Cat Gap. Photo by Zoe Durner
By Emma Castleberry
Conserving Carolina is inviting outdoor explorers of all kinds to discover protected lands across the region through updates to two hiking experiences: the White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 8 and the Flying Squirrel Outdoor Challenge. Together, they offer both seasoned hikers and casual nature-lovers a chance to engage with new trails, restored landscapes and hidden gems that showcase the impact of ongoing conservation work.
The White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 8 features eight hikes on lands that Conserving Carolina has helped protect or expand, including newly opened spaces like Bell Park, Little White Oak Mountain and a section of the Ecusta Trail. Participants who complete all eight hikes and maintain Conserving Carolina membership can earn a White Squirrel patch.
“Conserving Carolina is always working to create new places for people to get outside, which is good for us on every level—for exercise, for mental health and for other aspects of well-being, such as creativity, curiosity, social connection and spirituality,” says Rose Jenkins Lane, communications and marketing director for Conserving Carolina.
The Flying Squirrel Outdoor Challenge was created for participants who want to explore nature in ways that don’t necessarily involve a series of hikes. “In the Flying Squirrel Challenge, there’s no set amount you have to hike,” says Lane. “You could go to Bell Park and sit by the waterfall, you could walk or bike any amount of the Ecusta Trail, you could mountain bike at Little White Oak Mountain or you could just walk the flat loop trail.”
Kings Bridge, she notes, is unique to the Flying Squirrel Challenge because of the type of experience it provides. “It’s a short walk and it’s more popular for birding,” Lane says. “It’s an opportunity to see a natural floodplain restoration unfolding in real life.”
A standout addition is the Ecusta Trail, which will eventually extend all the way from Hendersonville to Brevard. “This one is special to Conserving Carolina because we worked with Friends of the Ecusta Trail to buy the land and raise funds for construction,” says Lane. “You can walk it, run it or bike it, and it’s accessible to people of all abilities.”
The newly built trails at Little White Oak Mountain also offer expanded opportunities for hiking and biking. “These trails are located right behind the middle school, which opens up opportunities for kids to get outside, whether they are having class outdoors, or it’s part of sports practice, or they are exploring the trails on their own,” Lane says. “These are also the first bike-optimized trails in Polk County, so local residents can go mountain biking without having to drive a long way. Ultimately, the goal is to build another 8–10 miles of trails to expand this system.”
Bell Park expanded opportunities for outdoor recreation in a part of Henderson County that didn’t have as many local parks. “Conserving Carolina acquired the land and then worked with the County to create the park,” says Lane. “It offers rolling trails through a beautiful forest as well as an observation deck with a view of a waterfall.”
With two complementary challenges and a slate of new outdoor destinations, Conserving Carolina continues to expand opportunities for exploration, connection,and well-being across the region.
Learn more about the challenges at ConservingCarolina.org/take-a-challenge.
