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Summit 2018

Summit 2018: Field Trip Driving Directions

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Bird Banding at Big Bald Banding Station
Saturday, September 8, full day
Sunday, September 9, half day

START: Use 1992 Big Bald Rd, Mars Hill, NC for GPS unit address
 
Big Bald Banding Station is located 45 minutes north of Asheville.  The banding station is located a short 1km hike from the parking area on the Appalachian Trial. Visitors should bring binoculars, sunhat, and cameras. Long trousers and study footwear are recommended. 
 
No escort is needed, but visitors must traverse private roads to access public lands where BBBS is located. Follow the directions found on the SARR website to the banding station: https://bigbaldbanding.org/directions-to-big-bald-banding-station
 

TRIP 1: Blue Ridge Parkway North
September 8, full day 

START: Folk Arts Center, 382 Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, NC, 28815
GPS (35.5927591, -82.4818871)

Round trip is 100 miles.

  • Go south 0.3mi on Resort Drive towards Expo Drive and take a sharp right onto Patton Avenue.
  •  In 500ft use the right lane to turn slightly towards US-19N/US-23N/US-74 Alt E. 
  • In 0.1mi use the right lane to take the ramp to Downtown
  • In 0.1mi merge onto US-19N/US-23N/US-74 Alt E. 
  • Keep left to stay on I-240 E.
  • In 3.0mi use the 2ndfrom the right lane for exit 7 and US-70.
  • In 0.3mi turn left and use the 2 right lanes to merge onto US-70.
  • Go 2.6mi and turn right to access the BRP.
  • Turn right onto the BRP and go 0.8mi to the Folk Art Center (MP 382) Parking Lot.  Meet up with whole group here.  


TRIP 2: Blue Ridge Parkway South to Pink Beds
September 8, full day

START: Diamond Brand Outdoors, 1378 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803

Round trip is 70 miles

  • Go south 0.3mi on Resort Drive towards Expo Drive and take a sharp right onto Patton Avenue. 
  • In 500ft use the left lane to turn slightly left
  • Continue straight for 0.1mi.
  • Merge onto I-240W/I-26 E in 0.3mi.
  •  In 1.5mi take exit 1B for Brevard Rd/NC-191 towards I-40E
  • Turn left onto NC-191/Brevard Rd
  • In 0.7mi use the left lanes to make a left onto the ramp to I-40E
  • After merging onto I-40E go 3.3mi 
  • Take exit 50 for US-25 towards South Asheville
  • Turn right onto US-25/Hendersonville Rd
  • Go 2.6mi to Diamond Brand Outfitters on the left.


TRIP 3: Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary 
September 8, half day - morning

START: Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary, 1056 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, 28804
GPS (35.6334650, -82.5575200)

Round trip is 10 miles

  • Go south 0.3mi on Resort Drive towards Expo Drive and take a sharp right onto Patton Avenue.
  • In 500ft use the right lane to turn slightly towards US-19N/US-23N/US-74 Alt E. 
  • In 0.1mi use the right lane to take the ramp to Downtown
  • In 0.1mi merge onto US-19N/US-23N/US-74 Alt E. 
  • Keep left to stay on I-240 E.
  • In 1.0mi take exit 5A for US-25/Merrimon Ave.
  • Turn right onto US-25/Merrimon Ave and go 2.6m1 to Beaver Lake Sanctuary. The entrance to the Sanctuary will be on the left just north of Asheville Library.
     

TRIP 4: Hooper Lane/Mills River OR The Park at Flat Rock (see details)
September 8, half day - morning

START - INGLES MARKET (BOTH TRIPS)
Ingles Market, 3338 Boylston Highway, Mills River, 28759

  • Go south 0.3mi on Resort Drive towards Expo Drive and take a sharp right onto Patton Avenue. 
  • In 500ft use the left lane to turn slightly left
  • Continue straight for 0.1mi.
  • Merge onto I-26 E in 0.3mi.
  • Continue on I-26 E for 12 miles.
  • Take exit 40 for NC-280/Asheville Regional Airport. 
  • Keep right onto NC-280
  • Go 3.8mi to Ingles on the right


INGLES MARKET TO HOOPER LAND/MILLS RIVER
GPS (35.3977086, -82.544889) 

Round trip distance to Hooper Lane is 40 miles.

  • Head south on NC-280/NC-191
  • In 0.8mi and turn left onto NC-191 (Haywood Rd).
  • Go 1.2mi and turn left onto Hooper Lane. This road will take you through the Super Sod fields.  Park only where you will not block access to the field roads for the workers.  You may walk into the sod fields but must stay on the existing roads.


