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Events & Outings
Piedmont Land Conservancy hosts various events that are designed to connect people with nature. Outings include hikes, farm visits, paddle trips, and more. We would be happy to talk with you or your organization about hosting an outing for your team or group!
Get alerts about upcoming events and outings by joining our email list or following us on social media.
Sign up for our monthly enews to keep up to date with PLC events!
Upcoming Events
Volunteer Workdays at Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve
Mondays and Saturdays in September and October
Winston-Salem, NC
Join us for Fall workdays at PLC’s Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve. We are so appreciative of all the volunteers who donate their time and energy to maintain the beauty of this 6-acre wildflower garden located near Historic Bethabara in Winston-Salem. The Friendship Garden is home to a unique collection of over 500 species of native plants. Volunteers range from budding wildflower enthusiasts to seasoned experts.
If you would like to spend time with like-minded people in a truly unique garden setting, please join us for a fall workday.
October Dates
- Saturday, October 18
- Monday, October 20
- Monday, October 27
Guided Hikes at
Pilot Creek Trail
Friday October 24th | 9:00am - 12:00pm AND
Saturday October 25th | 9:00am - 12:00pm
303 Boyd Nelson Road, Pinnacle, NC 27043
Join this group hike guided by PLC Board Member, Volunteer, and Master Naturalist, Matt Perry.
There are two chances to join this group hike on both Friday October 24th and Saturday October 25th. Both hikes will be held from 9:00am to 12:00pm.
The hike will begin at 303 Boyd Nelson Road, Pinnacle, NC 27043 – PLEASE NOTE – this is NOT is the main area of Pilot Mountain State Park. There is a large parking area and a bathroom at the trailhead.
Be prepared for a longer hike! The group will hike approximately 6.5 miles total with about 700ft of elevation gain and loss. The hike will take about 3 hours. The Trail is natural surface with roots and rocks is considered moderate to difficult. The 6.5 mile hike will traverse land protected by PLC and the trail built by Friends of Sauratown Mountains. From Pilot Creek Trail, we will continue into the central area of Pilot Mountain State Park on the Grindstone and Mountain Trails, with about 3/4 mile off trail through open woods.
This hike is offered for Piedmont Land Conservancy members and Friends of Sauratown Mountains members and friends, but it’s limited to 25 people total. Please bring plenty of water and wear appropriate hiking shoes.
Sign up at the links below!
Slow Hikers Club explores the Lookout Tower at Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area
Sunday October 26th | 2:00 - 5:30pm
Oak Hill Trailhead | 5545 Bass Mountain Rd, Snow Camp, NC 27349
If you enjoy soaking in the scenery, savoring every step, stopping to take pictures, and admiring the smallest details along the trail, join our Slow Hikers Club!
PLC’s Slow Hikers Club is led by Brianna, PLC’s Communications Director and naturalist in training. She loves the version of hiking that is about the journey and the joy of exploring nature at a slow pace. If you’re a casual walker, a plant enthusiast, a photographer, or someone who loves a good trail chat, the Slow Hikers Club is for you.
During this outing of Slow Hikers Club we’ll explore the Lookout Trail leading to the Lookout Tower at Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area. at the midpoint of the hike we will climb the Monadnock Lookout Tower for some amazing views of the surround countryside during peak fall color! You are welcome to sit out of the tower climb if you have a fear of heights.
This hike will be a little more strenuous than we usually tackle. It is a 2.5 mile loop with gradual elevation gain to the top (about 400ft of elevation gain) and then dropping back down. Alamance Parks ranks this trail’s difficulty as moderate. This hike will take approximately 3-3.5 hours depending on how much time folks want to spend at the tower.
The outing is open to the public but has a limit of 20 participants.
If the hike is full, you can join the waitlist by emailing Brianna at bhaferman@piedmontland.org.
Sign up at the link below!
Volunteer Workdays at
Knight Brown Nature Preserve
One Tuesday each month | 9:00am-12:00pm
221 Waterfield Ln, Stokesdale, NC 27357
PLC’s preserves need one day of tender loving care each month. Come help us keep Knight Brown looking pretty at the following volunteer workdays. Each is on a Tuesday morning:
Please RSVP on the trail workday facebook events. If you do not use Facebook, please let us know you’ll be there by emailing Mike at msantucci@piedmontland.org.
