Help Hot Springs reopen, with a 5.6-mile hike on the Big Laurel River

As part of Hot Springs' Town & Trail Festival, join Blue Ridge Hiking Co. and Hometown Strong for a 5.6-mile hike along the Big Laurel River, which offers numerous rapids and trout pools on its tree-lined descent. You’ll find swimming holes along the way as well. This is an out-and-back, with the “out” a relatively easy descent, the “back” a relatively mellow ascent. The hike is lead by Blue Ridge Hiking Co., which is based in Asheville and has a bunkhouse in Hot Springs (which is where we'll meet to catch the shuttle).

There is a $50 fee for this hike, all of which will be donated to ReBuild Hot Springs, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on assisting the residents, workers, and businesses of Hot Springs following the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Helene. In addition, there will be a $10 fee to cover the cost of the shuttle and Forest Service fees incurred by Blue Ridge Hiking Co., which is paying the hike leaders for hike. The $10 fee is payable at the shuttle pickup.

Sign up here, on Eventbrite, and you will receive pertinent updates on the hike, including a weather update within two days of the hike and recommendations for what to wear and bring. To make your donation and secure your place on the hike, go here. Under “Donate to RHSA,” click “$50,” and under “Would you like to send a message with your donation?”, write “for Blue Ridge Hiking Co.’s Tanyard Gap AT outing.”

This hike is limited to the first 8 hikers to sign up through ReBuild Hot Springs.

Learn more about the Town & Trail Festival here.

Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Hot Springs, Nonprofit events in Hot Springs.