CANINE CRUISIN' = dog-friendly road trips. Each time a Canine Cruisin' road trip is described on the home page, additional information about that trip's locale will be found here. [Note: Click on the location title for the complete article.]
Graveyard Fields, Blue Ridge Parkway
More Information: http://www.romanticasheville.com/graveyard.htm
From BlueRidgeHeritage.com:
Stunning waterfalls and a distinctive landscape make Graveyard Fields one of the most popular hiking areas in the North Carolina mountains. Graveyard Fields is located about an hour south of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
What's with the Name?
Why the funereal name? One theory holds that many years ago a tremendous windstorm uprooted the spruce forest, leaving behind stumps that gave the area the appearance of a graveyard. Another speculation is that logging in the early 20th century left tree stumps resembling gravestones.
Graveyard Fields experienced catastrophic fires in the last century, once in 1925 and again in the early 1940s. These fires swept through the area, destroying the stumps and scorching the soil enough to render it sterile.
Wildflowers Enchant Hikers in this Blue Ridge Parkway Wilderness
Today, few signs of this fiery heritage are visible, a testament to nature's ability to heal itself and to create beauty from devastation. Populous plants include mountain laurel and rhododendron, as well as many wildflowers, such as bluets, galax, asters, and honeysuckle. In summer and fall, hikers can enjoy blackberries, gooseberries, and blueberries scattered throughout Graveyard Fields. The berries also attract a variety of wildlife, including a large number of white-tailed deer.
Directions to Lake James State Park: http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/laja/directions.php
State park map: http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/laja/pics/parkmap.pdf
South Carolina Botanical Garden
Directions from Greenville, SC: Take I-85 South and then exit 19-B toward Clemson onto Highway 76. Continue on Hwy. 76 about 9 miles. You will pass the Armory on your right and shortly thereafter come to a stoplight. At this light, take a left turn onto Perimeter Road (Pearman Blvd.). Continue about 1/2 mile to the Garden's main entrance on the left.
Maps of the Garden: http://www.clemson.edu/public/scbg/visiting/maps.html
More information about visiting: http://www.clemson.edu/public/scbg/visiting/index.html
Information about Greenville parks and trails: http://www.greenvillesc.gov/ParksRec/Trails/default.aspx
Additional information about Cashiers:
http://www.romanticasheville.com/cashiers.htm
http://www.cashiersnorthcarolina.com/
For additional information about Mt. Mitchell, visit:
http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/momi/main.php
http://www.romanticasheville.com/mtmitchell.htm
Additional information about DuPont State Forest:
Trail descriptions:
http://www.dupontforest.com/trails.asp
Driving directions, and directions to Access Areas mentioned in articles:
http://www.dupontforest.com/directions.asp
Craggy Gardens, Blue Ridge Parkway, NC
Additional information about Craggy Gardens:
http://www.romanticasheville.com/Craggy.htm
http://www.blueridgeheritage.com/attractions-destinations/craggy-gardens
http://www.visitblueridgeparkway.com/craggygardens.php
(The following information is from www.furman.edu)
Directions to Furman University
from Asheville, N.C. and points northwest:
Take I-26 to Hendersonville, N.C., then US 25 South. In Travelers Rest, bear left onto US 276 to Greenville, just past the Hampton Inn. Stay on US 276 one mile to the Furman exit.
In addition to Furman Lake, check out other things to see and do on the Furman University campus:
http://www.furman.edu/explore/index.html
All of the information about Six Wags of Greer Dog Park is in the article, linked above. Here are some additional photos of the dog park.
Directions to Max Patch from Hot Springs, NC (avoiding the I-40 rock slide):
From downtown Hot Springs, follow Highway 209 (7.3 miles) to Meadow Fork Road (State Road 1175). Go 5.3 miles to State Road 1181. Follow 1181 for 2 miles (turns into gravel). At the top of the mountain, turn right onto State Road 1182 and Max Patch parking is 3 miles.
