Triad Hiking Group (Ages 20-35)

Shortleaf Dr, Statesville, NC 28677

In light of the upcoming Carolina Hot Air Balloon Festival held on October 17-19th this year, our eleventh hike will have us adventuring westward to Statesville!

The route of choice? A 6.2-mile loop on the shores of Lake Norman!

The length & number of roots along it are probably the only things particularly challenging about this trail - everything else (from the abundant apparent markings to loads of shade) should make it a serene, peaceful experience.

Given this is a trip, we will have carpooling options - those interested can meet at one of these three locations for pickup no later than 12:45 PM:

Alexander Spears YMCA Parking Lot (3216 Horse Pen Creek Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410)

Mary Perry Ragsdale YMCA Parking Lot (900 Bonner Dr, Jamestown, NC 27282)

YWCA of Forsyth County Parking Lot
(1300 S Main St, Winston-Salem, NC 27127)

We will plan to meet around 1:30 PM - we will leave around 1:15 PM and plan to conclude around 3:45 PM.

This will be a bit different event compared to the other ones in our schedule in that we have an itinerary planned for a day trip after the hike.

Folks who'd like to leave are welcome to do so after the hike but for folks wanting to stay on, here's the plan for after!

Stop 1 (After Hike): Bavarian Kitchen (aka apparently the best German restaurant in NC!)
Address: 275 N Main St, Troutman, NC 28166
Timeframe: 4:00 to 5:00 PM

Stop 2 (After Feasting):
Carolina Hot Air Balloon Festival
Address: 260 Hangar Dr, Statesville, NC 28677
Timeframe: 5:30 to 7:30 PM
(This should give us a chance to watch half of the Mass Ascension Launch Window and the whole of the Dare Devil Dog & Evening Balloon Gown shows).

625 Virginia Cates Rd, Hillsborough, NC, 27278

For our twelfth hike, we'll be venturing out of the Triad to travel across our first mountain!

We'll be exploring the state park via covering the Occoneechee mountain loop, a roughly 3 mile path.

Approximately 80% of this trail is natural with the rest being gravel.

This will be a STEEP & challenging climb! Plenty of roots are present and the elevation gain is about 200 ft/1 mile.

Fortunately, the trail itself is not particularly big.

Thankfully, the front entrance to the state park has plenty of parking, so that should not be a problem.

Given this is a trip, we will have carpooling options - those interested can meet at one of these two locations for pickup no later than 12:45 PM:

Alexander Spears YMCA Parking Lot (3216 Horse Pen Creek Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410)
Mary Perry Ragsdale YMCA Parking Lot (900 Bonner Dr, Jamestown, NC 27282)

We will plan to meet around 2 PM - we will leave around 2:15 PM and plan to conclude around 3:15 PM (and potentially stop for lunch somewhere after).

Bringing closed toed shoes and something to hydrate throughout with is strongly recommended!

I will be carrying some spare water bottles/snacks but space is limited so please make sure to prepare accordingly!

More details on the trail can be found here as well as a map for the route:

3905 Nathanael Greene Dr, Greensboro, NC, 27455

For our fourteenth hike, we'll be taking in sights of the Battleground Park District by walking across the Country Park Lake Loop!

Doing the loop twice, we'll cross about 3.8 miles.

This might be one if not the easiest hike so far! It's paved in entirety and as flat as the eye can see!

Over 50 spots to park are there at the lot so we shouldn't have to worry about parking.

We will plan to meet at 1:30 PM - we will leave around 1:45 PM and plan to conclude around 3:00 PM.

Bringing closed toed shoes and something to hydrate throughout with is strongly recommended!

I will be carrying some spare water bottles/snacks but space is limited so please make sure to prepare accordingly!

More details on the trail can be found here as well as a map for the route: