Date: Friday, August 25th
Time: 10:30am
Where: Strawberry Gap to Blue Ridge Pastures
Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous (7/10)
Cost: Free for Members. $10 for non-members.
Join Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy on August 25th for a hike to Blue Ridge Pastures via the new Strawberry Gap Trail. Participants will hike a moderately strenuous 6 mile out-and-back through a beautiful forest while taking in sweeping views of Fairview, NC before arriving at the remote Blue Ridge Pastures.
Strawberry Gap is the newest trail in the stunning Upper Hickory Nut Gorge trail network–just opened in September 2022! The trail climbs upward for three miles through beautiful, boulder-strewn forests. About halfway up, a rock outcrop offers sweeping views over a picturesque valley and range upon range of distant, blue mountains. The climax of this trail is Blue Ridge Pastures, where the forests give way to a ridgeline pasture, revealing dramatic views of the Hickory Nut Gorge, Bearwallow Mountain, Little Pisgah Mountain, and in the distance the highest mountains in the eastern United States.
This trail is made possible through a partnership between two local land trusts–Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) and Conserving Carolina. SAHC owns Strawberry Gap Preserve and worked with multiple private landowners to protect this beautiful mountain land with conservation easements. Conserving Carolina then built the trail, which connects to Trombatore Trail at Blue Ridge Pastures. This brings us to more than 16 miles of connected trails in the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge!
*Please note that Strawberry Gap passes through privately owned land and dogs are not allowed on this trail.
Cost – $10 or Free to Members. Pre-registration is required.
Registration FULL
Thank you for your interest in this hike; however, this hike is currently full. If you would like to be added to a wait list for this hike, please email hike leader AmeriCorps Community Engagement and Education member Katie Greer at katie@appalachian.org.
