National Public Lands Day Sites

Elk Knob State Park

Ever wondered what it takes to build a hiking trail? Join our trail workdays every Saturday beginning at 9am and lasting until 3pm. We welcome the public to come and work with our park staff to complete the park's summit trail. No experience is needed. This beautiful trail will be approximately 2 miles long when completed.

If you would like to work on the trail please meet at the trail head by 9am Saturday mornings and bring with you plenty of water and a lunch or snacks.. If you have any further questions or want to arrange a group trail project during a week day or a specific weekend please call the park office (828) 297-7261.

Contact: Andy Sicard
Agency: NC State Parks and Recreation
Phone: (828) 297-7261
On the Web: www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/elkn/main.php
Location: 5564 Meat Camp Road | Todd, North Carolina 28684
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Alternative Start Date: 2010-06-19
Alternative End Date: 2010-10-30

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

On Saturday, September 25th from 10am to 2pm Great Smoky Mountains National Park will celebrate National Public Lands Day with two trail work projects – one on the North Carolina side of the park and one on the Tennessee side of the park. These trail projects are being made possible in part by a grant from the National Park Foundation through the generous support of the Coca-Cola Foundation, a Proud Partner of America's National Parks. The North Carolina trail work project will involve performing trail improvements on the Smokemont Nature Trail (3/4 mile loop trail) located in Smokemont Campground near Cherokee, NC. This trail project will provide families and individuals an opportunity do to hands on trail work. The project will include tasks for both youth and adults, from cutting back vegetation to using hand tools to repair sections of trail tread and create water bars (a support structure that diverts water away from a trail). All volunteers must be at least 12 years old and minors must be accompanied by a consenting adult. All volunteers must be able to hike, safely perform manual labor, and be comfortable using hand tools (shovels, fire rakes, Pulaski/axes, sledgehammers, etc). NPS staff will provide all the tools and safety gear necessary for the project (including work gloves). Volunteers are expected to bring everything they need for a day in the woods – a day pack with food, water (at least 2 liters), clothing, rain gear etc. There is a limit to the number of people that can volunteer as part of this project. To participate in this event, interested persons need to RSVP by September 17 to the Trails & Facilities Volunteer Coordinator, Christine Hoyer, at 828-497-1949 or Christine_Hoyer@nps.gov. At the time of RSVP volunteers will be provided with further project and trailhead information.

Contact: Christine Hoyer
Agency: National Park Service
Phone: (828) 497-1949
On the Web:
Location: Smokemont Nature Trail | Cherokee, North Carolina 28719
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Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve

Mulch trails.

Contact: Joy Logan
Agency: Town of Cary
Phone: (919) 387-5980
On the Web: www.townofcary.org
Location: 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd | Cary, North Carolina 27518
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Jordan Lake

Remove litter from aquatic habitat and shoreline.

Contact: Tom Colson
Agency: US Army Corps of Engineers
Phone: (919) 630-2569
On the Web: www.cleanjordanlake.org
Location: 2080 Jordan Dam Road | Moncure, North Carolina 27603
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Alternative Start Date: 2010-10-09
Alternative End Date: 2010-10-09

Roan Mountain

Woody vegetation is targeted for removal from grassy balds between Carver’s Gap and Grassy Ridge along the Appalachian Trail. Management will entail shrub removal with hand-held pruning shears and tree removal with hand saws and chainsaws. Some hiking will be required to get to the work site.

Contact: Megan Sutton
Agency: The Nature Conservancy
Phone: (828) 350-1431
On the Web: www.nature.org/northcarolina
Location: 1316 Patton Ave Suite A | Asheville, North Carolina 28806
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Alternative Start Date: 2010-08-27
Alternative End Date: 2010-08-27