Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy

History. Art. And the Great Outdoors.

trail events

April 25, Trailhead Tuesday

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 church parking lot across from Lazy Hiker Brewing in Franklin, NC. At 3pm, we’ll regroup to share our accomplishments over a cold beverage.

Please RSVP to help with planning for this event:

Boating with Bartram on the Little Tennessee

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 Hickory Knoll Road Trailhead to Tassee Shelter on the Greenway.

This is a lovely 4-5 hour float on the Little Tennessee, even closer to the path William Bartram is believed to take as he arrived in what is not the Town of Franklin. The river is calm and smooth sailing for this section and we should be treated to all the spring blooms and trees filling in along the banks.

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

We will stop for lunch along the way and likely be ahead of schedule, but adding some time for shuttling and loading/unloading boats.

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 below to help with planning. We’ll cut off RSVPs when we reach 14 folks.

See you on the river!

April 8, 2023 – Second Saturday Work Day

Location for this workday is TBD.

Please bring work gloves, good boots, plenty of water, lunch, any meds you might need and esprit de corps.

We’ll meet at 9AM and wrap up at 3pm.

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 110 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!

The Forest That Was: A Bartram Walk Through Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

Stepping off of the Bartram Trail for a day, Brent Martin led a group of hikers out for The Forest That Was: A Bartram Walk Through Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

While William Bartram didn’t quite make it out this far west, based on what we know, the trees standing in this old growth forest in Western North Carolina, are trees that stood during Bartram’s time in the area. What Bartram’s Travels notes is that he made it as far as the Nantahala River gorge, near where the Beechertown trailhead is, before turning around based on a warning from the Cherokee Chief, Attakullakulla.

Sharing some stories at the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest kiosk
Hikers getting ready to hit the loop trail at Joyce Kilmer

Even if a little overcast, the day of the hike was lovely, calm, and cool. The group of hikers, many of whom join us regularly for our Walking With Bartram section hikes, met at the Cowee School first, then drove over to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

Getting a view from the Needmore Bridge over the Little Tennessee River
Stopping for a short look at the Little Tennessee River from the Needmore swinging bridge on the way to Joyce Kilmer

After a brief lunch and some background information and stories from Brent, we set off on the short loop to see the magnificent trees. It didn’t take long to find our first giants in this forest.

Hikers stopping to discuss trees and birds they were seeing on the loop trail at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
The Forest That Was: Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

The park has a few loops that are relatively easy to moderate for hiking, but well worth the effort. This is a special place to visit and the entire group was in awe among these giants.

A full list of tree species follows below, but Tulip Poplars are certainly the dominant species in this forest. There are some signs that they are beginning to reach the end of their long life-spans, but many are still standing.

Hiker getting a closer look at an old tulip polar
The Forest That Was: Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

Tree-spotting in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest:

  • Tulip Tree – the dominant and largest hardwood
  • Cucumber Tree – enormous specimens
  • Silverbell – dominant in mid-story, some enormous for such a normally small tree
  • Yellow Birch – abundant
  • Sweet Birch – occasional
  • American Beech – abundant, a few large ones
  • Eastern Hemlock – what’s left are a few small ones apparently treated
  • Mockernut Hickory – could have been Bitternut
  • Sugar Maple
  • Striped Maple
  • Red Maple
  • Basswood
  • Fraser Magnolia
  • Umbrella Magnolia
  • Dogwood – I saw one (Cornus florida) but I know alternate leaf dogwood is there as well
  • Sycamore – down on the creek opposite side of where we were hiking up from the parking area
  • Lots of spicebush, rosebay rhododendron, and blooming hepatica. Yellow violet of some sort too.
  • We also saw the Cherry Tree and were undecided on whether it was a Black Cherry or a Fire Cherry. We definitely saw a fire cherry, and we also saw a dead white pine!
  • Early Spring Flowers – We saw Halberd-leaved Violet, Spring Beauties, and Round-leaved Violet.

We are looking forward to more of these special hiking events. If you have any ideas or thoughts on where we could go on future outtings, please let us know by leaving a comment here or emailing us at info@blueridgebartram.org.

Enjoy the photos from our walk among these giants of Western North Carolina.

Photo gallery

Joyce Kilmer plaque at the loop trailhead
A whole lot of rings on this fallen and cut tree on the loop trail in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Tree roots growing around small boulders
Tall crowns of very large trees
View of Brent and Eric through two very large trees fused together at the base
Hikers taking a short break on the loop trail at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Looking up two large trees in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Incredible exposed surface roots at the base of a large tulip poplar likely caused by erosion from foot traffic
Hiker getting a closer look at an old tulip polar
Hiker getting a closer look at an old tulip polar
Silverbell tree with its purplish bark color
Thick moss growing on a fallen tree in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Upper Loop Trail No. 43 sign in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Joyce Kilmer Memorial plaque embedded in a large boulder on the trail
Incredible roots fanning out from high on the trunk of this large tulip poplar
Rhododendron beginning to bud up as early spring sets in

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