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 SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
Description: YELLOW BRANCH
At less than four, mostly easy miles, Yellow Branch and its gateway Nature Trail doesn’t really qualify as a “day” hike. However, it makes a fine early season warm-up, or morning’s outing…especially if combined with exploration of Stumphouse Tunnel and Isaqueena Falls, just across SC28.
See link for more details.
Directions: (GPS: 34.804697, -83.128389) Meet, pool, and depart as usual from Warther’s parking lot in Walhalla at 9AM. From there it’s just 6 miles northwest on SC28 to the well-signed Yellow Branch Park on the left. There are facilities at theYB trailhead and no fees. Even with the suggested add-ons and lunch at Stumphouse, expect to return before 2PM.
Directions: Click here for direction
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
Description: LAKE RUSSELL and NANCYTOWN near Cornellia, GA
Another good hike to warm up the legs for fall. Lake Russell and Nancytown Lake in Georgia is about an hour from Walthers, but, the one way lakeside loop trail is beautiful… a mostly easy 6 miles with less than 200 ft of climb. Start near the boat launch on Old Lake Russell Road, heading immediately down to, and along the Russell lakeside. Continue on past the campground and beach area. Then just keep the lake shore to the left and loop the lake…At the northeast top of the lake enjoy the falls and have lunch, or continue a short way to the Nancy Town lakeside which has more room. After, head back over the bridge across Nancy Town Creek. After winding around the lake for a bit, the trail turns away to the graveled Lake Russell Road and parking.
See below link for complete details.
Directions: (34.495522, -83.490206) Pool and depart as usual: 8:30A from KKEPA and/or Walhalla. We should all depart from Walhalla at 900A see below link for directions, arrive and park near the boat launch. Potties at the campground may not be open. Parking fee $5 per vehicle. America the Beautiful pass honored for 50% reduction in fee. Expect return by 3:30PM.
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.