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photo collage with Union Bridge Paddle Access kiosk sign, a view of the Haw River from the access, and a photo of staff installing the stairs at the access photo collage with Union Bridge Paddle Access kiosk sign, a view of the Haw River from the access, and a photo of staff installing the stairs at the access

Union Bridge Paddle Access Completes the Haw River Paddle Trail in Alamance County

Written by on . Posted in Haw River Trail, Outdoors, Parks & Trails.

Union Bridge Paddle Access on Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road is the 14th and final Paddle Access in the Alamance County portion of the Haw River Paddle Trail, completing almost 40 miles of Paddle Trail through the County. The Haw River Paddle Trail through Alamance County starts at the Brooks Bridge Paddle Access on the Guilford-Alamance County line and now ends at Union Bridge Paddle Access on the Alamance-Orange County line.

After today, this final access point will be complete! Our staff are busy installing the final steps in the steel staircase framework leading down to the river. This is our steepest access point, requiring the longest staircase yet- the final framework measured in at 26 feet! Once a framework is in place, the final steps can go in when the water level in the river is low enough that it is not covering the bottom of the framework. Staff have been hard at work on this access point but with all the rain we’ve had recently, the river has been high and this final touch was delayed. We’re excited to finish it up!

Union Bridge Paddle Access is designed much like the other HRT Paddle Accesses in Alamance County. It offers a parking area that can accommodate several vehicles, informational kiosks with maps of the paddle trail, and the steel staircase leading down to the river for easy put-in and take-out. This access provides a halfway point between Saxapahaw Mill Race Paddle Access and the 15-501 Paddle Access at Bynum Dam, currently an 11-mile stretch.

The paddle from Saxapahaw Mill Race Paddle Access down to Union Bridge Paddle Access is approximately 5 miles and is recommended as an intermediate section. This is a fun paddle with intermittent rapids and moving water, as well as a few leisurely sections with beautiful views of the river and its wildlife. The minimum recommended USGS gauge level for this section is 2.1 feet at Haw River. To check the USGS gauge and learn more about the Paddle Trail, please visit the HRT website at thehaw.org.

photo of staff installing framework for stairsphoto of stair frameworkphoto of staff installing stair steps in frameworkclose up photo of staff installing steps in framework

telescope photos of the Orion Nebula telescope photos of the Orion Nebula

Making Time to Look Up

Written by on . Posted in Events, Outdoors.

From Jason Witherspoon, Program Leader:

Most of the time when I am outside I spend a lot of time looking down. I have a background in horticulture and it makes me feel comfortable to know the plants around me. When I’m in my yard I’m identifying weeds and if I’m walking a trail I’m trying to ID native plants, looking out for snakes and generally trying not to fall on my face. It is an empowering feeling to make sense of your surroundings. But when the sun sets, that all changes. The ground underfoot cannot be trusted and the trees are now the shadowy formless perches of all kinds of creatures. There is not much for the horticulturist in me to grab onto for comfort. So I looked up.

I have always been impressed with the early astronomers. You know, back in the day before reality TV and ESPN. With the lack of light pollution every evening must have grabbed the curiosity of many. For quite a few people they had the patience and made the time to sit and observe. Recently I have felt that same pull. Instead of eating dinner and watching TV at the end of the day I’ve been putting my coat back on and sitting in the dark on the back porch. And I was not bored. I started by reading a little ahead of time. I learned to find Orion and The Big Dipper and use the stars in those constellations to find other stars. Pretty soon the sky was not filled with nameless dots of light but Red Giants, nebulas and galaxies.  I had found my White Oak and May Apple of the sky.  I had made sense again of my surroundings.  Not only that but I have found an intellectually stimulating pastime that will not run out of new material.  I can do it by myself and practice solitude or I can invite a bunch of friends over, grill some meat, toast some marshmallows and share a little bit of my sky with them.

My experience has inspired me to start a new Stargazing program through the department to share this interest with others. You can come to as few or as many of the stargazing sessions as you want and enjoy taking a few moments to just look up together. The program is free of charge and open to the public. You don’t need any special equipment, but if you have binoculars please bring them. To sign up for a session please visit RecDesk (alamance.recdesk.com).

 

What You’ll See & Learn

We hope that you’ll join Jason for the new Stargazing program! In the first couple of sessions, he will share what he has learned about major constellations and points of interest such as The Big Dipper (an asterism that’s part of the constellation Ursa Major), Polaris (the North Star, compass to the ancient world), Orion (one of the most recognizable constellations in the sky), and how to use these “road markers” to find other constellations and stars of interest. In the process, you will have a chance to view the Orion Nebula (pictured in the photos); the constellations Cassiopeia and Andromeda (both observed by Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd Century); and the planet Jupiter and some of its moons. Jason will also share resources for learning more about astronomy. This program is intended to be an informal forum to learn about astronomy in a comfortable group environment rather than in an instructional setting.

 
Resources: Astronomical information and history can be found on Wikipedia at the links above.

