Upcoming events

  • 2023 DuPont Forest Festival

    • 09/23/2023
    • 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • Guion Farm Access Area
    • 152 registrants
    Register

     

    On National Public Lands Day, Saturday September 23, 2023, Friends of DuPont Forest will host the 6th annual DuPont Forest Festival, an event celebrating the adventure and beauty of DuPont State Recreational Forest. 

    WHERE: DuPont State Recreational Forest, Guion Access Area

     WHEN: Saturday, September 23, 2023, 10am–3pm

    The DuPont Forest Festival is a free, family friendly event open to the public. It is hosted by Friends of DuPont Forest and sponsored by Henderson County Tourism Development Authority.

    The DuPont Forest Festival is a celebration of all the adventure and history found in DuPont State Forest. 

    We’ll have a mix of drop-in activities, demonstrations, group tours, and hikes, all perfect for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Our number one goal for the Forest Festival is to teach people to love the Forest. Along with having fun, the activities will weave in education about  reducing impacts to the Forest, waterfall safety, trails that serve multiple types of recreationalists  and Forest conservation. Each event will be led by an expert volunteer and representative from our partner organizations.

    This year we are thrilled to partner with the iDaph Events and welcome the Tree Tops Trail Race. 

    DUPONT FOREST FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

    10:30am

    Thomas Cemetery Hike with Patty Stahl


    11:00am 

    YAM Kids Yoga

    Women’s Intermediate Ride with Amanda Robertson

    Women’s Beginner Gravel Ride with Niki Celani

    Beginners Orienteering - with Al Beers


    11:30am

    Wintergreen Falls Hike with Greenville Hiking Club

    Co-Ed Intermediate Gravel Ride with Lindsey Hall

    Co-Ed Beginner Single Track Ride with Michelle Deerlodge


    12:00pm 

    Intermediate Co-ed MTB Ride with MTB Skills Factory


    11:45am

    Smoky Bear

    Women’s Beginner Single Track Ride with Sydney


    12:30pm

    Youth Ride with NICA for 4th through 12th graders

    Respect wildlife activity with Eagle’s Nest Foundation and the Outdoor Activity

    Walk on the Wild Side Hike with Conserving Carolina

    Kids Mini Skills Clinic 6-10 year olds with MTB Skills Factory


    1:00pm

    YAM All Levels Flow Yoga

    Earth Walk with Earth Winds

    Youth Ride


    1:30pm

    Trail Rod Presentation with Johnny Kelly


    1:45pm

    Smoky Bear


    2:00pm

    Yoga and Meditation by Moonchild Farm


    ALL DAY DROP-IN ACTIVITIES


    • Astronomy with PARI
    • Pet the horses with Pisgah Trail Blazers
    • Pine cone craft and scavenger hunt with Jinx
    • Face Painting and Tattoos with Friends of Dupont Forest
    • Come see the Rocky the Hellbender with the North Carolina 
    • Wildlife Resources Commission
    • View the Craft Gallery with Eagle’s Nest Camp
    • River Bingo and Leave No Trace Activity with Mills River Partnership
    • Dance and learn the 7 Leave No Trace principles with Ripple Forest Collective
    • Fly Fishing Demos with Headwaters Outfitters
    • Trail Rod Demo’s with Johnny Kelly
    • Discover the Healing Powers of Waterfalls with Waterfall Keepers of NC
    • Wood Carving with Piedmont Wood Carvers
    • Massage with YAM- Yoga and Massage
    • NC Forest Service
    • Leave No Trace
    • Friends of Dupont Forest·   
    • DuPont Trail Crew 
    • Rusty Spurs - Pony rides and meet the horses
    • Knot Tying and Bracelets - the Outdoor Academy 


    Food Trucks

    Groovy Grease Wagon 

    Alle's Sweet Treats

      Please not the schedule is subject to change.


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    • Reminder- DuPont Trail Crew Workday- Sep 24, 2023

      • 09/24/2023
      • 8:45 AM - 1:00 PM
      • Fawn Lake Access Area
      • 18
      Register

      Assembly Location: Fawn Lake Access Area

      Assembly Time:  8:45AM

      Work Location: Reasonover Creek Trail

      We will hike in to Reasonover Creek Trail and begin working where the last team left off. 

       Work Type: Rebuilding/cleaning drains, repairing erosion damage and clearing corridor. 

      Tools:  Will be provided but don't hesitate to bring your favorite shovel, Pulaski or Rogue hoe.  

      Safety Equipment:  Bring water.  Wear heavy boots and work gloves.   Safety glasses required, and provided, for corridor clearing. 

      Physical requirements:  Must be able to:

      • Hike ~4 miles, round trip, with ~150 feet of ascent and ~150 feet of descent.  
      • Successfully cross Reasonover Creek on the big rocks.
      • Lift at least 15 lbs and either loosen and move large quantities of dirt OR cut and move small trees (3" diameter)

      Experience: No experience necessary.

      Finish Time: 1:00 pm

      Questions: Contact Jon Taylor at jontaylor1380@gmail.com .

      Registrant Cancellations: If, after registering, you will be unable to attend, please send an email to Jon Taylor at jontaylor1380@gmail.com.  Jon will cancel your registration and open your slot to others who want to attend. 

      Waivers:  Each trail crew member will be required to sign a liability waiver to participate. 

