Upcoming events

  • Sycamore Cycles Bike Raffle

    • 02/14/2024
    • 06/06/2024
    Register


    Get ready to pedal your way to excitement on a brand-new, custom built, gravel ride.

    Whether you're a seasoned cyclist or a casual rider, this raffle offers the perfect opportunity to upgrade your wheels and embark on thrilling adventures. Imagine cruising through scenic landscapes, exploring winding trails, or simply commuting with ease and style.

    Here's what you need to know about our bike raffle:

    1. Grand Prize: One lucky winner will take home a premium bicycle valued at $4500, featuring Specialized Diverge E5 Premium Aluminum and Industry Nine wheels. 

    2. Ticket Sales: Purchase your raffle tickets online or at designated locations. Each ticket gives you a chance to win the grand prize. The more tickets you buy, the greater your odds of riding away with the ultimate prize.

    3. Community Impact: By participating in our raffle, you're not only entering to win a fantastic prize but also supporting our mission to care for the trail, protect the Forest, and inspire love of DuPont State Recreational Forest.  All proceeds will go toward Friends of DuPont Forest. 

    4. Drawing Date and Announcement: Mark your calendars! The drawing for the grand prize will take place during our next Membership Meeting, June 6 at the Cedar Mountain Outpost. 

    Don't miss your chance to pedal towards adventure and excitement. Purchase your raffle tickets today and get ready to ride into the sunset with a brand-new bike!

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  • Lake Julia Paddle

    • 05/07/2024
    • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Fawn Lake Parking Lot
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    Important info!  You will be required to provide your own watercraft.  Please plan to arrive at Fawn Lake Access area by 9:45 AM. 

    Open to all membership levels.

    At 99 acres, Lake Julia is the largest lake in DuPont State Recreational Forest. Who built it, when was it built, why was it built, and what has it been used for? What is the source and destination of the water that fills the lake?  

    For answers to these questions and more, Friends of DuPont members are invited to sign up for a tour of Lake Julia via canoe or kayak or paddleboard on Tuesday May 7th.  Participants will tour Lake Julia by watercraft and learn about its history in this fall tour. This is a slow, quiet water trip so paddling will be easy.  

    Participants will need to bring their own watercraft (canoe, kayak or paddleboard) and personal flotation devices. The tour will last approximately two hours with part of the tour available for personal exploration. Please understand that we will convoy into the Forest at 10 am and out by 1 pm.

    This tour is led by Jennifer Nelson, a new transplant to the Brevard area and member of the events committee for Friends of Dupont Forest. She has spent many years visiting Dupont State Forest and has interests in ecology, botany and the local history of the area. 

    As this is a very popular and limited event, please only RSVP if you know you are able to attend. 

    In the event of a cancellation, registrants will be notified the evening before the scheduled event. 


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  • Invasive Plant Removal Workday

    • 05/08/2024
    • 8:45 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Holmes Educational Forest Parking Lot
    • 6
    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 at Holmes Educational Forest parking lot for a brief introduction and training. We will be working a short walk from the parking area.   All tools and PPE will be supplied, but if you prefer to bring your own gloves, hand clippers, or loppers, 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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  • Lichen Hike

    • 05/09/2024
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • Corn Mill Shoals Parking Lot
    • 0
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    When you hike through DuPont Forest you may notice lichens growing on trees, rocks and other surfaces.  Lichens may be small, but they are intrepid, diverse, and ecologically important!  

    Jason Hollinger and Nastassja Noell, local lichenologists, will lead a hike in DuPont this May. Nastassja Noell and Jason Hollinger are local lichenologists based in the Great Smoky Mountains. Nastassja's main interest is in the potential of using lichens as biomonitors of climate change, air quality, and habitat condition.  Jason became acquainted with lichens on a trip to New Zealand after retiring from being a computer programmer in Los Angeles.  Recent fieldwork has focused on the elusive lichenicolous fungi: fungi and sometimes even lichens which specialize in growing on lichens, an understudied and often maligned group of fascinating organisms.

    We will meet at 1PM on Thursday, May 9th in the Corn Mill Shoals lot on Cascade Lake Road.  Wear appropriate footwear for a 2-mile trail hike and bring plenty of water.  We'll return to the lot by 4PM at the latest.  Be aware that this area of the Forest typically has no cell service.  In case of inclement weather, we will notify you by email by 6PM the day before the outing. 


