Discover Greensboro Magazine Winter 2021

TAKE A Winter HIKE!

Find your perfect trail, hiking tips, trail rules, and more at www. greensboro-nc.gov/trails or download the free Piedmont Discovery App!

Greensboro residents don’t have to travel far from home to experience the wilderness this winter. Greensboro Parks and Recreation has 100-plus miles of trails – and many of them take you off into the woods exploring the Triad’s natural beauty year- round. While the days are shorter and the temperature is cooler, you just need to a little preparation to get the most out of your winter walk. DRESS FOR IT “Wear layers - dress like an onion!” says Greensboro Planner Elizabeth Jernigan. That way you can take off layers if you get too hot, or add more if you get too cold. What you wear is important too. REI recommends wearing clothes maid of wool or synthetic materials that dry fast to take perspiration away from your skin. Avoid cotton, which take a long time to dry and will leave you cold and uncomfortable. And don’t forget – even in the winter you need sun protection. Bring your sunglasses and apply sunscreen. Pick the right time of day. Even though North Carolina has mild winters, it’s most comfortable to hike in the mid-afternoon.

“Hike when the sun is highest and warmest, and allow plenty of time to get back to the trailhead before dark,” Jernigan says. Greensboro trails close at sunset, so check your weather app to make sure you will be able to exit the trail while there is still ample light to navigate. Don’t forget provisions . If you ever need an excuse to bring snacks, this is it. “Hiking in the cold burns more calories, so eat and drink plenty. Bring snacks you can eat while hiking so you don’t have to stop,” Jernigan says. READY TO TRY? Jernigan recommends trying the Laurel Bluff Trail for your winter hike. The Laurel Bluff Trail traverses beautiful woodland and wetlands along the edge of Reedy Fork Creek and the backwaters of Lake Townsend. This trail is one of six Watershed Trails that have been designated as part of the North Carolina Mountains-to-Sea Trail. It’s pretty hilly, so if you are new to hiking, take it slow. The total trail is 3.5 miles – or 7 miles out and back – but it’s perfectly fine to just do a short distance and turn back. Get easy access to the trail from gravel parking lot on 5200 Block of N. Church Street, just past the city limits.

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