Questions? Check out the FAQ on our Volunteer Page.
Volunteer Workdays at
Caraway Creek Preserve
One Wednesday each month | 9:00am-12:00pm
829 Jerico Rd, Asheboro, NC 27205
PLC’s Preserves need one day of tender loving care each month. Come help us keep Caraway Creek Preserve looking pretty at the following volunteer workdays. Each is on a Wednesday morning:
Please RSVP on the trail workday facebook events. If you do not use Facebook, please let us know you’ll be there by emailing Abby at adraut@piedmontland.org.
Questions? Check out the FAQ on our Volunteer Page.
Volunteer Workdays at
Bashavia Creek Preserve
One Thursday each month starting in October | 9:00am-12:00pm
3465 Kilmurry Hill Rd., Pfafftown, NC 27040
Join us for volunteer workdays to create the future Bashavia Creek Preserve! Bashavia Creek Preserve, located near Pfafftown outside of Winston-Salem, is not yet open and we will need help from volunteers for a variety of tasks to create the preserve.
Our first volunteer workdays will tackle two urgent needs:
- Marking the property boundaries: painting and installing PLC’s orange diamond markers along the preserve’s perimeter.
- Stabilizing erosion: repairing and protecting several areas where soil is washing away.
What to expect:
Marking property lines will involve using provided paint and attaching signs to trees. The terrain is uneven, with no established trails, so wear sturdy footwear and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty or paint on. Gloves and a hat are recommended.
Erosion control will include hands-on, sometimes strenuous work such as sawing and moving branches, digging in logs to slow runoff, filling ruts, and covering exposed soil with leaves or other organic material.
Your help will protect this special place as we begin its journey into becoming a future nature preserve.
Please RSVP on the trail workday facebook events. If you do not use Facebook, please let us know you’ll be there by emailing Mike at msantucci@piedmontland.org.
Questions? Check out the FAQ on our Volunteer Page.
Slow Hikers Club at Bean Shoals Canal Trail
Sunday November 16th | 2:00 - 4:00pm
Bean Shoals Canal Trail | 316-766 Yadkin River Park Trail, Pinnacle, North Carolina 27043
Take a walk with PLC’s Slow Hikers Club! If you enjoy soaking in the scenery, savoring every step, stopping to take pictures, and admiring the smallest details along the trail, join our Slow Hikers Club!
Join us for a fun and easy hike along the Bean Shoals Canal Trail, part of Pilot Mountain State Park and nestled beside the Yadkin River. From the parking area, it’s just a short walk down to the water, where we’ll explore the historic, but never completed, Bean Shoals Canal and chat about its fascinating past.
As we follow the riverbank, we’ll take in views of the rocky rapids and islands of the scenic Bean Shoals section of the Yadkin River. The hike will continue downriver along the Horne Creek Trail, where we’ll keep our fingers crossed to see the bald eagles that sometimes fish in this area. Along the way, we’ll chat about a variety of plants that thrive in riverside habitats.
This outing covers about 1.5 miles round trip, mostly flat with some sandy sections, a few stairs, and a railroad crossing. Expect the hike to take around 2 hours at our relaxed pace.
PLC’s Slow Hikers Club is led by Brianna, PLC’s Communications Director and naturalist in training, who is on a never-ending journey to discover and share the natural world. She loves the version of hiking that is about the journey and the joy of exploring nature at a slow pace. If you’re a casual walker, a plant enthusiast, a photographer, or someone who loves a good trail chat, the Slow Hikers Club is for you.
The outing is open to the public but has a limit of 20 participants.
If the hike is full, you can join the waitlist by emailing Brianna at bhaferman@piedmontland.org.
Sign up at the link below!
Weekend of Walking in Gratitude
Sneak Preview Hike at the Future Bashavia Creek Preserve
Friday November 21st | 10:00am - 12:00pm
3465 Kilmurry Hill Rd, Pfafftown, NC 27040
Join PLC’s Nature Preserve Manager, Mike Santucci, for a special sneak peek of the future Bashavia Creek Preserve near Winston-Salem. Since there are no trails on the property yet, this outing will be a unique experience, hiking across open fields and a wooded hillside. We’re excited to offer this early look at the land, with the promise of returning next year to explore it again once trails are in place. Along the way, Mike will share the vision and plans for the preserve, giving you a glimpse of what’s to come for this special conservation project.
