Sierra Club Hike – Sunday, April 7th
Our first spring hike will take place at Stone Mountain State Park, near Roaring Gap, NC. We'll hike the Stone Mountain Loop Trail, a 5 mile route that starts out by going to the top of this 600-foot granite dome where we'll enjoy some great views. The hike continues across the top of the mountain and down past an impressive waterfall. The first section of the hike is fairly strenuous. Stone Mountain was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1975. It is a bit under a two hour drive from Charlotte. We'll meet at 8AM in Charlotte for car pooling and should be back in Charlotte before 4PM. Limit 15. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
Sierra Club Hike to South Mountains State Park
Sunday, March 10th
We’ll hike 2 trails in the South Mountains State Park. The Chestnut Knob Trail is a fairly strenuous 4 mile roundtrip hike with great views fromtwo overlooks. We’ll follow that with a fairly flat 2 mile roundtrip hike to an impressive waterfall on the High Shoals Falls Trail. Meet at 8:30 AM in Charlotte for carpooling. We should be back before dinner. Limit 15. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
Here’s the website for South Mountains State Park:
http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/somo/main.php
Sunday, February 3, 2013 – Super Bowl Sunday Morning Hike – Anne Springs Close Greenway
Get some exercise before the big game. You’ll feel a lot less guilty when you sit in front of the TV and eat a whole bag of Doritos! This hike is a nice 6 mile loop through the woods of this 2,300 acre nature preserve in nearby Fort Mill. We’ll cross 3 swinging bridges and pass by two 19th century log cabins, including one built by Billy Graham’s grandfather. The land is fairly level, but it’s a trail through the woods, not a flat paved greenway such as those in Mecklenburg County. We’ll meet at 9 AM and be done by about noon. You’ll be home in time to watch all six hours of the pre-game show! Limit 20. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
Saturday, January 5, 2013 – Crowders Mountain State Park – First Hike of the Year (Re-scheduled New Year’s Day Hike)
If your New Year’s resolution is to get out and hike, here’s your immediate opportunity. Due to rain on New Year’s Day, we’ve rescheduled the 4th annual Sierra Club New Year’s Day hike in Crowders Mountain State Park. We’ll now hike on Saturday in the morning. Crowders Mountain is about fifty minutes from Charlotte, near Gastonia. We’ll hike about 3.5 miles roundtrip to the King’s Pinnacle. It’s fairly strenuous going up to the top with a great view as the reward. We’ll meet at 9:30 AM and be done by about 12:30 PM. Limit 20. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013 – Crowders Mountain State Park
If your New Year’s resolution is to get out and hike, here’s your immediate opportunity. Join us for the 4th annual Sierra Club New Year’s Day hike in Crowders Mountain State Park, about fifty minutes from Charlotte, near Gastonia. We’ll hike about 3.5 miles roundtrip to the King’s Pinnacle. It’s fairly strenuous going up to the top with a great view as the reward. We’ll meet at 1:00 PM and be done by about 4:00 PM. Limit 20. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
* Hike Off That Turkey – Sierra Club Outing, Sunday, Nov 25, 2012
November 20, 2012 by Bill Gupton, Group Chair
Question: Where can you find 97 species of birds, 17 species of mammals, 14 species of reptiles, and 9 species of amphibians in Mecklenburg County? Where can you see unusual species such as Bald Eagle, Wild Turkey, red fox, gray fox, mink, and red-spotted newt? Hint: This Mecklenburg County nature preserve also protects two federally endangered plants (Schweinitz’s sunflower and Michaux’s sumac), a federal candidate species (Georgia’s aster), and the largest population of puttyroot orchid in Mecklenburg County.
Answer: Latta Plantation Nature Center and Preserve
Please Join us for a post Turkey day hike at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve this Sunday November 25th. This moderate 5 mile hike will utilize three of the preserves trails to access both a Piedmont Prairie restoration, the shores of Mountain Island Lake, the woodlands near the lake shore. Sierra Club Outings leader Tim Slape will be leading the hike. Please meet at the Latta Plantation Nature Center parking lot at 9:00 AM, dress for the weather (layers, rain gear, etc.), bring drinking water and snacks if necessary, and car pool if possible. See you then!
To RSVP or for questions, contact Tim Slape at sierraclub.centpiedoutings@gmail.com.
Central Piedmont Sierra Club Hike – Sunday, May 6, 2012
Stone Mountain State Park
Our May hike will take place on Sunday, May 6th at Stone Mountain State Park,
near Roaring Gap, NC. We’ll hike the Stone Mountain Loop Trail,
a 5 mile route to the top of this 600-foot granite dome and down the waterfall side. The first section of the hike is fairly strenuous. Stone Mountain was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1975. It is about a two hour drive from Charlotte.
We’ll meet at 8AM in Charlotte for car pooling and should be back in Charlotte
by around 4. Limit 15.
Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
Sierra Club Holiday Hikes
Enjoy the holidays with some local hikes that will get you outdoors without a long drive and without taking up too much time. Holiday guests are welcome to come along.