The leftmost image of the Orion Nebula is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons from authors ESO/J. Emerson/VISTA. As stated by the source, “This wide-field view of the Orion Nebula (Messier 42), lying about 1350 light-years from Earth, was taken with the VISTA infrared survey telescope at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile. The new telescope’s huge field of view allows the whole nebula and its surroundings to be imaged in a single picture and its infrared vision also means that it can peer deep into the normally hidden dusty regions and reveal the curious antics of the very active young stars buried there.”

The rightmost image is also courtesy of Wikimedia Commons from authors NASA, ESA, M. Robberto (Space Telescope Science Institute/ESA) and the Hubble Space Telescope Orion Treasury Project Team. As stated by the source, “In one of the most detailed astronomical images ever produced, NASA/ESA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured an unprecedented look at the Orion Nebula. … This extensive study took 105 Hubble orbits to complete. All imaging instruments aboard the telescope were used simultaneously to study Orion. The Advanced Camera mosaic covers approximately the apparent angular size of the full moon.”

photo of Mount Mitchell scenery photo of Mount Mitchell scenery

Celebrating 100 Years of Parks!

Written by on . Posted in Outdoors, Parks & Trails.

2016 marks the Centennial anniversaries of both the U.S. National Park Service and North Carolina State Parks. Each organization is holding a series of events throughout the year to celebrate this important milestone in recognition of the continued protection, stewardship and appreciation of our natural and historic places. Explore the National Park Centennial events here and the North Carolina State Park Centennial events here. NC State Parks has also put together a video showcasing NC parks’ rich natural resources and recreational opportunities. Nearby Eno River State Park is hosting its Centennial event, “March Forth on March Fourth,” from March 4-6 with a series of guided hikes that will collectively cover almost all 30 miles of trails available in the park. Learn more here.

National and State Parks in NC

NC’s National Park sites include such familiar destinations as the Appalachian Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and more. We even have Guilford Courthouse, a National Military Park, right next door in Guilford County! NC State Parks include favorites such as Grandfather Mountain, Pilot Mountain, Hanging Rock, Jockey’s Ridge, and more. The closest local site is Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area in Hillsborough. If you’ve never been, this local gem offers several miles of hiking trails and beautiful views of the surrounding area from this small mountain’s summit, as well as picnicking and fishing.

A Little Park History

The first National Park in the U.S. was Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, established by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. Yosemite National Park in California was also designated for preservation in the late 1800s, but remained a state park until the early 1900s. The U.S. National Park Service was formed on August 25, 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill creating the agency and charging it with stewardship of national parks and historic places; Stephen Mather was appointed the first director of the NPS. The National Parks system now includes 410 areas encompassing more than 84 million acres. Check out some quick facts about the National Park Service here.

The North Carolina State Parks system was also created in 1916. Mt. Mitchell State Park in Burnsville, NC, was one of the nation’s first state parks, and the first designated in North Carolina. It came into being through the efforts of concerned citizens and Governor Locke Craig. Since then, nearly a quarter million acres of land have been added to the NC park system. You can learn more about the history of NC State Parks here.

Both the National Park Service and the North Carolina State Parks system hope that the Centennial milestone will remind our communities of the importance and opportunities associated with conserving, protecting, and managing our nation’s and state’s natural and historic resources.

Resources: Historical information for this post was found through the NC State Parks and National Park Services websites, Wikipedia, and NCPedia. The cover photo is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons contributor Two Hearted River.

HRT logo HRT logo

Haw River Trail 2016

Written by on . Posted in Events, Haw River Trail, Outdoors, Parks & Trails.

2016 is a big year for the Haw River Trail. It marks the 10 year anniversary of the agreement that started the Haw River Trail Partnership and its efforts to build this 40-mile land and paddle trail through Alamance County! Amazing progress has been made over the past 10 years thanks to the support and dedication of landowners, the community, many grant funding sources, the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and the Haw River Trail Coordinators.

 

 

photo of hiking boots-Join us for First Saturday Hikes, led by park technician Kim Brown on different sections of the Haw River Trail. The First Saturday Hikes all begin at 9am. The schedule for 2016 is as follows:

April 2nd Haw River Trail at Sellers Falls

June 4th Great Bend Park

September 3rd Nature Journal Hike on the Basin Creek Trail at Shallow Ford Natural Area

October 1st Hidden Hill Trail at Shallow Ford Natural Area

      November 4th Haw River Trail from Indian Valley to Red Slide

 

 

 

 

photo of trail and fence in the winter on the Sellers Falls section of the Haw River Trail-We just opened Sellers Falls, the newest 4-mile section of Haw River Trail. For more info, check out our recent Sellers Falls post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photo of ACRPD staff working on the Union Bridge Paddle Access installation-The 14th and final paddle access to the Haw River is almost complete. Union Bridge Paddle Access will be open within the month. It marks the southernmost paddle access point in Alamance County and provides a safe take-out for paddlers headed downstream. The stretch from Saxapahaw Mill Race Paddle Access to Union Bridge is particularly beautiful and a fun paddle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

trailathlon logo-The 2nd Annual Haw River Trailathlon will be held March 19th in Saxapahaw (postponed from November 2015). This multi-sport adventure race is family friendly and includes a 2-mile round trip paddle on Saxapahaw Lake, a 7-mile bike ride, and a 5K trail run. For more information and to register please visit the Haw River Trail website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

riverpaddle_final_color

 

 

 

-The 9th Annual YeeHaw! River Paddle will be held on Saturday, May 14th. This event consists of a Family & Beginners’ Paddle followed by the regular River Paddle. Stay tuned for more information at www.thehaw.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saxapahaw Island preliminary site plan-We are working on the site plans for Saxapahaw Island Park. Thanks to various grant-based and community sources of support, work has already begun on the trails for the park and on clearing the areas that will house a waterfront access area, nature play area, and gathering spaces. A community working group is helping with the design and construction of the park; work on the nature play area will begin this year.

