Celebrate Spring in Appalachia at the Seventeenth Annual New River Gorge Wildflower Weekend

Join us for ranger-guided programs in local national and state park sites!

April 24-26, 2020

Celebrate spring at New River Gorge! Discover the ever changing face of the season from the rim of the gorge to the river with rangers and naturalists at free guided hikes in parks. Enjoy the spirit of spring at a variety of art demonstrations and exhibits. Contribute your nature observations as well, helping document the diversity of Appalachia. Join in on the fun at New River Gorge National River, Tamarack, and the West Virginia State Parks of Babcock, Carnifex Ferry Battlefield, Hawks Nest, Pipestem Resort, and Twin Falls Resort for this celebration of spring.

All programs are free! Bring water and wear sturdy hiking shoes for guided walks. Snacks, binoculars, a hand lens, and a favorite field guide are also useful.

 

Pre-spring events

April 11, 2020

Spring Big Branch Hike
1:00 to 4:00 pm
Brooks Falls/Big Branch trailhead on River Road in New River Gorge National River, five miles from Hinton, WV.
Discover some of the early signs of the season along this beautiful mountain stream. Be prepared for four stream crossings on this moderate to strenuous trail.

Wildflower Art Field Trip with Beckley Art Center (BAC)
3:00 to 6:00 pm
Glade Creek trailhead on Glade Creek Access Road in New River Gorge National River, six miles from Prince, WV. (or meet at Beckley Art Center, 600 Johnstown Road, Beckley at 2:00 to car caravan)
Bring your camera, sketchbook, watercolors, colored pencils, etc. to create art inspired by nature in nature. Join BAC artists, the Beckley Camera Club, and naturalists to explore Glade Creek. Artwork created during this field adventure will be featured in a special exhibit at BAC on April 26.

April 16, 2020

Earth Stewardship Project: Garlic Mustard Pull

10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Rend trailhead on Route 25 in New River Gorge National River, one mile from Thurmond, WV.
Help park natural resource staff stop the spread of garlic mustard, a non-native, invasive plant that out-competes native herbs and wildflowers. Wear long sleeves, long pants, sturdy walking shoes, and work gloves, plus bring water and lunch. RESERVATIONS requested by April 13: 304-465-2634 or adrienne_jenkins@nps.gov.

April 18, 2020

50^th Anniversary Earth Day Celebration in Oak Hill
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
White Oak Depot, Central Ave., Oak Hill, WV near Oak Hill City Park. www.facebook.com/events/destination-downtown-oak-hill/50th-anniversary-earth-day/
Join Destination Downtown to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. Help with a city-wide cleanup (8:00 – 10:00 am), children’s activities (10:00 am – 12:00 pm), trail building at Needleseye Park, and planting flowers and trees in the city.

Earth Day Stewardship Project and River Friends: New River Flatrock Ecology and Restoration
10:00 am to 2:30 pm
Camp Brookside Environmental Education Center, 309 North Mullens Road in New River Gorge National River; when in Brooks, WV, turn onto North Mullens Road, then turn left after crossing the railroad tracks, follow the dirt road to Camp Brookside.
Learn about the ecology and rare plants of the unique riverside Appalachian flatrock community. Help park natural resource staff restore the native plant and lichen assemblage by removing non-native, invasive plant that outcompetes native plants. Then meet Bald Eagle Ambassador Regis and the Friends of New River Gorge National River. Wear long sleeves, long pants, sturdy walking shoes, and work gloves, plus bring water and lunch. RESERVATIONS requested by April 15: 304-465-2634 or adrienne_jenkins@nps.gov.

Main event weekend

April 24, 2020

Earth Stewardship Project: Garlic Mustard Pull
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Pipestem Resort State Park in Pipestem, WV; meet at the park’s Nature Center.
Help park staff stop the spread of garlic mustard, a non-native, invasive plant that out-competes native herbs and wildflowers. Wear long sleeves, long pants, sturdy walking shoes, and work gloves, plus bring water and lunch. RESERVATIONS requested by April 21: 304-466-1800 ext. 244 or julie.a.mcquade@wv.gov.

Endless Spring Sunset Stroll
6:00 to 8:30 pm
Endless Wall Trail’s Fern Creek trailhead on Lansing-Edmond Road in New River Gorge National River, Lansing, WV.
Explore life in diverse forests and see one of the best clifftop views of the New River Gorge on this leisurely two-mile moderate hike.