The more direct way, once I-40 is open again, is to take I-40 West to exit 7 (Harmon's Den). Turn right onto Cold Springs Road, which becomes a gravel road. Follow for 6.2 miles to SR-1182 (Max Patch Rd). Turn left. Go 1.5 miles to Max Patch parking area.
Additional information about Max Patch, from www.romanticasheville.com:
This 4,600-foot mountain was cleared and used as pasture in the 1800s. Today, it's a 350-acre tract of open land on a high knob with 360-degree views. On a clear day, you can see from Mt. Mitchell on the east to the Great Smoky Mountains on the south. What a picnic spot! And great for star gazing and enjoying wildflowers. The summit is a short walk from the parking lot.
Two easy loop trails lead you to, and around, the summit. The 1.4-mile short loop crosses the summit. The 2.4 mile loop circles the mountain for outstanding views from all the sides. From the parking lot, follow the marked trail to the left. You will ascend through a forest and then reach the top for amazing views. The rest of the hike is on the grassy bald.
The Great Smoky Mountains, only 20 miles away, dominate the southwest horizon. To the west the terrain drops over 3600 feet into the flatlands of eastern Tennessee. To the west, 50 miles distant, rises the dark ridgeline of the Black Mountains. Endless ridges and peaks fill in the panorama everywhere else.
Take along a jacket, since it's usually at least 10 degrees cooler on Max Patch than in Asheville. And it's usually breezy.
Directions to Montreat, NC from Asheville, NC:
I-240 East to I-40 East
Exit 64 (NC 9) to Black Mountain/Montreat
Left at NC 9 North/State Road 2500
Continue onto Assembly Drive
(The following information is from www.townofmontreat.org)
Montreat, NC is a secluded mountain cove community nestled at the foot of Greybeard Mountain and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. We are located in the far eastern portion of Buncombe County near the Eastern Continental Divide. We are blessed with a great variety of native flora and fauna, gently flowing streams and gorgeous mountain vistas.
Life here is lived at a slower, more peaceful pace. There is no commercial development in Montreat, not even a traffic light. Most of the streets are narrow and winding, with much less vehicle traffic than larger town or cities. This is an advantage to our preferred method of travel - walking. Multiple trails wind through hundreds of acres of wilderness surrounding the Town, along creeks, across rustic bridges and through preserved woodland areas.
Montreat, a name created from a portmanteau of "Mountain" and "Retreat," was originally founded as as a spiritual retreat in the early 1900's. The Montreat Conference Center currently hosts year-round religious conferences for all ages. The Conference Center's facilities include a hotel, several guest lodges, a beautiful stone auditorium seating 2,000, a craft center, child care center, children's park and abundant hiking trails.
Montreat College is a four-year co-educational Christian liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The integration of faith and learning with an emphasis on servant leadership are key elements in the College's educational process. The College brings brings many special events to Montreat, including symphonies, plays, community arts festivals, adult learning programs community trips abroad and sports programs. Most of the College's facilities are housed in historic stone buildings constructed in the early 1900's. The Chapel of the Prodigal features internationally renowned fresco artist Ben Long's rendition of "The Return of the Prodigal" and is open to the public.
(The following information is from the Montreat Conference Center website, www.montreat.org)
Montreat Conference Center is surrounded by approximately 2,500 acres of pristine wilderness that is permanently protected and will never be developed. The landmass of the Montreat community, as a whole, is approximately 4,000 acres, and is an important corridor for access to the wilderness beyond its borders. Conserving the Montreat wilderness is significant to the ecology of the entire region, including neighboring mountain preserves – the North Fork Watershed Natural Area, the Pisgah National Forest – and several thousand acres of private land surrounding Montreat’s wilderness border. Adjoining these large tracts of contiguous land are the Blue Ridge National Scenic Byway, Mt. Mitchell State Park, Middle Creek Research Natural Area, and the Black Mountain Natural Area. The Montreat Wilderness area makes a significant contribution to this larger “macro-preserve.”
Waynesville and Lake Junaluska, NC
Directions to Waynesville from Asheville, NC:
I-40 West, right at US 74-W (US 19/23/74 to Clyde/Waynesville)
Exit 102: US 276 towards Waynesville
Right onto US 276 S
Right at North Main Street into Waynesville.
