Slow Hikers Club
One Year of Exploring Protected Lands with Piedmont Land Conservancy
January 2026
Written by Brianna Haferman, PLC Communications & Engagement Director & Slow Hikers Club Guide
Slow is the way I like to experience nature, and it turns out I’m not alone.
Slow Hikers Club is Piedmont Land Conservancy’s monthly hiking outing, and for the past year I’ve had the joy of leading it. We gather on Sunday afternoons once a month to explore trails across our region, many of them protected by PLC. The hikes are usually under two miles, with plenty of time to stop, notice what’s around us, ask questions, and learn about the land together.
Slow Hikers Club began as a way for me to share my excitement about the natural world and the knowledge I gained through the 2024 Northwest Piedmont Master Naturalist program, of which PLC is a founding partner. There are a lot of budding nature nerds in the Piedmont, and I wanted to invite them along as I continued challenging myself to keep learning and getting outside regularly.
If I was going to do it, it had to be slow. That pace creates space, for curiosity, for conversation, and for connection. I wanted to offer a low-pressure way for people to experience the lands PLC works so hard to protect, not by rushing through them, but by spending real time with them.
Moving at an easy pace encourages careful observation and curiosity, and it helps set the expectation that we’re here for the journey, not the destination. When we slow down, it becomes easier to notice small details, seasonal changes, and the ways healthy land supports plants, wildlife, water, and people. That kind of attention builds connection, and connection is what makes land protection meaningful and lasting.
Over the past year, Slow Hikers Club has explored trails all across our region, from Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area in the east to Mayo River State Park in the north, Ridges Mountain in the south, and Ivy Bluffs Trail at Pilot Mountain State Park in the west. One of my favorite parts of leading these hikes has been helping people discover just how many special places exist close to home, and how many of them are protected forever through conservation.
A small and special community has grown around Slow Hikers Club. Many participants return month after month, and friendships often form naturally along the trail. PLC has loved hearing stories of people meeting through Slow Hikers Club and then going on to become hiking buddies in their own right, continuing those connections beyond the monthly outings. Experiences like these underscore the importance of making the outdoors feel welcoming and accessible, so more people feel comfortable showing up and participating.
Each hike brings opportunities to learn together. We’ve talked about tree and plant identification, birds, insects, and other wildlife, and the relationships between land, habitat, and ecosystems. I usually come prepared with a few fun nature facts, but I’ve learned just as much from the people hiking alongside me. These outings often turn into easy, joyful exchanges of knowledge, curiosity, and wonder.
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One challenge of Slow Hikers Club has been its popularity. Hikes tend to fill quickly and often include a waitlist. I’m grateful for the enthusiasm and patience of everyone who tries to attend, and for the shared respect people bring to these spaces and to one another.
I’m deeply thankful to everyone who has joined me on a Slow Hikers Club hike over the past year. Sharing the wonder of protected land, building community outdoors, and helping people form a deeper connection to the places PLC conserves has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my work. If you’re curious about slowing down on the trail and experiencing our region’s protected lands in a new way, I’d love to have you join us on a future hike.
Check our outings page to sign up for a future Slow Hikes Club!
