Evergreen Issue 19
Fall into stewardship
- FEATURE: Fall Stewardship Opportunities
- EXPLORE: Give Back for NC Oyster Month
- SPOTLIGHT: Celebrate the Mighty Oyster in Wilmington
- SPOTLIGHT: Hike New Trails in McDowell County
- SPOTLIGHT: Cruise the Neuse on e-Bikes
- LEARN & GROW: Meet Nicole Will, the Mountain Wellness Guide
FEATURE
Fall into stewardship
North Carolina puts on a show in the fall. Beginning in September, the hardwoods that blanket the highest peaks along the border begin shifting from a steady green to a patchwork of yellow, red and orange. The 6,000-foot summits, like Mount Mitchell and Mount Pisgah, are the first to turn every year, and you can watch the color work its way down the mountains to lower elevations as fall marches on. And it’s not just the hardwoods in the mountains that shift with the season. The cooler weather triggers beautiful changes across all of NC, from the subtle glow of the marsh grasses along the Bogue Sound to the rich yellows that take over the bald cypress canopy in the Great Dismal Swamp. The display of fall color is nature’s last gasp before settling down for winter, and the season also presents an opportunity for us to usher in a season of stewardship in our favorite destinations.
Here are four ways you can leave nc better this fall
Sweep the Beach
You can join organized cleanup events all along NC’s coast this fall, like the Jockey’s Ridge State Park Cleanup (October 17), where a park ranger will lead volunteers as they comb the beach and the tall sand dunes to remove debris.
Clean NC’s Biggest Lake
Lake Norman, in the Piedmont, is the largest reservoir in the state and a popular destination for boating and hiking. You can leave this beautiful lake better than you found it by participating in the Lake Norman State Park cleanup on National Public Lands Day (September 26).
Build the MST
Get your hands dirty and help build the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST), which runs for 1,200 miles across the state from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockey’s Ridge State Park in the Outer Banks. Volunteers put in more than 41,000 hours of work on the MST in 2025. You can be a part of that progress this fall at one of the season’s many trail work events so that this popular trail is in the best shape possible for the busy spring hiking season.
Spiffy Up Max Patch
The Carolina Mountain Club is a volunteer organization and hiking club that restores trails throughout the mountains. This fall they’re giving back to Max Patch, a high-elevation bald that has become one of the most iconic hiking destinations in the state. Volunteers will work to restore the section of the Appalachian Trail that crosses Max Patch on National Public Lands Day (September 26). And if you can’t make it this month, check out Carolina Mountain Club’s quarterly work days throughout the year!
Volunteering isn’t the only way you can become a steward for NC’s treasured landscapes this fall. By keeping a few easy OutdoorNC Leave No Trace principles in mind, you can turn a simple fall foliage hike into an act of stewardship.
Leave NC better than you found it this fall with These Outdoor NC Leave No Trace Tips
Tip #1: Stick to the Trails
The canopy above your head as you hike is gorgeous, but it’s just one part of a healthy forest. The understory, which is comprised of a variety of plants that thrive on the ground beneath those trees, is just as important. Hiking on designated trails is a great way to preserve the flora that exists along the edges of the path, which helps the entire forest thrive for seasons to come.
Tip #2: Leave It As You Find It
The leaves that fall on the ground aren’t just a colorful blanket on the forest floor. They’re also an important part of a healthy ecosystem, providing cover for animals and insects and eventually breaking down and enriching the soil. Leaving those leaves on the ground when you hike allows others to enjoy the same colorful ground cover, while also enabling the forest to go through its natural cycle as it moves into winter.
Tip #3: Be Considerate of Others
Certain destinations throughout NC can be very popular during the fall as many of us rush to soak in the color. Remember to Share the Outdoors, by keeping your noise level low and giving other leaf peepers enough space to enjoy the season in their own way. Announce yourself politely if you’re trying to pass another hiker on the trail. If you’re on a mountain bike, yield the right of way to hikers. Little acts of kindness like this go a long way to helping others enjoy the outdoors.
explore
Give Back for NC Oyster Month
The oyster is a key species living on NC’s coast, providing a food and income source as well as filtering water and forming fish habitat in the state’s bays. NC Oyster Month (in October) is a celebration of this valuable creature, and the NC Oyster Trail has multiple opportunities where you can improve the habitat for this important species. Join a beach cleanup in Kitty Hawk in the Outer Banks on October 10, or participate in Oyster Month’s trash clean-up in Raleigh on October 24, where you can remove litter from a local neighborhood and learn about the oyster shell recycling program at Earp’s Seafood Market. Oyster Month activities give you a chance to give back to one of NC’s favorite delicacies while enjoying fresh, local seafood.
spotlight
Celebrate the Mighty Oyster in Wilmington
Celebrate the state’s oyster culture during Oyster Month (October) in Wilmington and Island Beaches. Get on the water and see how local growers, like Rx Chicken & Oysters, raise oysters from seed to harvest. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of sustainable seafood practices with Epic Excursions’ Oyster Farm Tour & Tasting. From oyster-focused dining to farm tours and fresh catches along the coast, the “-ber months” offer a delicious way to experience the flavors and environmental importance of Wilmington and Island Beaches. Discover more sustainable seafood spots and start planning your visit.
spotlight
Hike Restored trails in Mcdowell county
During the past two years, the U.S. Forest Service and the G5 Trail Collective have worked hard to rebuild and reopen the Grandfather Ranger District’s trail system after damage from Hurricane Helene. The organizations have recently opened the Snooks Nose Trail, a marquee hiking trail that starts at the Curtis Creek Campground in Old Fort and ascends to the Blue Ridge Parkway. A 1.6-mile rerouted section of Snooks Nose was the first trail rebuild completed by G5 Trail Collective’s new trail crew funded by the American Relief Act. The entire trail is now open to hikers and runners.
spotlight
Cruise the Neuse River on e-Bikes
Explore Clayton on two wheels with Triangle Adventure’s guided e-bike tours, where outdoor recreation meets local history, scenic landscapes and culinary discovery. Tours offer a closer look at the area’s history, with opportunities to learn about the people, places and stories that shaped Johnston County, while showcasing the natural beauty of the Neuse River and surrounding greenway. With the extra boost of an e-bike, riders can comfortably cover more ground while enjoying the fresh air and landscapes that make this part of North Carolina unique.
learn & Grow
Nicole Will Blends Wellness with Stewardship
Nicole Will is the founder of Asheville Wellness Tours, a guide service that offers wellness-forward experiences like yoga hikes, forest bathing and goat yoga. Will has a background that includes working in wilderness therapy and guiding high-adventure camps and multi-day hikes throughout the Andes and Great Smoky Mountains. Through all of that work, she’s seen firsthand how nature can support our well-being and create space for wonder and connection.
Many of Asheville Wellness Tours experiences take place on land that is intentionally managed, so Will understands the importance of practicing solid stewardship principles, like unrolling yoga mats on durable surfaces.
“OutdoorNC Leave No Trace principles are important to me because they offer such a simple, tangible way to show care and respect for the natural places we love,” Will says. “In my work, I’ve found that when guests slow down enough to truly connect with a place, they naturally become stronger advocates for protecting it.”
You’re invited to join the outdoor nc movement
Join the movement to preserve and protect North Carolina’s beloved outdoor spaces! Together we can preserve them for generations to come. Click to learn more.