(The following information is from www.lakejunaluska.com)
Hiking and Walking Trails
Many visitors who come to Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center want to enjoy the outdoors. What better way to do this than to take advantage of the many hiking and walking trails located near our campus! There are plenty of outdoor trails that will suit everyone's desires, whether you and your family want to enjoy a leisurely stroll around Lake Junaluska or tackle mountainous terrain on one of the trails located in the Pisgah National Forest or Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Lake Junaluska Walking Trail
The Lake Junaluska walking trail is a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors and discover the beauty and serenity of the lake. Check out our walking trail guide, which features historical descriptions of various locations seen around the lake as visitors walk along the trail. Find out more information about our walking trail.
Waynesville Greenway The Waynesville Greenway follows Richland Creek for 5.3 miles. Visitors will enjoy hiking or biking this trail, which ends at the Waynesville Recreation Park. The addition of the connection of the Lake Junaluska Trail to the Waynesville Greenway will provide an even greater opportunity for everyone to travel between the Lake and Waynesville without having to drive.
Directions
When Driving:
-Take a left out of North Lakeshore Drive.
-Take the first right after Holston Village road to park and begin the trail.
When Walking:
-Walk left out of North Lakeshore Drive.
-Walk along the sidewalk until you are past Holston Village Road.
-Safely cross the highway within the crosswalk at the first road past Holston Village road.
The Greenway is a partnership between Waynesville, Haywood County, and NC DOT. Additional assistance has been provided by Lake Junaluska. In addition to hiking, jogging, and bicycling the greenway trail, you may enjoy the following activities: floating on the creek, fishing, and visting the various recreation areas located along the greenway.
The purpose of this greenway trail is to connect to Lake Junaluska and to provide an alternative transportation option that links businesses, schools, recreation areas, and residential communities. In addition, the greenway serves as an outdoor classroom for local schools and offers educational opportunities to help the public understand and appreciate the environmental aspects of the corridor.
Waynesville Greenway Trail Map (PDF)
Lake Junaluska Connector to Waynesville Greenway Trail Map (PDF)
Moses Cone Park, Julian Price Park, NC
(The following information about Moses Cone Park is from http://www.blueridgeheritage.com/node/1016 )
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, near Blowing Rock, North Carolina on the Blue Ridge Parkway, preserves the country estate of Moses Cone, a prosperous textile entrepreneur, conservationist, and philanthropist of the Gilded Age. Its centerpiece is Flat Top Manor, a gleaming white 20-room, 13,000 square foot mansion built in 1901 in the grand Colonial Revival style.
The Manor is now the home of the Parkway Craft Center, one of five shops of the Southern Highland Craft Guild which features handmade crafts by hundreds of regional artists. Throughout the season, local artists demonstrate crafts such as quilting, embroidery, weaving, pottery, glass-blowing, and woodcarving on the front porch of the Manor.
Twenty-five miles of carriage trails wind through the fields and forests of the 3,500-acre estate. The trails are open to the public for walking, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The Craftsman's Trail is a 20-minute loop walk around the Manor which the Cones are said to have walked together every morning. The estate also contains a family cemetery and a carriage and apple barn.
Moses Cone's interest in nature and conservation led him to plant extensive white pine forests and hemlock hedges (at the advice of friend and noted conservationist Gifford Pinchot), build several lakes stocked with bass and trout, and plant a 10,000-tree apple orchard.
Hours of Operation
Flat Top Manor and the Parkway Craft Center are open seasonally.
March 15 - November 30
9 am - 5 pm daily
Call the Parkway Craft Center for the daily schedule of craft demonstrations.
Hours of operation are subject to change. Contact directly for most current information.
Admission Fees
None.
