Hike through beautiful Florence Nature Preserve on April 15, 2024.

Florence Nature Preserve offers a network of hiking trails on 600 beautiful acres on the slopes of Little Pisgah Mountain. The preserve features pristine creeks and cascades, scenic rock outcrops, the ruins of an old homesite, and areas of old growth forest. This land is home to many special plants and wildlife, from pink and yellow ladyslippers to rare salamanders.

We will be doing a moderately challenging 4.9-mile loop with 1,207 feet of elevation gain. As described above, we will hike along scenic streams with small cascading waterfalls, through beautiful woods, and have some great views at different points along the trail. We will start the hike at the trailhead at 10 a.m. that day, have lunch somewhere on our hike, and be back in the parking lot around 2-2:30 p.m.

We will rendezvous in West Asheville at 9 a.m. and sort out carpooling. (I’ll send you the location when you sign up). We will then drive towards Gerton to the Florence Nature Preserve parking area and trailhead. We will plan to start the hike around 10 a.m. If anyone prefers to meet us at the trailhead you can let me know when you sign up and I’ll send you directions.

If anyone is experiencing COVID symptoms, is still in quarantine after testing positive for COVID, is feeling sick, and/or has a fever, they should not attend this outing. Families are welcome! Any children should be accompanied and supervised by parents or other adult family members.

Please contact the outing leader to sign up, get directions, or if you have any other questions. Send an email to Ed Maggart – edmaggart@gmail.com or text/call at 828-713-0541. We hope to see you there!!