Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy

10/14/2026

A fun project along Nantahala Lake this week! Safety and accessibility are priorities in our trail work, and every improvement is an opportunity to help more people enjoy the trail and deepen their connection to the places it passes through.

Those positive experiences can inspire a lasting sense of care for the natural world. As Aldo Leopold wrote, “We can only be ethical in relation to something we can see, understand, feel, and love.”

10/13/2026

Shared from
Thirty plants, two ways to walk them.

The Bartram Walk at our Botanical Gardens follows plants connected to John and William Bartram. Stop at the flame azalea, which William Bartram described in May 1775: "The flaming azalea abounds and illuminates the hillsides." Look for the Franklin tree, found by John and William Bartram on the Altamaha River in 1765 and now extinct in the wild. And find the Fraser magnolia, which Bartram wrote about in 1775 and named a peak for.

Walk it forward from the Amphitheater to the Bog Garden, or in reverse from the Parking Area Buckeyes to the Ethnobotanical Garden. Our interactive map shows every plant and where to find it.

https://highlandsbiological.org/the-bartram-walk-at-hbs/

10/13/2026

Join Madison Traviss for a morning of guided forest bathing in the autumn colored forest of Appletree Campground. Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is the Japanese practice of slow, mindful sensory immersion in nature or a forested atmosphere.
Learn more and RSVP for the Bartram Trail Conservancy fall Camporee here: https://blueridgebartram.org/event/fall26-camporee/
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10/11/2026

Wow! What an incredible turnout and a wonderful evening celebrating the release of Brent Martin’s new book, William Bartram and the Nature That Could Have Been!

Trail Manager Faith Williams joined Brent for a conversation about his vision for the book, William Bartram’s legacy, and the connections between art and nature. While “the nature that could have been” carries a haunting sense of loss and possibility, the evening also brought plenty of laughter and thoughtful conversation.

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate and continues to make this community so vibrant. We’re grateful to share these stories, questions, and moments with you.

10/09/2026

Carve a Spoon by the Campfire!

Ease into the Bartram Trail Camporee with an autumn evening around the fire. On Friday, October 23 at 4:30 p.m., Ben Bannick will lead a hands-on spoon-carving activity at Appletree Group Campground.

Come for the evening, join us for a few activities, or camp beneath the fall canopy for all three days. The weekend is yours to explore at your own pace!

Learn more and sign up for the Camporee:
https://blueridgebartram.org/event/fall26-camporee/

10/07/2026

“If you're looking for one of the best hikes in western North Carolina, the Bartram Trail has you covered.”

Thank you to stayNantahala for featuring the Bartram Trail in your Guide to Nantahala Hiking Trails! With routes connecting Nantahala Lake to Wayah Bald and the Nantahala River Gorge, there is so much beauty to explore in this corner of the mountains.

Fall brings a special kind of awe here, as the forests surrounding Nantahala Lake turn gold, orange, and red, and their colors reflect across the water. With cooler days, fallen leaves underfoot, and mountain views opening through the trees, it’s a beautiful season to spend some time on the Bartram Trail.

Read the feature and find inspiration for your next hike: Guide to Nantahala Hiking Trails
https://www.staynantahala.com/our-blog-staynantahala/guide-to-nantahala-hiking-trails.html

10/07/2026

Great opportunity!

We have a unique volunteer opportunity coming up in partnership with the High K**b Destination Center Come join our Trail Specialist Mark Paulauskas to learn how to use traditional tools for trail maintenance. Saturday will be a classroom session at the High K**b Destination Center and Sunday will be a field day to put your new knowledge to use.

Attendees can join one or both days. Get more information or sign up at www.wildernessstewards.com/volunteer.

10/06/2026

For this upcoming Saturday Workday, we’ll be meeting at 9:00 AM at Lake Nantahala. We will be building steps, replacing a handrail, blazing, and more while enjoying the early fall colors beginning to brighten the lakeshore!

RSVP here:https://blueridgebartram.org/event/sswd-oct10/

10/05/2026

Salamanders, fall wildflowers, and good conversation made our recent Walking with Bartram hike from Warwoman Dell to Wilson Gap a wonderful day on the trail. Two hikers even traveled all the way from Illinois to join us! 🍂

Walking with Bartram takes us along a different section of the Bartram Trail on the last Friday of each month. Join us for the full series, and by year’s end, you’ll have hiked the entire trail! Visit our events page to learn more and come walk with us.

10/04/2026

Book Release Celebration with Brent Martin!

Join the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy at Outdoor 76 in Franklin on Friday, October 9th, at 6 p.m. to celebrate the release of Brent Martin’s new book, William Bartram and the Nature That Could Have Been.

Following William Bartram’s travels through the Southern backcountry 250 years ago, Brent considers what has changed across these landscapes, what has been lost, and how conservation, restoration, and art can help us imagine a more hopeful future.

The evening will include a conversation with Brent, an audience Q&A, book sales, and drinks. Come raise a glass, meet the author, and explore the enduring legacy of William Bartram and the nature that can still be.

Outdoor 76