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  • DuPont Trail Crew Saturday Workday - May 11, 2024

    • 05/11/2024
    • 8:45 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Corn Mill Shoals Access Area
    • 15
    • 10 registrants
    Register

    Assembly Location: Corn Mill Shoals Access Area

    Assembly Time:  8:45AM

    Work Location: Little River Trail

    We will carpool in 5 vehicles maximum.  We will drive in on Corn Mills Shoals and Little River trails and park at Tom's Creek.  Will work on Little River Trail from Tom's creek to end of Little River Trail at Cedar Rock.  If time allows we will also work on Cedar Rock Trail.

     Work Type: Rebuilding/cleaning drains, and lots of corridor clearing.

    Tools:  Will be provided but don't hesitate to bring your favorite trail tool.  Please bring loppers, if you have them, if you plan to do corridor clearing. 

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

    Physical requirements:  Must be able to handle

    • Hike ~2 miles, round trip, with up to 100 feet of ascent and up to 100 feet of descent.  
    • Must be able to successfully cross the stepping stones in Toms Creek while carrying trail tools. 
    • 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 PM

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

    Registrant Cancellations: If, after registering, you will be unable to attend, please send an email to Lyle Burgmann at llbmwb@gmail.com .  Lyle 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 2024 liability waiver to participate. 

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  • The Geology of DuPont Forest

    • 05/11/2024
    • 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Cedar Mountain Community Center
    • 0
    Join waitlist


    Join us on Saturday, May 11, 2024 and learn more about the geology of DuPont State Recreational Forest and the evolution of the Appalachian Mountains.

    This is a members only event and limited to 20 RSVPs. If you are not already a member, join Friends of DuPont today and RSVP right away.

    Registrants will meet 9:30 AM at Cedar Mountain Community Center for a talk by geologist Michael Follo. Afterwards, Mike will lead us on a hike at DuPont. Bring water, snacks, and wear appropriate shoes. This will be a moderate hike of approximately 3 miles.  We will drive to the Corn Mill Shoals Parking Lot and visit the rock quarry area.

    About the Speaker

    Michael Follo is the former Director of Education at the North Carolina Outward Bound School. In this role, he designed and led the Educators Initiative, a yearlong professional development course for K-12 teachers from public, charter, and independent schools. This innovative program was named Most Outstanding Program at the Outward Bound International World Conference in 2016. While at Outward Bound, Michael also served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Education at UNC -Chapel Hill.

    Prior to his work at Outward Bound, Michael was a classroom teacher for 25 years. He was a college geology professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Charlotte, Colorado College and Colby College for 12 years, and then spent 13 yeas teaching high school science at Woodberry Forest School in Virginia and the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey.

    Michael lives in Bat Cave, North Carolina with his wife, Deb Caughron, and their two dogs, Huck and Scout. He enjoys cycling, hiking, photography, and travel - especially exploring mountains both close to home and throughout the world.


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  • Prescribed Burn Hike - Little Grassy Mountain

    • 05/13/2024
    • 12:45 PM - 3:45 PM
    • Guion Parking Lot
    • 1
    Register


    Learn why and how DuPont State Recreational Forest (DSRF) forestry staff conduct controlled burns on the forest.  Educational hike and discussion led by Jordan Luff, DSRF Management Forester and Mike Santucci, DSRF Assistant Forest Supervisor.

    Limited to 15 Friends of DuPont Forest members. 

    We will hike to a recent prescribed burn on Little Grassy Mountain and hike to Wintergreen waterfall. Attendees should be prepared for a three-mile hike on established trails. Please bring water and wear appropriate shoes.

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  • DuPont Trail Crew Tuesday Workday - May 14, 2024

    • 05/14/2024
    • 8:45 AM - 12:00 PM
    • High Falls Access Area (location of Visitor Center)
    • 20
    • 5 registrants
    Register


    Assembly Location: High Falls Access Area (location of Visitor Center)

    Assembly Time:  8:45AM

    Work Location: Airstrip Trail

    We will carpool in and park on the runway by the entrance to the Airstrip singletrack trail. 

     Work Type: Complete the rock armoring of the top ~ 30 feet of the trail. The Forest Service will have started the work by placing some very large stones using their equipment. 

