February 21st, 2023: The Forest That Was – A Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest Hike

UPDATED 2/10: RSVP for this event is now closed. Thank you all for your enthusiastic interest in this hike! We’ll do more of these in the future.

We’ve been wanting to mix things up a bit and this one still resonates with our inner-Bartram, as this is a special place in Western North Carolina, representing what the forests here would have looked like to William as he explored the area. He may have even made it to this area had it not been for his encounter with Attakullakulla while in the Nantahala River area.

The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is almost 4,000 acres of old growth forest, and this short two mile loop hike takes visitors through some of its most spectacular specimens. We’ll spend some time on winter tree identification and on the natural and cultural history of the area.

We’ll plan on meeting up at the Conservancy office at Cowee School at 9:00 am and carpooling to Joyce Kilmer. We’ll enjoy a slower pace and discussion about this wonderful old growth forest. Some may want to linger in the area afterwards, but we’ll aim to get folks back to their cars in Cowee by 5pm.

Bring lunch, water, hiking shoes, sense of humor and wonder.