April 25, 2020

Hike Into Spring! Plus Active SWV Adventure Bonus
9:30 am to 2:00 pm
Grandview – shelter #4 at New River Gorge National River in Grandview, WV.
Join naturalists on a leisurely 2.5-mile hike from Grandview down to the New River, finding wildflowers and other natural wonders along the way. Be prepared for some steep terrain on an old dirt road. A free shuttle will be provided. Bring water and a snack. RESERVATIONS requested by April 21: 304-465-2632 or jodi_french-burr@nps.gov.
Active SWV Adventure Bonus: stay active in the park by running or hiking back up to the top of the gorge.

Carnifex Old-growth Nature Trek
5:00 to 6:30 pm
Patterson House at Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park in Summersville, WV.
Hike to Pierson Hollow’s old-growth forest to take a closer look at this diverse ecosystem, including rare species. Be prepared for an easy one-mile hike with some moderate terrain.

Star Watching Party
8:00 to 10:00 pm
Boley Lake at Babcock State Park in Clifftop, WV.
Enjoy the wonders of the night sky while hanging out on the shores of the lake. Bring a blanket and a red-filtered flashlight. Some star watching tools will be available.

April 26, 2020
Spring Birding at Babcock
8:00 to 10:00 am
Glade Creek Grist Mill at Babcock State Park in Clifftop, WV.
Stroll the diverse habitats of Babcock in search of spring birds. Some binoculars will be available.

New River Old-growth Hike
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Stone Cliff Trailhead at New River Gorge National River just over a mile from Thurmond, WV.
Discover nature of the forest near New River, including old-growth trees, on this six-mile round trip hike. Bring water and lunch.

Falls & Flowers: the Nature of Brush Creek
1:00 to 4:00 pm
Nature Center at Pipestem Resort State Park in Pipestem, WV.
Enjoy waterfalls and blooms along Brush Creek on this moderate three-mile walk. Meet at Pipestem’s Nature Center to car caravan to the trailhead 20-minutes away.

Hawks Nest Lakeside Nature Hike
1:00 to 3:00 pm
Boat Launch parking at Hawks Nest State Park in Ansted, WV. (follow boat launch signs from downtown Ansted)
Explore the nature around Hawks Nest Lake and dam, along with a beautiful waterfall on this easy two-mile walk.

Hot ID: Skills with Guides and APPS
2:30 to 5:00 pm
Stone Cliff Trailhead at New River Gorge National River just over a mile from Thurmond, WV.
Hike one mile along the New River and try your hand at wildflower identification using the hottest flora ID tools. Bing your favorite wildflower field guides or smart devices pre-loaded with nature ID apps. Some field guides will be available.

Creatures of the Night Hike
8:30 to 10:00 pm
Grandview Visitor Center at New River Gorge National River in Grandview, WV..
Explore nature’s night life on this one-mile forest adventure in search of bats, owls, and more. Bing a red-filtered flashlight

Post-spring events

April 30, 2020

Earth Stewardship Project: Garlic Mustard Pull
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Glade Creek trailhead on Glade Creek Access Road in New River Gorge National River, six miles from Prince, WV.
Help park natural resource staff stop the spread of garlic mustard, a non-native, invasive plant that out-competes native herbs and wildflowers. Wear long sleeves, long pants, sturdy walking shoes, and work gloves, plus bring water and lunch. RESERVATIONS requested by April 27: 304-465-2634 or adrienne_jenkins@nps.gov.

WV Master Naturalist Workshop
West Virginia Master Naturalist Wildflowers and Weeds core course (two parts)

Explore the classification, diversity, and ecology of wildflowers in this WV Master Naturalist core, two-part certification course. RESERVATIONS requested by April 21: 304-465-2632 or jodi_french-burr@nps.gov.
Part 1: April 22 Classroom
6:00 to 8:30 pm, Canyon Rim Visitor Center at New River Gorge National River in Lansing, WV.
Part 2: Field lab (attend at least one field session listed below)
Option 1: April 24, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm, Hike Into Spring! program, Grandview shelter #4 at New River Gorge National River in Grandview, WV. (no field guide use step-by-step)
Option 2: April 26, 2:30 to 5:00 pm, Hot ID: Skills with Guides and APPS program, Stone Cliff Trailhead at New River Gorge National River near Thurmond, WV. (field guide use step-by-step)