Hiking the Highlands
Journey to delightful trails, inspiring overlooks and refreshing swimming holes in the Appalachian range
Solitude and Discovery at Zaleski State Forest
During Baby Josie’s first mountain hike, her parents took her on a 10-mile loop in southeast Ohio that wanders by a pond of lily pads, along ridgelines and through pine groves.
The Stanback Trails
Little Table Rock Mountain Trail is the longest of three newly designated Stanback Trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. It is located just a mile up the Parkway from the Heffner Gap Overlook at milepost 325.9, where a second Stanback Trail — the Rose Creek Trail — begins directly across the street.
The “Pinnacles” of Berea
Tucked against the edge of the Cumberland Plateau sits Berea, home to Kentucky’s largest privately managed forest. What’s more, the forest contains a variety of natural landmarks, many of which are accessible to the public through nearly 12 miles of trail networks, including 9 miles that traverse Indian Fort Mountain.
Tallulah Gorge State Park
With six majestic waterfalls and more than 20 miles of hiking trails that range from pleasant strolls to challenging adventures, Tallulah Gorge is a true jewel of the southern mountains.
Getting Wild: The Tennessee Wilderness Proposal
This year is the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. Currently, a proposal to designate nearly 20,000 acres of the Cherokee National Forest as official wilderness sits in Congress. Writer Chris Samoray takes a hike through a proposed wild area along the Bald River.
