OCCASIONALLY IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO CHANGE THE PLANNED HIKE AT THE LAST MINUTE. PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK THE WEBSITE ON THE DAY OF THE HIKE
TUESDAY APRIL 21, 2026
Description: Custom route — Foothills Trail: Laurel Valley (A4) to Laurel Fork Falls (A5)
This hike is a custom route, c/o Susan Goodwin. We will first meet at Holly Springs and then go to the parking spots up Rte 178 to begin the hike. It’s a leg of the FT we have a hard time doing without parking cars at either end; we will do a key swap on the trail. Some cars will park on Horsepasture and those should be 4×4 vehicles, or at least have decent ground clearance. The hike itself is 5.8 miles and about 1300 ft of elevation.
See link for more details.
Directions: (GPS: 35.049189, -82.813975) Gather at Holly Springs Mart (US11 & SC178) for a 915AM departure. This requires leaving KKEPA by 840 or go directly to HS. From Holly go 8 miles north on US178 through Rocky Bottom. Just over the bridge across Eastatoe Creek, turn sharp left/south onto Laurel Valley Rd. Immediately bear right following the graveled Horsepasture Rd uphill another 0.2mi to the FT parking area. From this point half the cars will continue on Horsepasture for c another 3.5 miles. There are no fees and no facilities after Holly.
Directions: Click here for direction
THURSDAY APRIL 23, 2026
Description: HORSEPASTURE RIVER in GORGES STATE PARK, NC
We hiked this last fall and now will appreciate the spring flora.The stars of “Gorgeous” State Park are the waterfalls along Horsepasture River. Rainbow, 130ft tall often displays the rainbows for which it is named; Turtle Back, known locally as “Bust Your Butt Falls”, is used as summertime sliding board; Drift, further upriver is more serene, Stairway, down river, boasts four white water drops. All are bold and beautiful and surrounded by dramatic rockeries.
See below link for complete details.
Directions: (GPS: 35.089119, -82.951828) Gather, pool and depart from KKEPA at 845A. Or go direct. From KKEPA head north on SC 130 /NC281. The entrance to Gorges SP is about 17 miles north of the SC11/SC130 intersection. Look for the Gorges SP sign on the right. Enter and follow the main road, past the new visitor’s center, about a mile in, and continue to a second parking area on the right. The trailhead is behind the kiosk. There are potties in the parking area. No fees required. Expect to return around 2PM.
Directions: Click here for direction
TUESDAY MAY 19, 2026
Description: LAKE JOCASSEE HIKE: HORESPASTURE TO CANE BREAK
We’ll hike the Foothills Trail from the Horsepasture River inlet on Lake Jocasee to Cane Break which includes a scenic boat ride across Lake Jocassee with a stop at a waterfall. You must sign up in advance for this hike. The cost is $50 per hiker. This does not include a tip. Happily, there is no fee to enter Devil’s Fork State Park on Tuesdays.
This is one of our most interesting hikes and not to be missed. We have limited room on the pontoon boat so reservations will be taken on a first come, first served basis.
To reserve your space, call Jocassee Lake Tours directly at 864-280-5501 and make your reservation. They will ask for a credit card number to hold your spot.
Please arrive at the Devils Fork State Park dock PROMPTLY at 8am for a scenic 30-45 minute boat ride to the trailhead on the Horsepasture River. After hiking east across the peninsula we are picked up by boat at Cane Break (shortly before the Toxaway suspension bridge). Expect to return to DFSP between 3:30pm – 4pm.
If you wish to carpool, meet at Keowee Key by 7:20am before departure time, as you will need time at Devils Fork State Park if you have to go to the farther parking lot by the beach. Park at the far end of the parking lot marked for cars. If it is full, there is more parking by the beach which is a short walk away. Most of the lot is reserved for boat trailers.
This 8.5 mile hike is rated strenuous by the Foothills Conference, however the most strenuous part is near the beginning where the trail ascends a steep set of natural and wooden stairs. The remainder of the hike is mostly moderate with a few strenuous sections. It is a beautiful hike, which takes us through a wild garden of blooming Mountain Laurel. It can be shortened by a almost a mile by skipping the optional trek to the Toxaway River bridge (a 225′ suspension bridge – the longest on the Foothills Trail).
