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Evergreen Issue 17

Adventure safe when the temps rise

FEATURE

Easy ways to recreate responsibly when the temperature rises.

Think about your dream summer adventure. Are your toes in the sand? Or are you wading through a clear stream? Whatever adventure comes to mind, there’s a good chance you can experience it in North Carolina, where the variety of terrain delivers an array of iconic summer escapes, whether you’re looking to camp in a field of fireflies, float down a languid river or ride the Atlantic’s surf to shore.

You could even argue that summer is the most enticing season to explore the state. Waterfalls are flowing from seasonal rains, swimming holes are crisp, the high elevation forests are vibrant with wildflowers and beach towns are humming with activity. The rising temperatures add another layer of opportunity for those looking to adventure with stewardship in mind.

Here are a few easy ways you can recreate responsibly while enjoying an iconic NC adventure during the hottest time of the year.

Here are four easy ways you can enjoy your campfire while being a steward of NC’s fabulous resources.

Shift Your Adventure Times

Temperatures can reach triple digits during the summer, especially if you’re at lower elevations. Check the weather and avoid planning your activities during the peak heat of the day. Aiming for early mornings or late afternoons will not only allow you to skip the worst of the heat, but it will likely help you avoid the thickest crowds.

Know Your Limits

The summer heat can add a layer of difficulty to big adventures summiting a mountain or even light activities like a family bike ride on a greenway. Don’t get in over your head. Knowing your limits, and the limits of your fellow explorers, and factoring the weather into your adventure, will ensure you have a good time without pushing beyond your capabilities. Take rest breaks often and seek out shade where you can. And of course…

Don’t forget to Hydrate

Staying hydrated is critical during summer when you’re sweating out so much water and salt. Start your hydration before your adventure begins and bring a liter of water for every hour you’re in the wild, or even basking at a beach. Consider carrying a reusable water bottle, which will help reduce the amount of trash you bring into the outdoors.

Dive a bit deeper to beat the heat

Outdoor NC Leave No Trace Tips for Recreating Responsibly in the Summer Heat

Tip #1: Plan Ahead & Prepare

Destinations like waterfalls, swimming holes and beaches can get crowded in the summer. Choosing lesser-known areas and avoiding high times of use can actually reduce your impact on the resource in a variety of ways. For instance, you’re more likely to have to move off of an established trail when hiking in a crowd. If you’re gathering at a swimming hole during peak times, you might feel the need to spread out beyond the rocky shore, creating a wider zone of impact. Consider visiting your favorite beach or scenic waterfall during the week when crowds are minimal, which will help preserve that very resource for future visits.

Swimming in a cold plunge pool in a mountain stream is peak summertime fun, as is tubing a lazy river. Those playgrounds are also the habitats of local wildlife. You can help preserve that habitat by leaving the rocks that line the river bottom and shoreline as you find them. Fish, salamanders and even the rare hellbender call these stones home, and by leaving the stones exactly as you find them, you’re helping preserve the natural habitat for all aquatic species.

Follow a simple rule regardless of where you’re adventuring this summer: Bring everything you carry into the outdoors back with you on the return journey. Food scraps and other litter can take years to decompose and impact local wildlife’s food systems, so packing every piece of trash out with you helps preserve the natural state for the creatures that call your favorite vacation spot home.

Guides

Meet the 2026 Outdoor NC Guides

This batch of outdoor experts represent every region of the state with expertise in a variety of adventures, from hiking to boating and everything in between. Not only do they know their fields and local terrain inside and out, they’ve all received specialized training in the seven Outdoor NC Leave No Trace Principles, so you can be certain that your adventure will be memorable and have a positive impact on the landscape. Over the next several issues, we’ll be introducing these fine folks one by one, so stay tuned!

Meet the outdoor NC Guides

explore

Hit the Beach with Stewardship in Mind

The Outer Banks separate North Carolina’s mainland from the Atlantic Ocean, offering more than 100 miles of open shoreline made accessible by a handful of seaside villages and towns scattered throughout the islands. There are towering sand dunes, raucous surf, historic lighthouses and calm sound-side waters. The variety of experiences has made the Banks one of the most beloved beach destinations on the east coast. It’s also a wonderful place to infuse your beach vacation with an element of stewardship that will deepen your connection with the landscape while enabling you to love the Outer Banks like a local.

Integrating stewardship to your beach vacation can be as simple as practicing catch and release fishing, so the fisheries remain healthy, or turning your porch lights off at night so fledgling turtles can navigate to the sea safely.

Want more ways to visit the Outer Banks with stewardship in mind? Check out the destination’s Stewardship Bucket List for more ideas to enhance your next trip.

Plan your OBX adventure

spotlight

Majestic Elk Watching in Haywood County

Majestic beasts roam in Haywood County. Situated quietly in Western North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains, Haywood’s towns of Waynesville and Maggie Valley are home to a meandering herd of wild elk. Since being reintroduced to the area in 2001, the herd has more than quadrupled to over 260 members and are thriving. Adults weigh up to 800 pounds and stand 5 feet tall at the shoulder with antlers stretching several more feet up and across. Seeing these great megafauna is a trip-defining experience. And you can help safeguard the elk by Keeping Wildlife Wild and always staying 100 yards away and keeping your snacks far away and only for yourself.

Learn more about elk watching

spotlight

your guide to the gateway trails

Old Fort, a manufacturing town that sits adjacent to Pisgah National Forest, has reinvented itself as a trails destination with the creation of the Gateway Trails System, which has 14 miles of user-friendly singletrack in a stacked loop system. The Gateway Trails were damaged significantly during Hurricane Helene, but after 18 months of dedicated work by the community partners, the Gateway Trails are open again. Biking, running or hiking these trails gives you a chance to preserve them for future use by Sticking to Trails; staying on the established trails and durable surfaces will protect trailside plants and prevent the trail corridor from widening unnecessarily.

Learn more about the gateway trail system

spotlight

Experience the harbor of hospitality

Water is a way of life in Elizabeth City. Located on the Pasquotank River as it meets the Albemarle Sound, adventure flows through this historic harbor town as visitors paddle the river, fish for flounder or simply enjoy the views of the Inner Banks. Visit Elizabeth City works with community organizations to ensure this way of life is preserved by promoting responsible recreation and supporting cleanup efforts on the waterways that define this town. With convenient kayak rentals, waterfront access and accessible spaces for enjoying river views, there are opportunities for visitors of all ages and abilities to experience the outdoors.

Explore elizabeth city

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.

Join the Movement