Upcoming Events
HURRICANE HELENE CLEAN UP EFFORTS
on LAKE JAMES
Join in a community-wide Lake James cleanup on Saturday, November 16th from 9 AM – 12 PM!
Choose how you would like to participate: sign up to volunteer on land, on the shore, or by boat, depending on the cleanup site. Sites include Black Bear Boat Ramp, Linville Boat Ramp, and Canal Bridge.
These cleanups are a collaborative effort between Catawba Riverkeeper, Lake James Environmental Association, Community of Lake James, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, Fonta Flora State Trail, Duke Energy, Keep McDowell Beautiful, Lake James State Park, NC , Lake James Area Wildlife and Nature Society (North Carolina Wildlife Federation), Simply Green Recycling and others in the Northern Basin to restore our shared waterways from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
Sign up today and join in the efforts to restore beautiful Lake James!
Past Events
Celebrate N.C.'s State Trails with a hike on the Fonta Flora State Trail
Join us for a day of exploring two of North Carolina’s 14 State Trails
9:30 a.m. we will hike 5 miles on the Fonta Flora State Trail at Lake James State Park.
Starting from the new Visitor Center, we will hike a short distance down to a pedestrian bridge crossing a narrow point in Lake James, then head north on the Fonta Flora along Lake James and a small creek. This is an out-and-back hike: we will go 2.5 miles out on the trail, then return the way we came for a total of 5 miles.
Difficulty level: moderate
Distance: 5 miles total
Estimated hike time: 2.5 hours
What to wear: We will email you the day before the event advising of weather conditions for the day and how to best dress for the hike.
What to bring: Bring at least one bottle of water (1 liter), preferably two. And bring snacks.
Rest Stop: We will take a short break at the turnaround point.
We will meet in front of the Visitor Center.
To make this a day of adventure, we will reconvene at 2:30 p.m. at the Clear Creek Access to South Mountains State Park to sample another State Trail, the Wilderness Gateway State Trail.
Power in Pints Fundraiser at Hillman Beer Old Fort!
Join us on July 8th for a day of brews and giving back at Hillman’s monthly Power in Pints event.
For every draft Hillman beer, cider, or seltzer you enjoy, we’ll donate $1 to F3ST.
F3ST is dedicated to connecting mountain communities in western North Carolina through the scenic Fonta Flora State Trail. Their work promotes physical health, mental wellness, economic development, and outdoor recreation, creating a trail experience that’s both educational and enjoyable for everyone.
Come raise a glass with us and toast to trails, community, and a healthier, happier North Carolina! See you there!
The second annual Fonta Flora Fun Run is an untimed 3.1-mile route that takes you by all the landmarks of downtown Old Fort! This race is the opener for the Old Fort Trails and Trains Festival, celebrating North Carolina's Great Trails State. This event celebrates the small Blue Ridge Mountain community of Old Fort by focusing on its pathways and connections including the town's railroad and Pisgah National Forest history.
People of all abilities and ages are welcome to participate in this event!
DATE: June 1st
Time: Race will start at 9am
Location: 38 Catawba Avenue, Old Fort, 28762 (Old Fort Town Hall)
Cost: $25 per runner
Please register by May 10, 2024 to guarantee a t-shirt in your race packet!
Join us on Saturday, May 18th for Emerging Leaders Hike & Hops with Foothills Conservancy!
10:30 am - Meet at Fonta Flora Brewery at Whippoorwill Farm (in the Milking Parlor), where Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina's staff will share how and why they protect land in Burke County (and surrounding counties), directly followed by a 2 mile (+/-) guided plant ID hike on the Fonta Flora State Trail.
Participants will learn about common (and some not-so-common) trees, shrubs, and wildflowers found across western NC. All will get to take home their very own FCNC Field Guide!
12:00 pm - We will head back over to the brewery for beers and a social.
This is a free event. Emerging Leaders is open to all Young Professionals aged 21-40.
Fonta Flora BarnBurner 2023
Friday, October 20th and Saturday, October 21st
Thanks to a generous donation from Hillman Beer and our amazing community supporters at The Standard Pour Company, we’ll be serving up delicious pints during the festival, with all the proceeds going to get trail on the ground. We’d like to extend a HUGE thank you to Overmountain Cycles for presenting us with this fun and creative oppurtunity to participate.