Some would argue the best part of the excursion is the cocktail party on the pontoon boat ride home. So pack accordingly. You can leave things on the boat. Consider sharing a cooler with some beverages and snacks for after the hike. You will have the option to go swimming as well. I recommend swimming in your quick-dry hiking cloths and bringing a dry set of clothing for the car ride home.
Check the website after 7am the morning of the hike for rain cancellations. The rain date for this hike is May 26.
If you have any questions, call Susan at (917) 597-2281 or email suehehir@icloud.com.
Directions: (GPS: 34.95195, -82.94555) Meet, pool, and depart as usual from KKEPA at 7:20am or meet at the dock in Devil’s Fork State Park. The boat leaves promptly at 8am because they have another tour after ours. See below for more details.
Directions: Click here for direction
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2026 BRR FALL OUTING
We are returning to the Pisgah Inn for our Fall 2026 Hiking Outing from September 15 – 18, 2026! This is one of our favorite locations and WILL SELL OUT. This location has it all. There are wonderful hikes on top of mountain ridges nearby as well as spectacular waterfalls. Plus it is not that far away. We haven’t been there since 2019.
Every room in the Pisgah Inn has a balcony with a spectacular view of the mountains and a wonderful restaurant. The Inn is located at 5000’ on the Blue Ridge Parkway so it will be nice and cool for hiking in September.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend this popular event. Reservations are on a first-come-first-serve basis. They only have 51 rooms. I encourage you to make your reservation now even if you don’t know if you want to attend. There is only a $25 processing fee to change or cancel your reservation prior to 7 days of your arrival date.
The Pisgah Inn has a beautiful deck outside of the restaurant that we will gather on for happy hour each day. All rooms now have WiFi and small refrigerators.
There is a campground nearby for the hearty folks among us.
Please let Susan Hehir know if you sign up so that she can send you the Fungenda and let you know if we have to reschedule this. (The hotel is not good at tracking groups). Susan can be reached at (917) 597-2281 or suehehir@icloud.com. We will reschedule this outing if heavy rain is in the forecast.
Room Rate:
$250 is the 2025 price. We will have to pay the 2026 rate which will likely be higher.
The Pisgah Inn:
408.6 Blue Ridge Pkwy
Brevard, NC 28712
info@pisgahinn.com
828-235-8228
GPS: 35.40025, 82.75444
Cancellation Policy: You can change or cancel your reservation until September 7, 2026 for only a $25.00 processing fee. After that you forfeit your deposit. A deposit of the first night’s room rate is due at the time the reservation is made. Payment for the full stay is due at check in.
For Reservations: Call (828) 235-8228 between 9-4pm until Nov 1 or after April 1. Or book online at: http://www.pisgahinn.com. There is a $4.69 fee for booking online (I know it is stupid). No group rates are available, but identify yourself as a member of the Blue Ridge Ramblers group in the comments section. Unfortunately, pets are NOT allowed at this hotel.
Hiking Plan: During the outing, we will meet early each morning and arrange car-pools for two hiking options (long and short). Refer to “Pisgah” in the “Special Hikes” section of our web site for a description of some of the hikes that are available.
Other Activities: Non-hiking spouses can enjoy the Cradle of Forestry: Forestry museum (15 miles from the Inn), Looking Glass Falls (14 miles from the Inn). Pisgah Fish Hatchery (13 miles), Cherokee with its Indian village and casino (60 miles from the Inn), Brevard (20 miles), etc…
BRR Library
Planning to do some hiking on your own? You can borrow a book from our hiking library. The library offers many different books about hiking in NC, SC, and GA. From our home page click on “Resources”. The bottom half of the page lists the different books available. A big thanks to those who donated to the library: Nancy Carkhuff, Michael Gauderer, Bill Ebeling, and others. To request a book contact the librarian at: brrhiker@gmail.com.