Marion - MST Birthday Hike

LOCATION: Section 4 Gorges, Peaks & Waterfalls Hwy 80 to Hwy 226 at Woodlawn Park

TIME: Meet at 7 am on Saturday, September 7th

HIKE DESCRIPTION: This hike will start at the Blue Ridge Parkway west of the viaduct over Highway 80 at Buck Creek Gap, and will traverse down to Marion through the Pisgah National Forest Grandfather Ranger District. The hike is approximately 11.8 miles long, and considered moderate to strenuousViews of Marion and Lake Tahoma are visible along the route from atop Bald Knob and other vantage points along the trail. Hikers will enjoy hiking through mature hardwood forest known to be one of the first national forests in the eastern United States.

LENGTH OF HIKE: Approximately 11.8 miles

DIFFICULTY: Challenging

MEETING LOCATION: Woodlawn Park, 6687 US 221 North, Marion NC 28752. 35°45'59.9"N 82°02'28.6"W. It is off US 221 North, and the parking lot entrance is on the left (traveling northward from Marion) perpendicular to Bald Mountain Trail which is on the right side of 221.

HIKE LEADER: Heather Cotton, hcotton@marionnc.org

OTHER LOGISTICS: We are partnering with Camp Grier who will help shuttle hikers from Woodland Park up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hikers will hike back towards their vehicles.

STICK AROUND MARION; There are great places to eat and socialize in downtown Marion. We will have a list of these establishments to visit while in town.

DONATIONS WELCOME. WHILE THE HIKE IS FREE, WE WELCOME YOU TO BUY A SHIRT AND CONTRIBUTE TO HELP FRIENDS OF THE MST CONTINUE TO BUILD, PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE TRAIL FOR YOU AND OTHERS TO ENJOY FOR YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU.