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April 23rd: Full Moon Hike

Join Star Henderson to hike the Bartram Trail through Franklin on this April’s full moon.

We’ll take the new route through the Fairgrounds and Rec Park, continuing down Allman Drive, through the Cartoogechaye Creek meadow, onto the Little Tennessee Greenway to Big Bear, then continue down Main Street Franklin to the Lazy Hiker for refreshment and rides back to the start.

We’ll meet at the Fairgrounds Kiosk and 5:30pm and hike the easy 7 miles through town.

Here is a video of the section:

https://www.facebook.com/BacklotCinema/videos/1113080585961669/

This hike will be limited to 12 people.

Please RSVP here:

A Reading by J Drew Lanham at Western Carolina University

Join us on campus for a free event featuring poet, memoirist, and conservationist J. Drew Lanham. A MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, Dr. Lanham is the author of the memoir The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature, which received the Reed Award from the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Southern Book Prize. He is also the author of the poetry collection Sparrow Envy: Field Guide to Birds and Lesser Beasts and the forthcoming book Joy is the Justice We Give Ourselves. An Alumni Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Master Teacher at Clemson University, he and his family live in the Upstate of South Carolina, a soaring hawk’s downhill glide from the southern Appalachian escarpment that the Cherokee once called the Blue Wall.

Event Details Here:
https://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/cas/humanities/english/lit-fest/

2024 Bartram Trail Conference in Franklin, NC!

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming 2024 Bartram Trail Conference! Join us at the historic Cowee School in Franklin, North Carolina, on May 31st and June 1st. Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy is hosting this year and promises to be an enriching experience for all attendees.

Registration is NOW OPEN!

2024 Bartram Trail Conference Registration

The Cowee School is nestled in the picturesque Cowee Historic District and just north of Franklin. For Bartramites, it holds significant historical value. It’s located in the area where the renowned naturalist William Bartram once lived with the Cherokee during his famous Travels. This setting provides the perfect backdrop for our conference, blending rich history with the beauty of the Little Tennessee River Valley.

As we finalize our conference schedule, we encourage you to mark these dates on your calendar. Stay tuned for more details, including a lineup of insightful speakers, engaging outings in the surrounding area, and information on accommodations. You can also find more information on our 2024 Bartram Trail Conference page.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the legacy of William Bartram and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Reconnect with friends from past events and experience the beauty and history of the Blue Ridge region.

Check out the program from 2023!

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!

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