Play On 2024

THINGS TO DO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

For a safe and enjoyable hike in our region, known for its rich biodiversity, it’s crucial to follow these guidelines: Always stay on marked trails to protect the ecosystem and avoid encounters with wildlife, including snakes like Copperheads and Rattlesnakes. Inform someone about your hiking plans and expected return time. Dress in layers to adapt to changing temperatures at higher

HIKING

elevations. Ensure your cell phone is charged, and consider carrying an extra battery pack, especially for longer treks. Download offline topographic maps for navigation in areas with no service. For extended hikes, pack extra food, water, and essential items such as a headlamp for after-dark travel. Wear sturdy hiking shoes for various terrains and carry plenty of water in a reusable bottle. Given the high rainfall in the Cashiers plateau, include a lightweight raincoat in your gear. Remember, littering is strictly prohibited, so pack out all your trash. attempt to summit one for a photo. Even if you have seen other people enjoy playing around waterfalls, be aware they have been lucky to escape unharmed. Waterfalls are constantly changing with varying water flows and erosion of the rocks around them. The current from one place to the next may be faster than you anticipate and the arrangement of rocks or other debris such as logs in the plunge pool is ever changing. Take no chances, only photographs for memories. WATERFALLS Do not climb around waterfalls and do not

For pet safety in our mountainous regions, always keep your pet leashed near waterfalls and on steep hikes, like Whiteside Mountain, to protect them from native wildlife and unfamiliar terrain. In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dogs are welcome in campgrounds, picnic areas, and along roads, but must be on a leash

DOGS

no longer than 6 feet. They’re only allowed on the Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail. Similarly, on the Blue Ridge Parkway, pets must be leashed and under physical control. In U.S. Forest Service Lands, pets must be leashed in developed

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