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    • Invasive Plant Removal Workday

      • 09/27/2023
      • 8:45 AM - 12:00 PM
      • Hooker Falls Upper Parking Lot
      • 11
      Register


      Join DuPont Management Forester, Jordan Luff and volunteer crew leaders for removal of non native invasive plants in DuPont!


      Become part of a crew of volunteers working to combat the spread of NNIPs in our public lands. Expect to learn best practices, some identification, get to work and have fun! This group aims to meet every other Wednesday but repeat attendance is not required to join us on a workday. 


      Meet us in the upper Hooker Falls Parking Lot at 8:45 for an introduction and safety briefing. This event will focus on Japanese Stillgrass that we will hand pull and bag for disposal. Depending on weather conditions, we will work either Hooker Falls Trail or High Falls Trail. If we do High Falls Trail, we will work sunnier areas (weather dependent) so sunscreen is advised. All tools and PPE will be supplied, but if you prefer to bring your own gloves you are welcome to. All ages are welcome.


      Participants should wear a long sleeve shirt, long pants, hat, and sturdy footwear such as hiking boots. Bring water to stay hydrated. PPE that will be provided includes safety glasses, nitrile gloves, and leather gloves. 


      Any cancellations will be communicated by email by 3pm the day before the event. If you need to cancel after registration, please email bodedj11@gmail.com the day before the event.

      David, Jerica and Jordan.

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    • Three Lakes Hike 'n' Bite

      • 09/27/2023
      • 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
      • DuPont Visitors Center Parking Area
      • 12
      Register


      Come join us for a hike along the Three Lakes Trail with a brief stop for a snack break!  The event will be led by Wende Fonvielle, a FODF Board Member with a background in education and leading wilderness exploration.

      We'll meet at the DuPont Visitors Center at 4:00 PM, and begin the hike on Buck Forest Road.  After the Three Lakes Loop we'll stop for a snack you'll have packed.  Finally we'll walk back on Conservation Road, returning to the VC lot by dusk.  The hike will be about 5 miles on easy to moderate terrain.

      As usual, wear sturdy footwear and bring hiking poles if needed, drinking water, and a snack to enjoy near the lakes.  Be prepared to carry out any packaging material.

      If weather looks threatening there will be an email sent the evening before.  Make up date would be the next day, Thursday 9/28.

      This is a Members Only event.

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    • Women's DuPont Trail Crew Workday - Sept 30, 2023

      • 09/30/2023
      • 8:45 AM - 1:00 PM
      • Lake Imaging Access Area
      • 4
      • 16 registrants
      Register

      Calling all women who want to give back to the trails at DuPont Forest.  You will have an opportunity to do so on Saturday September 30, 2023.   Sponsored by Friends of DuPont Forest (FODF), Sycamore Cycles, and Specialized Bikes. 

      EVENT DETAILS:

      Assembly Location: Lake Imaging Access Area

      Assembly Time:  8:45AM

      Work Location: Jim Branch Trail

      Work Type: Cleaning drains. 

      It has been a year since the Jim Branch was professionally rehabbed and it is time to get it looking like new again by removing the organic matter and sediment from the drains.  

      Tools:  Will be provided.  If you have a Rogue hoe or McLeod please bring it. 

      Safety Equipment:  Bring water.  Wear heavy boots and work gloves.   Safety glasses required, and provided, for corridor clearing.  Wear something blaze orange if you can as hunters will be in the woods. 

      Physical requirements:  Must be able to hike 3 miles, round trip, with an elevation gain of 290 feet.   Must be able to rake or shovel sediment out of drains. 

      Experience: No experience necessary.

      Finish Time: 1:00 PM 

      Questions: Contact the Trail Crew Leader, Molly Burgmann at llbmwb@gmail.com .

      Registrant Cancellations: If, after registering, you will be unable to attend, please send an email to Molly Burgmann at llbmwb@gmail.com .  Molly will cancel your registration and open your slot to others who want to attend. 

      Waivers:  Each trail crew member will be required to sign a liability waiver to participate. 


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    • DuPont State Recreational Forest Master Recreation Plan Public Drop-In

      • 11/04/2023
      • 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
      • Transylvania County Parks and Recreation Gym, 1078 Ecusta Road, Brevard, N.C.
      Register

      Mark your calendar for the 3rd Public Information Drop-In on Saturday, November 4th, from 8:30am - 12:00pm at the Transylvania County Parks and Recreation Gym, 1078 Ecusta Road, Brevard, N.C. 

      The consultant team responsible for the DuPont State Recreational Forest master recreation planning effort has performed significant public outreach including public drop-ins, on-line surveys, parking lot surveys, and individual user-group meetings/discussions to help inform recommendations regarding the ecological, social, and financial sustainability of DuPont Forest.

      Careful analysis of the information obtained through these public engagement efforts coupled with evaluation of other data sources and real world observations has led to the formulation of preliminary recommendations for consideration.

      The Nov. 4th Public Drop-In will provide a forum for the consultant team to share the results of their findings and allow the public to select their preferred recommendation(s) from a list of preliminary options.

      The results will ultimately help formulate the final recommendations that will become part of the master recreation plan. 

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    The Friends of DuPont Forest Event Series is brought to you by our friends at DD Bullwinkel's.