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 OCTOBER 6, 2026
Description: TAMASSEE KNOB from OCONEE STATE PARK FT ACCESS
Tuesday will be a bit cooler, so staying close by. Fine mountain vista via a moderate outbound, easier return, out-and-back trail. It’s four miles total with climbs, each way, of just over 500ft. The trail is mostly well developed and well marked, but sometimes quite narrow with steep drop-offs. Starting from the Foothills Trail Access in Oconee State Park (start of the white blazed FT). The trail begins through a mix of laurel and open forest, then crosses a ridge, dipping and rising… somewhat steeply for the last half mile up to the 1780ft summit. The vista to the north, from a small rock shelf at the end of the trail, includes a glimpse of Bad Creek Dam and Whiteside Mountain. Return to the Park and enjoy lunch, lake-side on picnic tables. Then, add an easy 1.2 miles stroll around the lake.
See link for more details.
Directions: (GPS: 34.866756, -83.101322) Meet, pool, and depart as usual from KKEPA (if meeting here, then drive to Walhalla for rest of group) at 830A and/or Walhalla at 9A. Go north on SC28, bear right on SC107 and enter Oconee State Park on the right…about 10 miles from Walhalla. Cars enter free with SC park pass, otherwise small fee per hiker.. Follow signs and park across from the Foothills Trailhead. There are potties at the park office, but none at the trailhead.
Directions: Click here for direction
THURSDAY OCTOBER 8, 2026
Description: SCALY MOUNTAIN and BEYOND near Highlands, NC
Scaly Mountain, west of Highlands, is a great vista venue, we hike this two plus mile segment…bits rough and wet under foot… of the Bartram Trial to the 4804ft Scaly summit, continuing beyond (optional) for another half mile or so to get in some extra leg work. Further along, the Bartram trail descends steeply with little visual reward and is not recommended. Instead, we return to a rocky bald just below the summit for lunch and the easy downhill return. Total 5 or 6 miles.
See below link for complete details.
Directions: (GPS: 35.030692, -83.27325) Pool as usual for a 9AM departure from Walhalla. We take SC28 north to US64 (Main St) in Highlands, then jog left/west three streets on 28/64, then left/south on NC106. Continue aout 5.5 miles to the Osage Overlook on the left. Park there. The trail head begins with the stairway on the north side of 106, opposite the overlook.
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.