State Park At the crest of the rugged Black Mountains
rises the highest peak east of the Mississippi River: Mount Mitchell. Created by the state in 1915 to protect the last stands
of virgin timber on the mountain, Mount Mitchell State Park encompasses an environment more like that of Canada than the Southeast.
Named for the dark spruces and firs that drape the highest mountains, the Black Mountains contain over 20 peaks that surpass
6000'. Although not as long or wide as the nearby Blue Ridge or Great Smoky Mountains ranges, the Black Mountains are
indeed the highest and many excellent hiking trails thread the forested slopes. This is your guide to the hiking trails of
this treasured state park.
The Wolf Sanctum was established in March of 2001, in the beautiful and
scenic Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. The Appalachians are old mountains, misty, veiled in ancient lore.....areas
that seemingly still speak to us of a wildness of spirit, of our long deep connection with Mother Nature herself. Wolf Trek Programs are given on site at The Wolf Sanctum for groups.
Programs consist of an educational program given by the Director about the Wolf: their importance as a top predator
in our eco-system; interesting facts about the wolf; their behavior; and current conservation efforts. Group participants
will get to meet the residents of The Wolf Sanctum, which represent several sub-species of the Gray Wolf. At our Welcome
Center, educational handouts are available and a video presentation of "A Baby Timber Wolf Grows Up" can be viewed,
as well as other more advanced level films. Group size should be limited to approximately 12 students. Our Wolf Trek Programs
are sponsored by The Wolf Sanctum free of charge. Donations are appreciated. 
Springmaid Mountain
offers an abundance of activities to keep you busy your entire stay with us! Rafting, tubing or canoeing down the North Toe
River can be scheduled. Also, we are located within a short drive to many of the area's best white water rafting rivers.
When you make your reservation, you can inquire about rafting trips...and we can assist you in contacting guides. Additionally, Springmaid offers hiking around the Blue Ridge, where you can hike to
the waterfall or nearby mountain overlook. Horseback riding is also a favorite of guests here at Springmaid Mountain. Spend
your afternoon on a guided trail ride through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain scenery. You can reel in the BIG ONES by fishing any one of our SIX STOCKED PONDS...or even try your luck fishing
the North Toe River. We also offer HAY RIDES. You can load up in a hay wagon and ride all over the property, cross the river
and travel primitive roads throughout Springmaid Mountain! If you
have any questions or would like more information, please contact us at 828-765-2353 or toll free at 888-297-0725,
email us, or use our Online Request Form.
Triggers, Traps & Trout is a company that was conceived and is owned by a recreational shooter and fisherman.
Our goal is to allow outdoorsmen the opportunity to enjoy shooting on their own property or visit our facilities, which includes
a 50,000 SQUARE FOOT LIGHTED SHOTGUN RANGE, TWO 25 TARGET 3-D BOW RANGES, PRACTICE BAG RANGE and Twenty TARGET 3-D COON RANGE.
Visitors can enjoy their time without the pressures, formalities and costs associated with gun/archery clubs. Our unique system
is completely portable. We are able to provide specialized target presentations, target sizes, and target speeds to suit your
individual needs and skill levels. We are able to accommodate individuals, families, groups and organizations, meeting their
various needs and schedules. URL: www.triggers-traps-trout.com
Email: kdeyton@triggers-traps-trout.com
613 Sawmill Hollow
Burnsville, NC 28714
(828)777-0357
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Rafting & Tubing The Toe River has a lot
to offer. Safe for the youngest of kids in our guided rafts and great fun in our one man rafts. We offer this trip with riverside
snack. Our meals are vegetarian friendly and healthy. All trips give a river safety instructional prior to the trip. Loafers
Glory Rafting also includes an on river rapid clinic. This clinic will teach safety & skills
for all ages. Trip time on the water 3 hours (min age is 4) www.ncrafting.com 2637 Highway 226 North Bakersville, NC 28705 Office
hours: 10am - 6pm Local: 828-688-9290 Toll free: 1-866-933-5628
Caving All of our
trips begin with an introduction, followed by an approximately 3+ hour underground caving experience. Expect to
be awed by the natural beauty of this unspoiled cave! No experience is required. The caving is appropriate for active people.
You provide appropriate clothing for an active experience underground, day pack, at least 1liter of water (per person),
snack and transportation to the meeting area, near Johnson City, TN. 
Local Trout
Fishing: www.flyfishingnc.com The brook
trout is regarded, as one of North America's most beautiful native fish species. In the Southern Appalachians, locals call them "specks."
Recent genetic studies suggest that the native brook trout found in the Southern
Appalachians, including the mountains of western North Carolina, may be a separate subspecies
of the brook trout found farther north. In North Carolina, brook trout are generally small, ranging in size up to about 8
inch seldom more than 12 inches. They are handsomely colored with the back and upper sides of the body typically olive-green
with mottled, dark green wavy markings that extend onto the dorsal and caudal fins. The lower sides are lighter with yellow
spots interspersed with fewer spots of bright red surrounded by blue.
Easy Identification:The lower fins are orange with a narrow black band next to a white band
that borders the forward edge. Spawning fish acquire a heightened brilliance when the belly and lower fins become a bright
red-orange. The color of a fish can vary from one area to another, depending upon the surrounding habitat.
Water Habitat
Brook
trout are most abundant in isolated, high-altitude head- water streams and brooks where the water is free of pollution and
rich in oxygen. Brook trout are inherently cold-water fish, and can perform well within a temperature range of 40 to 68 degrees
Fahrenheit. However, brook trout have been shown to feed at temperatures as low as 34 degrees, and the lethal temperature
limit of the brook seems to be around 30 degrees. Brook trout prefer streams with stable water flows, silt-free gravel for
spawning and an abundance of deep pools and riffles with sufficient in-stream cover, such as logs, boulders and undercut banks.
In North Carolina, brook trout spawning begins in September and continues through November. The fertilized eggs are covered
with gravel and remain in the redd until they hatch in the early spring (usually March) 
Mile High Swinging
Bridge! Grandfather Mountain is considered one of the best fall color
destinations in the Southern Appalachians because of Grandfather's amazing diversity of plant life. As autumn approaches and
the chlorophyll begins to fade from the leaves, the yellow and red pigments that lay beneath the green chlorophyll being to
show through. And because each different species of plant revels a little bit different hue and shade, the abundant variety
of plant species at Grandfather reveal an abundant variety of autumn colors. Contributing
most to the seasonal spectacular is the fact that Grandfather is blessed with a wide diversity of hardwood trees. Bright yellow
cottonwoods, golden poplars, pumpkin-colored beech trees, orange sugar maples, blood-red sourwoods, rusty red oaks, crimson-colored
huckleberries, wine-colored sweetgums and purple dogwoods all contrast against the gray boulders and evergreen firs for a
kaleidoscope of color.
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