Little Tennessee River Greenway Archives - Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy

November 15th Third Friday Workday

We’ll be back in Georgia this week to do storm cleanup. Expect a lot of tree cutting and clearing brush!

Exact location is TBD but we’ll be working from 9am to 3pm.

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 more information here on our site.

Don’t be shy, we’ll provide everything you need to enjoy your day while making a huge impact for future enjoyment of the Bartram Trail. The hard work of our volunteers is what keeps the 112 miles of trails open and usable all year long.

Please RSVP so we can plan the work and tool requirements.

Thank you for your volunteerism!

August 30th Boating with Bartram

This month’s section of trail would normally take us down Hickory Knoll Road toward the Fairgrounds, but we’ll be paddling the river into town instead!

This is a serene 4-5 hour float on the Little Tennessee from Hickory Knoll Rd Trailhead to Tassee Shelter, and takes us even closer to the path William Bartram is believed to have travelled as he arrived in what is now the Town of Franklin. The river through this section is calm and flat, but be prepared for the heat of the August sun.

Attendance for this will be limited to 14 folks for the sake of shuttling logistics and boat availability. You are welcome to bring your own boat and Alarka Expeditions will provide boats to rent if needed. Please contact Angela at blueyodel32@gmail.com to arrange your boat rental.

Please let us know if you have any questions about this river trip. In the case of inclement weather, we will look to reschedule and possibly switch this trip up with an abbreviated “road-walk” into town along the new path all the way to the Lazy Hiker. Either way, this will be a great day.

Please RSVP to let us know you’re coming! More information on shuttling and logistics are to follow.

Discussion with Kelton Bailey: “Through paddling the Mississippi River, Source to Sea”

This Discussion with Kelton Bailey: “Through paddling the Mississippi River, Source to Sea” will be held at the Franklin Library on February 1 at 6:30pm. Brent Martin, Executive Director of the BRBTC, will spend time with Kelton to present anecdotes, facts, photos, and video about a different sort of epic journey through the beating heartland of the USA. There will be time dedicated to answering questions afterwards. This is a low-key event scheduled specifically to sate curiosity and answer local questions about a not-quite-local adventure.

Kelton Bailey lives in Franklin and recently solo kayak paddled the entire length of the Mississippi River. Kelton works at Outdoor76 in Franklin, is a professional outdoor leader and enthusiast who has spent nearly a decade leading rafting, canoeing, and hiking trips as nearby as the Nantahala River and as faraway as Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

You can find photos from Kelton’s paddle trip on Instagram.

This is an absolute must-attend for anyone wondering where on earth the water in the Little Tennessee River goes after it wanders out of Franklin and Macon County.

This event is free and open to the public and hosted by the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy (BRBTC). If you would like to make a donation to the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy, click over and become a member with your contribution. We are a 100% donation and volunteer supported organization and your contribution will support more events like this one.

We hope to see you on the 1st!

October 31st Trailhead Tuesday

We’ll plan to meet at First United Methodist Church in Franklin at 1pm before heading out to clean up all the tricks and treats left behind at the Bartram trailheads.

This is a program for those looking to get involved but with limited time. We will meet in the early afternoon to divide and conquer some minor clean up and trail head maintenance. We’re looking for folks to visit a set of selected trail heads to re-stock Bartram Trail information cards, complete a trail head condition report, pick up any trash in the area, and chat with hikers as they start their day hike.

We’ll supply everything you need for the day. Although we suggest you bring your own gloves, a hat, sunscreen, and a positive attitude.

We’ll meet at 1pm in the parking area at church across from Lazy Hiker Brewing. We’ll regroup between 3-4 and head across the street for a cold beverage on us.

Please RSVP to help with planning for this event:

Little Tennessee River Greenway

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