Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

2026 Lunch & Learn Outing - Deer Scouting at Bent Creek with Artemis Sportswomen
2026-08-01 07:00 - 09:00 (America/Halifax)
Date: Saturday, August 1
Time: 7-9 AM
Where: Bent Creek Experimental Forest, Ledford Branch Trailhead Parking
Difficulty: 5/10
Pre-registration is REQUIRED
Join Artemis Ambassador Lisa Fierman for a cool summer morning learning more about deer behavior, spotting deer sign, and how to set yourself up for success while hunting. Expect to be walking in the woods, on and off trail, for roughly 2 hours. There will be some elevation again and loss. This outing is a compliment to the Virtual Lunch & Learn on July 29. Please come prepared with sturdy footwear, plenty of water, snacks, and outfitted for time in the woods – including bug spray and/or permethrin treated clothing and an awareness of poison ivy.
Artemis Sportswomen celebrates and uplifts women hunters and anglers, creating community and developing leaders in the sporting and conservation worlds. While this outing is in partnership with Artemis, please register no matter your gender identity. Our goal is to create a supportive learning environment for all people!
REGISTER HERE

Roan Highlands BioBlitz with MountainTrue
2026-08-01 10:00 - 16:00
Saturday, August 1
Join the Roan Stewardship team, our partners from MountainTrue, and the Buladean Community Center to explore and document incredible natural biodiversity on SAHC preserves in the Highlands of Roan. Celebrate conservation and participate in MountainTrue’s 10th Annual BioBlitz while exploring our beautiful Wiles Creek and Big Rock Creek preserves (and likely a few others). Attendees will participate in groups with expert naturalists that will guide them in identifying as many species as possible. Data collected on SAHC’s preserves will aid in long term protection of the land.

What is a BioBlitz?

A BioBlitz is part social event, part scientific expedition. Armed with the iNaturalist app and guided by experts, we’ll head into the field to document the rare and rugged ecosystems in the Highlands of Roan.

Explore: Navigate diverse terrains with expert naturalists.
Learn: Discover how to identify local flora and fauna.
Contribute: Every observation you upload becomes part of a global database used by scientists to track environmental health.

Join the Expedition

Ready to become a citizen scientist? Space is limited to ensure a high-quality experience for all participants and to minimize our impact on the land.
Important Reminders:
Please leave pets at home. Kids able to hike 4 miles are welcome to attend as long as accompanied by a parent/guardian for the duration of the event.
Location:
BioBlitz gathering location (Buladean Community Center)

2026 Grassy Ridge Mow-Off
2026-08-15 - 2026-08-16
We need YOUR help on the mountain!
Saturday, August 15 – Sunday, August 16
Camp out or come for a day. Join other volunteers as we work to maintain the globally rare grassy and shrub balds found on Grassy Ridge, one of the most beautiful and ecologically significant sites in the Roan Highlands. We’ll cut invasive blackberries and other shrubs using weed whackers and brush cutters. Enjoy great company and great job satisfaction! Our annual Grassy Ridge Mow-Off is more than just a work day — it’s an incredible way to experience the Highlands of Roan and to share cherished moments with friends.
Backpackers and day trippers are both welcome.
The hike to Grassy Ridge is a rugged 2.5 miles over three balds, generally gaining over 650 feet in elevation. If skies are clear, the views are gorgeous, and we have a job suited to almost everyone. There are several different ways to help: flagging rare plants, cutting or raking blackberries, camp organization or cooking, taking photographs, and more.
Do you plan to join the group camp out on Grassy Ridge on Saturday, August 15th? If so, please be sure to note that on the registration form below.
Grassy Ridge Mow-Off Planned Schedule:
Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Campers arrive, set up your tent and return to the work site.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Day hikers arrive. Sign in/Orientation
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Work time! (lunch break at 1 pm)
Saturday 4:00 p.m. – bedtime. Clean up and store equipment. Fun and Fellowship for campers!
Sunday 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. A short work day and pack out. *Everyone should be prepared to pack out group trash.
For questions, contact Roan Stewardship Director Marquette Crockett at marquette@appalachian.org.

REGISTER HERE TO VOLUNTEER
We are at capacity for this event! If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please get in touch directly with Roan Stewardship Director Marquette Crockett at marquette@appalachian.org.

Stabilizing & Revegetating Streams: A Landowner Workshop
2026-08-20 10:00 - 14:00 | SAHC Community Farm (Event Venue), 180 Mag Sluder Road, Alexander, NC, 28701, United States
What: FREE workshop on stabilizing and repairing streams
When: Thursday, August 20 from 10 am to 2 pm
Where: SAHC Community Farm, 180 Mag Sluder Rd, Alexander, NC 28701

Do you want to repair and stabilize stream banks on your property? Join Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and our partners from Riverlink and USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service for an informative workshop paired with look at a successfully restored stream area.

NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife and CHIRAM (Collaboration on Helene Impact and Recovery Assessment and Monitoring) are partnering with local nonprofits SAHC and Riverlink to this host outreach workshop for landowners in Buncombe County, providing information and resources on best practices for streambank stabilization and revegetation. The workshops were created in response to needs identified following Helene, with the goal of supporting communities and their recovery work, particularly with private landowners.

Hosting and Presenting Partners:

Planned Workshop Agenda

Morning sessions
9:45 – 10 am: Participants meet at the SAHC Community Farm Education Center
10 – 10:30 am: Group Introductions
10:30 – 11 am: RiverLink presentation – Eli Smith, Watershed Program Specialist
11 – 11:30 am: NRCS presentation
11:30 am – noon: SAHC presentation – Chris Link, Community Farm Manager

Break
12 – 12:45 pm: Time for questions/conversations, resource distribution, lunch break (bring your own)

Afternoon Project Tour
12:45 to 1:45 pm: Field tour of SAHC’s stream restoration project on the farm property
1:45 – 2:15 pm: End of workshop wrap-up

FREE for attendees, but pre-registration is required.
SAHC Community Farm Manager Chris Link (chris@appalachian.org) will email additional info to registered participants prior to the event. To participate, please fill out the registration form below.

Workshop Registration

Thank you for your interest in a workshop with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Registration for this outing is closed at this time. Please check our calendar of events for additional opportunities to connect!

2026 August Blue Hole Falls Hike and Swim
2026-08-21 11:00 - 13:00
Date: Friday, August 21st
Time: 11:00 am
Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty: 5/10

Join SAHC for a short hike, picnic, and swimming at Blue Hole Falls in Elizabethton, TN on Friday, August 21st! This very short trail leads to a beautiful natural waterfall and swimming hole. The trail includes a steep section as well as roots and wooden steps that can be slick. Bring your own lunch to enjoy after a morning of swimming!
About Blue Hole Falls: In 2023 SAHC purchased 29 acres in Carter County, TN near the Blue Hole Falls recreation area. This land adjoins Cherokee National Forest on three sides, with the upper part of Mill Creek running through the property and into Blue Hole Falls downstream. SAHC transferred the property to the U.S. Forest Service in 2025 and is now a part of the Cherokee National Forest. Conservation of the property helps protect water quality in trout waters and downstream in Blue Hole Falls, as well as scenic views from the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
REGISTER HERE:

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2027 SAHC Winter Hiking Challenge
2027-01-01 - 2027-03-01
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is proud to announce the 7th Annual Winter Hiking Challenge!
The Winter Hiking Challenge sets a goal of 60 miles in 60 days, to be completed in your own time and at your own speed. Those can be miles you’ve walked, ran or hiked – in your neighborhood or through the woods – just make it 60 miles within the 60-day challenge time period (January 1st to March 1st, 2027). No matter your background or ability this event is designed to get folks outside in the cold winter months! Registration opens December 1st and the registration fee is $25 per person. Your registration fee directly supports conservation work in the Southern Appalachians. If you cannot afford the registration fee at this time, please use the coupon code: SAHC2027.
Participants will receive informative emails throughout the challenge with suggestions for some of our favorite places to hike across the mountains of NC and TN, including some new properties SAHC has recently protected. You may enter miles at any date during the 60 days, as long as they are all entered by 11:59 pm on March 1.
Those who complete the Winter Hiking Challenge will receive a commemorative SAHC patch, designed by Solstice Handmade, and all participants are invited to an in-person celebration on Saturday, March 13 at the Wicked Weed Funkatorium.
New this year! We will be introducing a private Facebook Group and Strava Club for challenge participants to connect with one another, share hiking recommendations, and create community throughout the challenge. More information will be provided in your registration details.

Registration Opens December 1, 2026

Interested in sponsoring the challenge? Get in touch with Membership Director Cheryl Fowler at cheryl@appalachian.org.

2027 Winter Hiking Challenge Celebration
2027-03-13 15:00 - 18:00 | Wicked Weed Funkatorium, 147 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Date: Saturday, March 13
Time: 3 to 6 pm
Location: Wicked Weed Funkatorium, 147 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
You’re invited to join Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy to celebrate the conclusion of the Winter Hiking Challenge! This gathering will be a chance to connect with other hikers who participated in the challenge, meeting fellow members of the conservation community. SAHC will be there with merchandise for sale and plenty of staff members if you have questions about our work.
There will be freebies, raffles, and auction items available, with proceeds benefitting SAHC’s conservation work. Additionally, there will be a few vendors who helped with the challenge – more information to come. You will NOT receive your patch at this event. Patches will be mailed to finishers upon conclusion of the challenge.
There is public street parking available along Coxe Ave and other nearby streets, a private parking garage The Ironwood Parking Garage at 45 Federal Alley (2 minute walk), and a public parking deck at 11 Sears Alley (9 minute walk). Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the venue. The Funkatorium specializes in sour beer, but regular beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options are also available. Additionally, there is a full kitchen on site serving pizza, sandwiches, and more. Find their menu online here.
Check back for an RSVP form closer to the event date.
