Macon County

February 17th, 2023: Third Friday Workday

Location and more details to follow. We will likely focus this workday on a North Carolina section of the Bartram Trail. Please bring work gloves, good boots, plenty of water, lunch, any meds you might need and esprit de corps. If you’re new to trail maintenance or just want to learn more, you can find […]

William Bartram’s Birthday Celebration and Franklinia Planting

Otto Post Office 8491 Georgia Rd, Otto, NC, United States

Join us for William Bartram's birthday celebration and franklinia planting at plant whisperer Jack Johnston's nursery in Otto, NC for this very special event. Jack is a propagator extraordinaire of Franklinia, Mountain Camellias, and much, much more. Not only we will learn about the natural history of these species, but plant some in Bartram's honor! […]

Boating with Bartram on the Little Tennessee

Hickory Knoll Road 1369 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC, United States

UPDATE 4/1/2023: RSVP is closed for this event We've reached the mid-way point on our Walking With Bartram section hikes right in time for spring! Once again, we're going to switch things up and take to the water, assuming the weather plays nice. Join us as we kayak down the Little Tennessee River from the […]

“Rural Runners” – Documentary Screening and Discussion with Chloe Maxim & Canyon Woodward

Cowee School 51 Cowee School Dr., Franklin, NC

Please join us for our next Bartram Writers Series event including a screening of the documentary Rural Runners at the Cowee School on Saturday, May 20. After the screening, Brent Martin will host a Q&A discussion with its authors, Chloe Maxim and Canyon Woodward. Rural Runners is a short documentary, 28 minutes, and a labor […]

May 26, 2023: Walking With Bartram – New Route to Lazy Hiker

First United Methodist Church 66 Harrison Ave, Franklin, NC, United States

Please join us as we continue our monthly section hikes through the Bartram Trail. We'll have an abbreviated hike in terms of mileage and elevation as we walk the portion of the road-walk that has been recently re-routed through the Macon County Recreation Park onto the Little Tennessee Greenway and then further down Main Street […]

June 7, 2023: Brewing With Bartram – Ribbon Cutting, New Route Hike, and Celebration at Lazy Hiker Brewing

Lazy Hiker Brewing

Something great is brewing to celebrate Bartram Week! We're partnering with Lazy Hiker Brewing in Franklin, NC to host a fundraising shindig, complete with a raffle for donated prizes, a silent auction, and more. This fantastic day of celebration will begin at 12:30pm at the Macon County Fairgrounds with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the […]

June 30th Walking With Bartram – Wallace Branch to Trimont Trail

First United Methodist Church 66 Harrison Ave, Franklin, NC, United States

This hike will pick up where we left off on our hike of the new route. We'll plan to meet at the Church Parking across from Lazy Hiker Brewing in Franklin and shuttle to our starting point of Wallace Branch. We'll hike the section from Wallace Branch up to Trimont Trail and head back into […]

July 28th, Walking With Bartram – Wayah Bald to Wallace Branch

Wallace Branch 1719 Ray Cove Rd, Franklin, North Carolina, United States

We're going to take advantage of the longer summer days to knock out this long hike from Wayah Bald all the way down to Wallace Branch. This is roughly an 11-mile section of mostly elevation loss on one of the most popular sections of the Bartram Trail. We'll plan on meeting at Wallace Branch at […]

August 15th Boating with Bartram through Cowee Valley

Sanderstown Beach 3085 Sanderstown Rd, Franklin, NC, United States

UPDATED 7/24: We've reach capacity at this time and will start a waiting list. Please email us directly if you would like to be on the list in case of cancelations. Join us for another Boating With Bartram trip down the Little Tennessee River. This time, we'll find our way down the river through Cowee […]

The Naturalist Trail Race on the Bartram Trail and Fall Celebration

Outdoor 76 Franklin, NC 35 East Main Street, Franklin, NC, United States

The Naturalist Trail Race - 25 / 50k, which is a part of the Outdoor 76 FALL CELEBRATION, is back for another round of leg hurting fun on October 7, 2023! This day encompasses our trail race, multiple bands throughout the day along with 18 draft craft beers for all post race celebrations. Come explore […]

Bartram Forager Series Hike

Macon County Public Library 149 Siler Farm Road, Franklin, NC, United States

The Bartram Forager Series Hike is part 1 of 2 events, culminating in a Bartram Forager Series Celebration & Fundraiser at Lazy Hiker Brewing on October 19th. This foraging hike will work similar to our Trailhead Tuesday events. We'll meet at 1pm at the Macon County Public Library parking lot and split up into groups. […]

Geologic Hike to Scaly Mountain with Dr. Dan Pittillo

Hickory Knut Gap Road

We're in for a special short hike and grateful for Dr. Dan Pittillo to be able to lead us and share his thoughts and understanding on the geologic history and current activity of these wonderful southern Appalachians. You may be surprised to learn these mountains are still rising! We're planning to meet at the Hickory […]