Our Blog: Natural Notes

Trout lily is one of the common spring ephemeral flowers found around Asheville in the Appalachians. by MK Brown, Ecotour Guide and Naturalist As the sun starts to warm the still trees on south facing slopes and black bears rouse from their slumber and the spring peepers commence their evening chorus, the forest begins to…

by Eli Adams, Ecotour Guide and Naturalist

by Jenny Gruhn, PhD, Biologist and Owner of Asheville Hiking Tours

Whether it’s looking out the office window, eating lunch in the courtyard, or setting out on a weeklong backpacking trip, people find solace in the tranquility found in nature. Regardless of your hiking skill level, from seasoned-pro to never-been-on-a-trail, you’ve probably experienced the joy that comes from spending time in nature.  On a deep level,…

by Mike Scow, Naturalist and Ecotour Guide with Asheville Hiking Tours Starting with stark contrast against the dark spruce and fir of the highest peaks around 6000 ft, deciduous trees transform from the lush green of summer to the array of colors in autumn. Elevation plays a crucial role in the display over the next…

Welcome to beautiful western North Carolina, home to over 250+ waterfalls and plenty of land to explore with it! Our waterfalls come from a vast underground aqueduct originating in Eastern Tennessee, plus the massive amount of yearly rain that we get (60+ inches!), classifying the area as a temperate rainforest. There are so many gorgeous…

by Amanda Hastings, former Ecotour Guide for Asheville Hiking Tours Asheville, NC is a hotspot for special occasions, with activities for city-goers and mountain-lovers to enjoy. Asheville, NC has been a tourist destination since just before the 19th century and holds a rich history, from the confines of the city to the Blue Ridge Mountains…

by Randy Sarton, Ecotour Guide for Asheville Hiking Tours Usually it only takes a very short while into one of my hikes for Asheville Hiking Tours before a guest poses the question, “Will we see a bear?”  This is not surprising given that black bears sit at the top of the list of charismatic megafauna here…

by Mike Scow, Ecotour Guide for Asheville Hiking Tours – and he planned a successful wedding near Asheville, North Carolina! My wife and I began planning our wedding about a year before we got married. We started with a gorgeous rural location with trees, water, farm, and cows. Then we focused on the cake and…

by Amanda Hastings, former Ecotour Guide for Asheville Hiking Tours Want to observe exquisite orchids in their wild, natural environment, yet not quite ready to book a trip to the tropics or a remote island somewhere? Many may be shocked to learn these enchanting plants live in a variety of environments outside of tropical rainforests…

by Bill Sanderson, Ecotour Guide for Asheville Hiking Tours, with intro by Owner Jenny Gruhn Birdwatching or “birding” is a popular way to become better acquainted with wildlife, since you can participate in this hobby while eating breakfast at your kitchen window, or waiting to get tires changed at the auto shop! Whether you live…

by Randy Sarton, Ecotour Guide for Asheville Hiking Tours During much of year 2020, Asheville Hiking Tours and its guides were forced to take a “sabbatical” due to the shutdown caused by the Covid virus.  The breather that stemmed from this extraordinary series of events provided me with the opportunity to review the hundreds of…