The outing is open to the public but has a limit of 20 participants.
Sign up at the link below!
Guided Hike at Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area
Friday November 21st | 2:00 - 4:30pm
Oak Hill Trailhead | 5545 Bass Mountain Rd, Snow Camp, NC 27349
Join Brianna, PLC’s Communications Director and naturalist in training, for a hike to explore the Lookout Trail leading to the Lookout Tower at Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area. At the midpoint of the hike we will climb the Monadnock Lookout Tower for some amazing views of the surround countryside! You are welcome to sit out of the tower climb if you have a fear of heights.
This hike will be a 2.5 mile loop with gradual elevation gain to the top (about 400ft of elevation gain) and then dropping back down. Alamance Parks ranks this trail’s difficulty as moderate. This hike will take approximately 2.5 hours depending on how much time folks want to spend at the tower.
The trailhead is the Oak Hill Trailhead located at 5545 Bass Mountain Rd, Snow Camp, NC 27349.
The outing is open to the public but has a limit of 20 participants.
Sign up at the link below!
Guided Hike at the Stuart & Emma Thomas Memorial Trail
Saturday November 22nd | 10:00 - 11:30am
CB Hauser Trailhead | 949 Gillete St, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Join Kevin Redding, PLC’s Executive Director, for a guided hike with wide-open views along the PLC-protected Stuart & Emma Thomas Memorial Trail in Winston-Salem.
The group will meet at the C.B. Hauser Trailhead before hiking down the Thomas Trail and around one of the scenic loops (depending on where the cows are grazing!). This 1.5-mile route features gentle dips and climbs through rolling farmland. Along the way, Kevin will share stories about how this land was protected and how PLC partnered with Crossnore Communities for Children to make this beloved trail possible.
Guided Hike at Guilford Woods
Saturday November 22nd | 1:00 - 3:00pm
Parking behind Alumni Gym | 5509 George Fox Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410
Join Karrie Jo Manson, PLC’s Development Director, and Jim Hood, Professor Emeritus, Guilford College, for a guided walk through Guilford Woods in Greensboro, a beloved hardwood forest rich in history and home to the legendary 350+ year-old “Witness Tree.”
This 3-mile outing will explore the wooded trails and end at a viewing platform overlooking the ancient tree. Trails include some uneven surfaces, so please wear sturdy shoes. We will meet in the gravel lot behind the Alumni Gym on the Guilford College campus (more info given upon sign up). The hike will last about 2 hours.
Guided Hike at Caraway Creek Preserve
Sunday November 23rd | 10:00am - 12:30pm
829 Jerico Rd, Asheboro, NC 27205
Explore the beauty of PLC’s Caraway Creek Preserve on a 3-mile guided hike led by Dr. Will Truslow, longtime PLC volunteer and board member, and Tesla Jefferson, PLC’s Conservation & Stewardship Associate.
This scenic trek will wind through peaceful woodlands, past the historic dam and barn, and along some of the preserve’s best-loved trails. Expect a few gentle uphill and downhill stretches on a natural surface trail as you take in the sights and hear some stories about this special place from our guides.
Guided Hike at Wells Knob Trail
Sunday November 23rd | 1:00 - 4:00pm
Wits End Rd, Thurmond, NC
Join knowledgeable PLC volunteer and board member, Matt Perry, for a guided hike at PLC-protected Wells Knob near Elkin.
The group will trek from the northern trailhead to the summit and back, a moderate to challenging 3.5-mile route with about 400 feet of elevation gain and loss. Along the way, you’ll enjoy the sounds of Elkin Creek, diverse forest flora and fauna, and rewarding views of the surrounding countryside from the summit. Expect the hike to take around 3 hours.
The guided hike will begin at the parking area at Wits End Rd in Thurmond, NC. Parking is available at the trailhead. More parking directions will be sent to your email after sign up.