Join Friends of the Smokies on Tuesday, September 12th for a group hike on the Boogerman Trail. This 7.5-mile loop ascends 1,150 ft. through historic Cataloochee Valley with some water crossing, so come ready to get your feet wet. September will provide hikers the opportunity to feel the beginnings of autumn, learn about the largest settlement in the national park, and potentially see elk.
Hike leader Mike Knies is a backcountry explorer who lives in Asheville. He has hiked and written extensively about the trails of Cataloochee Valley, and will offer in depth-knowledge about the features and historic sites along the trail, including the origins of its unusual name.
Meeting locations for the daylong excursion will be in Asheville, Waynesville, and at the trailhead. Visit Hike.FriendsoftheSmokies.orgto register for any Classic Hike of the Smokies, sponsored by Mission Health.
Monthly guided day hikes in the Classic Hikes series are $20 for members. New and renewing members may join Friends of the Smokies and hike for $35. Donations benefit Friends of the Smokies’ Trails Forever program, which provides the opportunity for a highly skilled trail crew to focus reconstruction efforts on high use and high priority trails in the park.