Date: Saturday, March 28th
Time: 10:00 am
Where: Rough Creek Watershed
Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous (7/10)
Cost: FREE for all participants (Pre-Registration is Required!)
We’re hitting the trails to celebrate Highland Brewing Company’s seasonal Saint T’s Pale Ale by hiking the Rough Creek Watershed’s inner loop trail! Participants will hike a moderately strenuous 5 mile loop through a beautiful forest with a near pristine ecosystem. Our hike will consist of about 1,000 ft of elevation gain, most within the first two miles. This watershed contains nearly 7 miles of streams, numerous seeps, springs, & swamp/bog areas which have become fairly uncommon with human inhabitants of the region. It also is home to many species of interesting & rare plants (painted trillium, whorled pogonia) as well as a large & diverse animal population (salamanders, turkey, bear, bobcats, songbirds). For those interested, the hike will be followed by celebrating with a Saint T’s Pale Ale.
The Rough Creek Watershed property, located at 265 Rough Water Pt., consists of over 870 acres of beautiful & majestic land, owned by the Town of Canton. This property is located on the South side of the Newfound Mountain Range, approximately 5 miles north of Canton in Western North Carolina. The Rough Creek Watershed Trail System is comprised of 3 trails of various distances, totaling 10+ miles.
In 2002, with the help of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, a partnership was created between the Town of Canton & the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund. This relationship has led to the establishment of a conservation easement throughout the Rough Creek property, ensuring the protection of its unique forest ecosystem & natural resources.
This hike is a part of SAHC’s “For Love of Beer and Mountains” corporate partnership with Highland Brewing Company and is a part of Highland’s “Thirst for Good” partnership. Highland donates a portion of sales of seasonal releases during the “release party” at the Tasting Room in Asheville to support SAHC’s land and water conservation efforts, and we lead guided hikes for folks to experience and enjoy the natural landscapes for which these seasonal brews are named and beyond.
*Please note that dogs are not allowed on these trails.