Sunday, January 1, 2012 – Crowders Mountain State Park
If your New Year’s resolution is to get out and hike, here’s your immediate opportunity. Join us for the 3rd annual Sierra Club New Year’s Day hike in Crowders Mountain State Park, about fifty minutes from Charlotte, near Gastonia. We’ll hike about 3.5 miles roundtrip to the King’s Pinnacle. It’s fairly strenuous going up to the top with a great view as the reward. We’ll meet at 1:30 PM and be done by about 4:30 PM. Limit 15. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
Monday, December 26, 2011 – Anne Springs Close Greenway
Your chance to work off some of those Christmas treats! This hike is a nice 6 mile loop through the woods of this 2,300 acre nature preserve in nearby Fort Mill. We’ll cross 3 swinging bridges and pass by two 19th century log cabins, including one built by Billy Graham’s grandfather. The land is fairly level, but it’s a trail through the woods, not a flat paved greenway such as those in Mecklenburg County. We’ll meet at 10 AM and be done by about 1 PM. Limit 15. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
May Hike
Sunday, May 1, 2011 – Table Rock State Park, SC
This is a strenuous 7 mile round-trip hike ascending 2,000 ft. to the summit of an imposing granite dome. Enjoy great views on this challenging hike, for experienced, fit hikers only. We’ll meet in the Charlotte area at 8AM and should be back around 5PM. Limit 15. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
April Hike
Saturday, April 23, 2011 – Anne Springs Close Greenway
After two cancellations due to bad weather, we’ll give this another try! This hike is a nice 6 mile loop through the woods of this 2,300 acre nature preserve in nearby Fort Mill. We’ll cross 3 swinging bridges and pass by two 19th century log cabins, including one built by Billy Graham’s grandfather. The land is fairly level, but it’s a trail through the woods, not a flat paved greenway such as those in Mecklenburg County. We’ll meet at 9 AM and be done by about noon. Limit 15. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
February Hike
Super Bowl Sunday Hike, Feb. 6th, 2011 – Anne Springs Close Greenway Get some exercise before the big game. We'll be done in time to let you watch the entire 5 hour pre-game show, not to mention the game itself. And you'll feel better eating a bag of Doritos, knowing that you had a morning workout! Originally scheduled for December, but canceled due to snow, this hike is a nice 6 mile loop through the woods of this 2,300 acre nature preserve in nearby Fort Mill. We'll cross 3 swinging bridges and pass by two 19th century log cabins, including one built by Billy Graham's grandfather. The land is fairly level, but it's a trail through the woods, not a flat paved greenway such as those in Mecklenburg County. We'll meet at 9:30 AM and be done by about 12:30 PM. Limit 15. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
January Hike
Saturday, January 1st, 2011 – Crowders Mountain State Park
Note: Changed to 10AM.
If your New Year’s resolution is to get out and hike, here’s your immediate opportunity. Join us for the 2nd annual Sierra Club New Year’s Day hike in Crowders Mountain State Park, about fifty minutes from Charlotte, near Gastonia. We’ll hike about 5 miles on a loop trail to the Crowders Mountain peak. (Our most recent Sierra Club hike in this park and last year’s New Year’s Day hike took us to the other peak – King’s Pinnacle.) It’s fairly strenuous going up to the top with a great view as the reward. We’ll meet at 1:30 PM and be done by about 4:30 PM. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
NC Chapter Outings
Join other NC Sierra Club members for hikes and other types of outings!
NC Outings Calendar
Sierra Club Holiday Hikes
Enjoy the holidays with some local hikes that will get you outdoors without a long drive and without taking up too much time. Holiday guests are welcome to come along.
Sunday, December 26th – Anne Springs Close Greenway
Canceled Due to Bad Weather Conditions
Your chance to work off some of those Christmas treats! This hike is a nice 6 mile loop through the woods of this 2,300 acre nature preserve in nearby Fort Mill. We’ll cross 3 swinging bridges and pass by two 19th century log cabins, including one built by Billy Graham’s grandfather. The land is fairly level, but it’s a trail through the woods, not a flat paved greenway such as those in Mecklenburg County. We’ll meet at 10 AM and be done by about 1 PM. Limit 15. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
Saturday, January 1st – Crowders Mountain State Park
Note: Changed to 10AM.
If your New Year’s resolution is to get out and hike, here’s your immediate opportunity. Join us for the 2nd annual Sierra Club New Year’s Day hike in Crowders Mountain State Park, about fifty minutes from Charlotte, near Gastonia. We’ll hike about 5 miles on a loop trail to the Crowders Mountain peak. (Our most recent Sierra Club hike in this park and last year’s New Year’s Day hike took us to the other peak – King’s Pinnacle.) It’s fairly strenuous going up to the top with a great view as the reward. We’ll meet at 1:30 PM and be done by about 4:30 PM. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
October Hike
Crowder’s Mountain State Park – Sunday, Oct. 17th, 2010
We’ll meet at 10 AM at the park to hike the King’s Pinnacle Trail, about 3-1/2 miles round-trip. It’s fairly steep in some sections with an elevation change of about 900 feet. We should be done by about 1 PM. The trail was redone somewhat in the spring due to erosion so it might be a bit new to you. Contact hike leader Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493. Limit 15.
August Hike
Sunday, August 8, 2010 – Moses Cone Memorial Park – Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock. (Previously scheduled for June, but postponed until August.)
This is a moderate 5.6 mile roundtrip hike to the top of Flat Top Mountain where a fire tower offers great views of surrounding peaks, including Grandfather Mountain. We’ll meet in Charlotte at 7:45 AM and should be back by about 3:00 PM. Limit 15. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493. (That’s me on the fire tower in the attached photo.)
May Hike
Our May hike will take place on Sunday, May 23rd, 2010 at Stone Mountain State Park, near Roaring Gap, NC. We’ll hike the Stone Mountain Loop Trail, a 5 mile route to the top of this 600-foot granite dome and down the waterfall side. The first section of the hike is fairly strenuous. Stone Mountain was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1975. It is about a two hour drive from Charlotte. We’ll meet at 8AM in Charlotte for car pooling and should be back in Charlotte by around 4. Limit 15. Contact Steve Copulsky at scopulsky@mindspring.com or 704-543-7493.