INGLES MARKET TO THE PARK AT FLAT ROCK
GPS (35.2887131, -824336901)  

 Round trip distance to the Park at Flat Rock is 55 miles.

  • Head North on NC-191/NC-280E for 1.1mi
  • Turn right onto Butler Bridge Rd
  • In 2.6 mi turn right onto US-25S
  • Go 0.6 mi and turn left onto the I-26E ramp
  • Follow I-26E for 8.9mi and take exit 53 for Upward Rd towards Hendersonville
  • In 0.2mi turn right onto Upward Rd
  • Go 1.6mi and turn right onto Highland Golf Dr.
  • Take the first left into a paved parking lot.


TRIP 5: Butterflies and Dragonflies, Charles D. Owen Park 
September 8, half day - afternoon

START: Owen Park/Warren Wilson College; 875 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa, NC 28807
GPS (35.6088129, -82.4315357)   

Round trip is 25 miles

  • Go south 0.3mi on Resort Drive towards Expo Drive and take a sharp right onto Patton Avenue.
  •  In 500ft use the right lane to turn slightly towards US-19N/US-23N/US-74 Alt E. 
  • In 0.1mi use the right lane to take the ramp to Downtown
  • In 0.1mi merge onto US-19N/US-23N/US-74 Alt E. 
  • Keep left to stay on I-240 E for 0.8mi.
  • In 4.8mi use the two left lanes to take I-40 E exit towards Statesville.
  • In 2.5mi take Exit 55 towards US-70E Asheville VA Hospital. 
  • At the traffic signal turn left onto Porters Cove Rd (signs for US 70) and go 0.3mi. 
  • Turn right onto US-70E and go 1.7mi then turn left onto Warren Wilson Rd.
  • Continue on Warren Wilson through Campus for 2.6mi.
  • Turn right to the entrance to Owen Lake Park (It is difficult to spot.). The entrance is immediately beyond the National Wipers Alliance Building and looks as if you are going into a parking lot.
  • Go 0.2 mi to the walkway between the two ponds. 

 

TRIP 6: Blue Ridge Parkway North
September 8, half day - morning

START: Folk Arts Center, 382 Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, NC, 28815
GPS (35.5927591, -82.4818871)

Round trip is 100 miles.

  • Go south 0.3mi on Resort Drive towards Expo Drive and take a sharp right onto Patton Avenue.
  •  In 500ft use the right lane to turn slightly towards US-19N/US-23N/US-74 Alt E. 
  • In 0.1mi use the right lane to take the ramp to Downtown
  • In 0.1mi merge onto US-19N/US-23N/US-74 Alt E. 
  • Keep left to stay on I-240 E.
  • In 3.0mi use the 2ndfrom the right lane for exit 7 and US-70.
  • In 0.3mi turn left and use the 2 right lanes to merge onto US-70.
  • Go 2.6mi and turn right to access the BRP.
  • Turn right onto the BRP and go 0.8mi to the Folk Art Center (MP 382) Parking Lot.  Meet up with whole group here.  


TRIP 7: Jackson Park 
September 8, half day - morning

START:
Jackson Park, Hendersonville; Administration Building Parking Lot, 801 Glover St, Hendersonville, NC
GPS (35.3217702, -82.4483866)

Round trip is 50 miles

  • Go south 0.3mi on Resort Drive towards Expo Drive and take a sharp right onto Patton Avenue. 
  • In 500ft use the left lane to turn slightly left
  • Continue straight for 0.1mi.
  • Merge onto I-26 E in 0.3mi.
  • Go 21 miles on I-26 E and take exit 49B for US-64 W towards Hendersonville
  • In 0.3 mi merge onto US-64 W/Four Seasons Blvd
  • Go 1.5mi and turn left onto Harris St.
  • Harris St dead ends on Harris St, turn left onto 4thAve E
  • Continue on 4thAve E/Glover St to the first paved parking lot on the left about 0.4mi.