Location
The Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is located at milepost 294 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
(The following information about Julian Price Park is from http://www.virtualblueridge.com/parkway_tour/parks/293_0/ )
Julian Price Park is 3900 acres of magnificence and enjoyment. The park provides picnic grounds, campgrounds, rest rooms, nature walks, an amphitheater, hiking trails, trout fishing, and boat rental. Julian Price obtained the beautiful forested area in the late 1930s and early 1940s. He planned to use the land as an exceptional vacation refuge for the employees of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company. However, Julian Price's unfortunate death in 1946 postponed the plans. Jefferson Standard donated the land to the National Park Service for public use. Jefferson Standard did request that Boone Fork be dammed to create Price Lake as a memorial for Julian Price. The trails in the park vary in length but all take you through the forests, by the streams and into the meadows of this fertile land.
(The following information is from www.4pawskingdom.com)
Four Paws Kingdom is the first and only dog dedicated campground in the US. Exclusively catering to adult guests and their canine companions. We'll provide you with all the amenities dogs and their humans can wish for. Hiking trails - dog pond - play parks - agility - Rally-O, dog bathhouse with grooming station - and more...
Complemented by full service campground amenities with free WIFI, Big Rig sites and first class events and entertainment. Definitely not your usual campground fare!
(Photos above and below right taken at Four Paws Kingdom.)
(The following information is from www.chimneyrockpark.com)
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park is located in Chimney Rock Village in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Just 25 miles southeast of Asheville, NC, the Park is nestled in Hickory Nut Gorge adjacent to Lake Lure. The Park welcomes leashed and vaccinated pets.
Privately owned by the Morse Family for more than 100 years, Chimney Rock was acquired by the State of North Carolina in 2007 to become part of a larger state park dubbed Chimney Rock State Park. Currently, the 1,000-acre Chimney Rock is the only part of state park open to the public.
Chimney Rock, the 535-million-year-old monolith for which the Park is named, is considered one of the most iconic sites in North Carolina. From its top, you’ll soak in 75-mile panoramic views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. We’ve made the views easily accessible to all with our 26-story elevator built right inside the mountain.
The Park features mountain hiking trails for all ages and abilities.
(The following information is from www.southcarolinaparks.com)
Devils Fork State Park provides the only public access to Lake Jocassee, a largely undeveloped 7,500-acre reservoir tucked deep into the Blue Ridge.
Devils Fork is easily reached from S.C. 11, the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Highway. The park is popular with families, fishermen, scuba divers and boaters, who enjoy Jocassee’s uncrowded setting and spectacular scenery, such as waterfalls cascading into the lake off steep, wooded slopes. Full campground amenities and modern villas also are highlights of the park. So are hiking and nature trails that provide the opportunity to appreciate sights ranging from rare Oconee bell spring flowers to the fall color show, while bald eagles and peregrine falcons patrol the mountain skies.
GENERAL
- Counties: Oconee
- Acreage: 622
- When & How PRT Acquired: Leased in 1991 from Duke Power Company
- Pets: Pets are not allowed in the villas or the villa areas. Pets are allowed in most other outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet.
- Pay Phone on Site: Yes
HOURS
- Admissions: $2 adults; $1.25 SC seniors; age 15 & younger free
- Office Hours: Year round (Mon. - Fri.) 9am-5pm, (Sat. & Sun.) 11am-noon & 4pm-5pm
- Days and Hours of Operation: Late Spring to Mid-Fall (Daily) 7am-9pm; Late Fall to Mid-Spring (Sat.-Thur.) 7am-6pm; Late Fall to Mid-Spring (Fri.) 7am-8pm
LOCATION
- Driving Directions:
From I-85 at the GA line: Take exit 1 to Hwy 11 for approx. 40 miles, turn left on Jocassee Lake Rd, and travel 3 mi.
From I-85 at the NC line: Travel south to Hwy 11 exit at Gaffney and proceed on Hwy 11 for approx. 90 miles, turn right on Jocassee Lk. Rd and travel 3 miles.
From I-26: Take exit 5 onto Hwy 11 to Campobello. Travel for approximately 60 mi. Turn rt. on Lake Jocassee Rd., and travel 3 mi. - Lake Location: Yes
- Miles to Nearest Hospital: 24
- Miles to Nearest Town: 5
- Miles to Nearest Grocery Store: 16