 

CRP logo CRP logo

Cedarock Park 2016

Written by on . Posted in Events, Outdoors, Parks & Trails.

What’s coming to Cedarock in 2016?

photo from beekeeping presentation including flowers and books about bees-We are bringing back the Foxfire in Cedarock Park program series, in partnership with Alamance County Public Libraries. There will be an event on a select Saturday each month from May through October. Foxfire in Cedarock Park seeks to share and celebrate Appalachian culture and traditions. Each event includes presentations, live demos, and hands on activities for participants. Programs last year included beekeeping, canning, and more. This year we will present on some new topics as well. Stay tuned for dates and program info! The final event will be Ghosts in the Park, held after the Fall Festival on October 15th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alamance Co Champion Tree program logo

 

-This year welcomes the return of the Alamance County Champion Tree Program. The program recognizes Alamance County’s largest, oldest, and most historic trees. We are once again accepting nominations for trees in the Champion, Historic, and Landmark categories. For a list of eligible species and information on nominating a tree please visit http://acchampiontree.wix.com/championtrees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photo of open farm sign at Cedarock Historical Farm–The Friends of Cedarock Historical Farm will continue to hold Open Farm Days at Cedarock Park Historical Farm select Saturdays from May through December. Come for an opportunity to tour the Garrett House and see living history demonstrations of life on the farm in the late 1800s. The last event in December is Christmas at the Farm, with special holiday activities. Learn more about the Farm here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photo of winners from 2015 cane pole fishing hole derby-The junior Cane Pole Fishing Hole Derby will be held on April 2nd and October 8th. Anyone can fish, but the contest is for kids ages 5-12. Cane poles only- you bring the poles, we bring the worms. A limited number of poles are available at the park. Prizes will be awarded to winners in two age groups for the biggest and the most fish caught.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Trails Day Host Event Badge logo

-We will hold special hikes/activities at Cedarock Park and our other locations to celebrate National Trails Day in June and National Recreation & Parks Month in July– last year we held guided hikes and a popular photo scavenger hunt at Cedarock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

farmfestadjusted

-The annual Preserving Our Heritage Festival will be held August 27th. Join us for bluegrass music and demonstrations of traditional crafts such as basket weaving, beekeeping, quilting, and displays of antique farm equipment, tractors, trucks, and cars. The Garrett Farm will be open for tours, and food and drink are available for purchase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

disc golf basket-The annual Sneeky Pete Classic Disc Golf Tournament presented by Spike Hyzer will be held September 23rd-24th. Cedarock Park will serve as tournament central. This is a 2-day, C Tier PDGA event. For more information visit www.discgolfunited.com or email Chuck Connelly at chuckster@spikehyzer.com to sign up for email updates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo of milk can toss at festival-This year we will bring back our new Fall Festival on October 15th with family-friendly outdoor games, candy prizes, hayrides, face painting, and tours of the Garrett House. The Festival will be followed by Ghosts in the Park storytelling, the year’s final installment in the Foxfire in Cedarock Park series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photo of runners from 2014 run at the rock-The annual Run at the Rock will be held December 3rd. This is a popular trail race with 7 and 14 mile course options complete with rocks, mud, rolling hills, and views of the waterfall. The race is followed by popular hot food and is friendly to everyone from first-timers to some of the best trail runners in the state. Stay tuned to the Run at the Rock website for details.

 

 

 

photo of trail at Cedarock Park with #FirstDayHikeAC photo of trail at Cedarock Park with #FirstDayHikeAC

First Day Hikes Contest

Written by on . Posted in Events, Outdoors, Parks & Trails.

Win a prize from CamCor!

We’re celebrating NC State Parks’ First Day Hikes with a special contest. Kick the New Year off with a jump on everyone’s favorite resolution to get more active. It’s easy- Enjoy New Year’s Day outside!

1) Visit any of the Alamance County Recreation and Parks Department parks or any section of the Haw River Trail on January 1st.
2) Take and post a selfie from the park/trail to our Facebook Page or theHaw River Trail page.
3) Please use ‪#‎FirstDayHikeAC‬ in your post. You must post on January 1st to qualify and use the hashtag exactly as written.

You will be entered into a raffle for prizes from CamCor. We will announce winners on Facebook on January 2nd.

Eligible locations include:
Cedarock Park
Great Bend Park
Shallow Ford Natural Area
Any Section of the Haw River Trail (please visit www.thehaw.org for a complete list, includes any Paddle Access)

Happy holidays and happy hiking!