TRIP 8: Charles D. Owen Park/Warren Wilson College
September 8, half day - morning

START: Owen Park/Warren Wilson College; 875 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa, NC 28807
GPS (35.6088129, -82.4315357)   

Round trip is 25 miles

  • Go south 0.3mi on Resort Drive towards Expo Drive and take a sharp right onto Patton Avenue.
  •  In 500ft use the right lane to turn slightly towards US-19N/US-23N/US-74 Alt E. 
  • In 0.1mi use the right lane to take the ramp to Downtown
  • In 0.1mi merge onto US-19N/US-23N/US-74 Alt E. 
  • Keep left to stay on I-240 E for 0.8mi.
  • In 4.8mi use the two left lanes to take I-40 E exit towards Statesville.
  • In 2.5mi take Exit 55 towards US-70E Asheville VA Hospital. 
  • At the traffic signal turn left onto Porters Cove Rd (signs for US 70) and go 0.3mi. 
  • Turn right onto US-70E and go 1.7mi then turn left onto Warren Wilson Rd.
  • Continue on Warren Wilson through Campus for 2.6mi.
  • Turn right to the entrance to Owen Lake Park (It is difficult to spot.). The entrance is immediately beyond the National Wipers Alliance Building and looks as if you are going into a parking lot.
  • Go 0.2 mi to the walkway between the two ponds. 
     

TRIP 9: French Broad River Canoe/Kayak Trip
September 8, half day - morning

START:
Asheville Outdoor Center at 521 Amboy Rd, Asheville, NC 28806

Round trip is 6.2 miles

  • Head south on Resort Dr toward Expo Dr
  • Sharp right onto Patton Ave
  • Use the left lane to turn slightly left
  • Continue straight
  • Continue on I-240 W/I-26 E to NC-191 S/Brevard Rd.
  • Take exit 1B for Brevard Rd/NC-191 toward I-40 E
  • Turn left onto NC-191 S/Brevard Rd
  • Turn left to merge onto I-240 E/I-26 W toward Downtown/US-23/US-19
  • Merge onto I-240 E/I-26 W
  • Take exit 1C for Amboy Rd


TRIP 10: Jackson Park 
September 9, half day - morning

START:
Jackson Park, Hendersonville; Administration Building Parking Lot, 801 Glover St, Hendersonville, NC
GPS (35.3217702, -82.4483866)

Round trip is 50 miles

  • Go south 0.3mi on Resort Drive towards Expo Drive and take a sharp right onto Patton Avenue. 
  • In 500ft use the left lane to turn slightly left
  • Continue straight for 0.1mi.
  • Merge onto I-26 E in 0.3mi.
  • Go 21 miles on I-26 E and take exit 49B for US-64 W towards Hendersonville
  • In 0.3 mi merge onto US-64 W/Four Seasons Blvd
  • Go 1.5mi and turn left onto Harris St.
  • Harris St dead ends on Harris St, turn left onto 4thAve E
  • Continue on 4thAve E/Glover St to the first paved parking lot on the left about 0.4mi.


TRIP 11: Charles D. Owen Park/Warren Wilson College
September 9, half day - morning

START: Owen Park/Warren Wilson College; 875 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa, NC 28807
GPS (35.6088129, -82.4315357)   

Round trip is 25 miles

  • Go south 0.3mi on Resort Drive towards Expo Drive and take a sharp right onto Patton Avenue.
  •  In 500ft use the right lane to turn slightly towards US-19N/US-23N/US-74 Alt E. 
  • In 0.1mi use the right lane to take the ramp to Downtown
  • In 0.1mi merge onto US-19N/US-23N/US-74 Alt E. 
  • Keep left to stay on I-240 E for 0.8mi.
  • In 4.8mi use the two left lanes to take I-40 E exit towards Statesville.
  • In 2.5mi take Exit 55 towards US-70E Asheville VA Hospital. 
  • At the traffic signal turn left onto Porters Cove Rd (signs for US 70) and go 0.3mi. 
  • Turn right onto US-70E and go 1.7mi then turn left onto Warren Wilson Rd.
  • Continue on Warren Wilson through Campus for 2.6mi.
  • Turn right to the entrance to Owen Lake Park (It is difficult to spot.). The entrance is immediately beyond the National Wipers Alliance Building and looks as if you are going into a parking lot.
  • Go 0.2 mi to the walkway between the two ponds. 
     

TRIP 12: Sandy Mush Game Lands, Cedar Hill Road 
September 9, half day - morning

START:
Meet at the dirt parking area at the end of the road at 698-576 Cedar Hill Rd, Alexander, NC 28701
GPS (35.7236689, -82.6628548)  

Round trip is 25 miles

  • Go south 0.3mi on Resort Drive towards Expo Drive and take a sharp right onto Patton Avenue. 
  • Take the US-19/US-23 Exit
  • Follow Patton Ave for 1mi, turn right on to New Leicester Hwy.
  • Continue on the Leicester Hwy for 2.9mi and turn left onto Tipton Hill Rd. 
  • Drive 1.9mi to stop sign. Turn left. (Several road signs are missing in this area; so follow the mileage directions, GPS or a map.) 
  • Drive 2.0mi to the end of Cedar Hill Rd. The last 0.4mi are gravel

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