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Our Blog: Natural Notes

5 Spring Ephemeral Wildflowers in the Appalachians

Trout lily is one of the common spring ephemeral flowers found around Asheville in the Appalachians. by MK Brown, Ecotour Guide and Naturalist As the sun starts to warm the still trees on south facing slopes and black bears rouse from their slumber and the spring peepers commence their evening chorus, the forest begins to…

5 EASY TO IDENTIFY and WILD-LOOKING Mushrooms you Should Know this Hiking Season!

by Eli Adams, Ecotour Guide and Naturalist   As a guide for Asheville Hiking Tours, I have been successful in identifying fruiting fungi, otherwise commonly known as mushrooms, especially given their prevalence in our forests! If you are living near the Blue Ridge Mountains, and particularly our lush Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina, then…

What is Happening Outside during your Asheville Winter Hiking

by Jenny Gruhn, PhD, Biologist and Owner of Asheville Hiking Tours   A barred owl perched on evergreens in winter. As you are hiking this upcoming winter season in the Blue Ridge Mountains, we hope you take a moment to stop and appreciate the complexity of the cold weather processes happening all around you –…

Health Benefits of Hiking: Why You Should Lace up Your Boots and Hit the Trail

Whether it’s looking out the office window, eating lunch in the courtyard, or setting out on a weeklong backpacking trip, people find solace in the tranquility found in nature. Regardless of your hiking skill level, from seasoned-pro to never-been-on-a-trail, you’ve probably experienced the joy that comes from spending time in nature.  On a deep level,…

Fall Color in the North Carolina Mountains: the When, Where and How

by Mike Scow, Naturalist and Ecotour Guide with Asheville Hiking Tours Starting with stark contrast against the dark spruce and fir of the highest peaks around 6000 ft, deciduous trees transform from the lush green of summer to the array of colors in autumn. Elevation plays a crucial role in the display over the next…

Best Waterfalls near Asheville – Our Top 10

Welcome to beautiful western North Carolina, home to over 250+ waterfalls and plenty of land to explore with it! Our waterfalls come from a vast underground aqueduct originating in Eastern Tennessee, plus the massive amount of yearly rain that we get (60+ inches!), classifying the area as a temperate rainforest. There are so many gorgeous…

Top 5 Waterfall and Summit Hike Daytrips near Asheville, NC

by Amanda Hastings, former Ecotour Guide for Asheville Hiking Tours Asheville, NC is a hotspot for special occasions, with activities for city-goers and mountain-lovers to enjoy. Asheville, NC has been a tourist destination since just before the 19th century and holds a rich history, from the confines of the city to the Blue Ridge Mountains…

This Bears Mentioning…

by Randy Sarton, Ecotour Guide for Asheville Hiking Tours Usually it only takes a very short while into one of my hikes for Asheville Hiking Tours before a guest poses the question, “Will we see a bear?”  This is not surprising given that black bears sit at the top of the list of charismatic megafauna here…

Planning a Wedding in Western North Carolina

by Mike Scow, Ecotour Guide for Asheville Hiking Tours – and he planned a successful wedding near Asheville, North Carolina! My wife and I began planning our wedding about a year before we got married. We started with a gorgeous rural location with trees, water, farm, and cows. Then we focused on the cake and…

Orchids Native to the Blue Ridge Mountains

by Amanda Hastings, former Ecotour Guide for Asheville Hiking Tours Want to observe exquisite orchids in their wild, natural environment, yet not quite ready to book a trip to the tropics or a remote island somewhere? Many may be shocked to learn these enchanting plants live in a variety of environments outside of tropical rainforests…

Birding in and around Asheville, North Carolina

by Bill Sanderson, Ecotour Guide for Asheville Hiking Tours, with intro by Owner Jenny Gruhn Birdwatching or “birding” is a popular way to become better acquainted with wildlife, since you can participate in this hobby while eating breakfast at your kitchen window, or waiting to get tires changed at the auto shop! Whether you live…

A Guide Looks Back at His Favorite Hiking Tour Experiences

by Randy Sarton, Ecotour Guide for Asheville Hiking Tours During much of year 2020, Asheville Hiking Tours and its guides were forced to take a “sabbatical” due to the shutdown caused by the Covid virus.  The breather that stemmed from this extraordinary series of events provided me with the opportunity to review the hundreds of…