Carolina Thread Trail (photo: carolinathreadtrail.org)
Carolina Thread Trail (photo: carolinathreadtrail.org)

During the month of September, our aim is to get you back in a hiking state of mind with fall hiking blog posts every Friday. We start today with advice targeted to those of you who took the summer off, with a recommendation for 5 Fall Hikes to Rediscover Your Hiking Legs.

At the end of spring, you vow to maintain your hiking legs over the summer. Take the stairs to your office on the 8th floor. Do squats and step-ups first thing every morning. Walk the beach instead of just snoozing there.
Alas … .
So here you are, the fall hiking season at hand and you with off-season legs. You can still get into form by the time hiking really kicks into gear the end of September, but you need to start now. And you need to start on trail that won’t debilitate, or, more importantly, demoralize. We have five trails that fit the bill.
These five, scattered throughout the Piedmont, aren’t long, aren’t hilly, aren’t booby-trapped with rocks and roots to break your spirit or ankles. They are trails intended to get your legs moving and rekindle your inner hiker. Let the rebirth begin.

Johnston Mill Nature Preserve (photo: triangleland.org)
Johnston Mill Nature Preserve (photo: triangleland.org)

1. Johnston Mill Nature Preserve
Orange County
3 miles
You will find a short climb or two on your circumnavigation of this 296-acre preserve, but because this is a Triangle Land Conservancy property, you’ll find thoughtful grades and friendly trail: even if you do get winded toward the end, you needn’t worry about tripping over errant rocks and roots. That’s especially good considering you’ll be agog over the distracting scenery: the bluff of ancient beech, the open meadow, the passage along frisky New Hope Creek. A great refresher course.
More info here

2. Carolina Thread Trail
15-county area anchored by Charlotte
250 miles (broken into smaller strands)
Eventually, the Carolina Thread Trail will be a network of 1,500 miles of trail linking more than 2.3 million people in North and South Carolina. Today, about 250 miles exist — that’s a cumulative total, with most stretches in the 1- to 3-mile range, perfect for launching your get-back-to-hiking routine. Perfect, too, because these scattered threads exist throughout the region, meaning if you live in the Charlotte area, there’s a good chance there’s a training thread near you.
Find your nearest thread, here

salemLake_7

3. Salem Lake Trail
Winston-Salem
7 miles
If you don’t know Salem Lake, 7 miles may seem a lot to ask coming off the bench. These are, however, 7 pretty flat miles. Plus, it’s 7 miles of finely crushed gravel on a wide path that easily accommodates side-by-side hiking; the social element alone deducts a 3 miles for distracted hiking. Really, this hike can be over before you know it — and with that kind of mileage under your belt you can boast that you’re in mid-season form.
More info here

Hagan Stone Park (photo: visitnc.com)
Hagan-Stone Park (photo: visitnc.com)

4. Hagan-Stone Park
Pleasant Garden (near Greensboro)
4 miles
Don’t be mislead by the fact that the Chatfield Loop constitutes most of the park’s popular cross-country course, one of the most popular 5Ks on the local collegiate and high school running scenes. The route has clean tread, nice flow, a mellow climb or two and takes in the highlights of this popular park, including secluded streams, open fields, playgrounds and forest that does a good job of insulating hikers from surrounding development. Go for a PR if you like, but also know this can a friendly trainer.
More info here

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve

5. Hemlock Bluffs Natural Area
Cary
3 miles
One reason we like this hike: the preserve’s namesake stand of relic hemlocks makes you feel like you’re hiking in the mountains (minus the mountain climbs). Oddly, it also makes you feel like you’re hiking at the coast, with a boardwalked section penetrating a swamplike area. (Worry not; there’s plenty of Piedmont, too.) The trails are largely wood chipped, making them some of the friendliest around. Lest you get the idea this hike is too easy, you will encounter some short but sweat-inducing climbs.
More info here