    Tools:  Will be provided, but don't hesitate to bring 5 gallon buckets, rock bars, rock hammers, picks and rock slings  

    Safety Equipment:  Bring water.  Wear heavy boots and work gloves.   Safety glasses required, and provided if you don't have them. Hardhat required.  A limited number of hardhats will be available for those that don't have their own. 

    Physical requirements:  Must be able to handle a strenuous outing:

    • Lift and place multiple rocks weighing up to 35 pounds each. 

    Experience: Rock armoring training and/or experience preferred. 

    Finish Time: Noon

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

    Registrant Cancellations: If, after registering, you will be unable to attend, please send an email to Lyle Burgmann at llbmwb@gmail.com .  Lyle 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 2024 liability waiver to participate. 

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  • Women's DuPont Trail Crew Workday- May 18, 2024

    • 05/18/2024
    • 8:45 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Corn Mill Shoals Access Area
    • 12
    • 13 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 May 18, 2024.   Hosted by Friends Of DuPont Forest (FODF). 

    5/1/2024 Update with Event Details: 

    Assembly Location: Corn Mill Shoals Access Area

    Assembly Time:  8:45AM

    Work Location: Wilkie Trail

    We will walk from the assembly location up Wilkie Trail.  We will be working up Wilkie Trail starting from the intersection with Micajah. 

     Work Type: Rebuilding/cleaning drains and clearing encroaching vegetation from the trail 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:  

    • Able to hike distance ~2.0 miles, round trip, carrying a trail tool.  Total Ascent ~ 150 feet.  
    • Able to move large quantities of dirt or cut small limbs/trees and move them off the trail. 

    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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  • Moonlight Hike

    • 05/23/2024
    • 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
    Register

    Come and join us on the evening of the "Flower Moon" which becomes full on Friday May 23 for a moonlight trail hike!

    Your leader will be Julia Weaver, a trained Plant Biologist with an herb specialty. She is a member of our Events Committee and enjoys frequent visits to the Forest to hike and mountain bike.

    Meet at Corn Mill Shoals Access before 7:30 PM. Bring a flashlight or headlamp, water, snacks, and wear appropriate shoes and clothing. It will be a moderate hike of 2-3 miles, returning to the parking area by 9:30 PM.

    Note:  If the forecast is doubtful for May 23, the backup date will be on May 24.  You will be notified on May 23 by email if this change is made.

    This is a members only event. Join Friends of DuPont today: www.dupontforest.com/membership


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  • Blue Ghost Tour

    • 05/30/2024
    • 8:45 PM - 10:15 PM
    • DuPont State Forest
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    We invite our Buck Forest Club members to join us on a special Blue Ghost Firefly Tour!

    Friends of DuPont Forest is pleased to host a guided, interpretative visit for members of the Buck Forest Club to a rich habitat for blue ghost fireflies between 8:45 pm and approximately 10:15 pm on Thursday, May 30th. There will be an easy, short walk to the viewing area. 

    Please note this event is limited to 25 participants. RSVP to reserve your spot. The event location will be announced in your confirmation email.

    Fireflies (also called lightning bugs) are winged beetles that produce light by a chemical reaction in special organs located in their abdomens. Lynn Faust, author of Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs has estimated that there are as many as thirty different species of fireflies in DuPont State Forest. By far the species that receives the most attention is the blue ghost firefly (Phausis reticulate), mostly because this species, rather than producing a brief yellow flash, emits a blue-green glow that lasts several seconds while the insect hovers less than three feet above the ground.  Some areas of DuPont State Forest that provide ideal habitat for these beetles are off-limits to the public during mating season for the blue ghost firefly.


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  • 2024 DuPont Forest Festival

    • 09/28/2024
    • 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • Guion Farm, DuPont State Forest
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    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. 

    The DuPont Forest Festival is a free, family friendly event open to the public. It is a celebration of  the Forest and the diverse user groups who enjoy it.

    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.”

    • Forest Festival activities include: 
    • Family nature walks
    • Kids and community yoga
    • Kids bike clinic and ride
    • Group rides
    • Orienteering event
    • Face painting
    • Smokey Bear
    • History tours
    • Fly fishing demonstration 

    AND MORE!

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