Discover (and help recover) the great outdoors: 2025 Spring Ascension Series in Black Mountain
Every day is Earth Day in the beautiful community of Black Mountain, North Carolina! As residents of the Swannanoa Valley (scroll down for a quick geography lesson), we are in awe of all the natural wonders around us. Every day we strive to be good stewards of our forests, lakes, and streams so they will always flourish… and we will, too.
Instead of a single 2025 Earth Day event, the Town of Black Mountain Recreation & Parks department is hosting their popular Spring Ascension Series. Please join us!
This year, volunteers and participants are invited to join Black Mountain Recreation throughout April and May for one or more of their Earth Day-inspired programs. They include hikes, river cleanups, litter sweeps, trail workdays, and an Astronomy Walk.
The 2025 Spring Ascension Series is particularly important due to the lasting impact of Hurricane Helene, which tore through our area last September. On April 9, for instance, volunteers made a significant dent in the debris in and around Flat Creek on the south side from Village Way to the area where the pavement was completely washed out. In less than half a mile, volunteers gathered 25 bags of trash and numerous larger pieces of debris.
As of today, there are still openings available for the hike on May 10 and most of the litter sweeps and trail workdays. The April 22 hike is full, but you can join the waitlist.
We hope to see you soon!
You Are Here
Want to talk like a local? It’s all about geography here in the Swannanoa Valley.
Western North Carolina
The region depicted in the map above are the counties we refer to as Western North Carolina (WNC). Geographically speaking, our region consists of the mountainous areas west of Charlotte, NC all the way west to the Tennessee state line, as far north as the border with Virginia, and as far south as the South Carolina state line. The largest city in WNC is Asheville, which sits in the middle of Buncombe County. Black Mountain is also in Buncombe County.
Swannanoa River Valley
The Swannanoa River Valley is located in western North Carolina between Black Mountain and Asheville. The river flows through the valley from its headwaters in Black Mountain to its confluence with the French Broad River in Asheville’s Biltmore Village.
Black Mountain Range
The Black Mountain Range is the tallest range east of the Black Hills in South Dakota. Six of the ten highest peaks in the eastern United States are in the Black Mountain range including Mount Mitchell, the tallest peak east of the Mississippi River (6,684 feet). The shadows of these mountains, which cast long over the valleys below, might be one reason for the name. The dense spruce fir forest of the ridge tops may be another.
Discover More
Now that you have your bearings, be sure to check out the Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center in Black Mountain! Their exhibitions reflect the history of WNC through a focus on the life and times of the Swannanoa Valley.
Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center
223 W. State Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711
swannanoavalleymuseum.org
About the Author
This blog story was written by Amy J. Schultz, an award-winning author, brand/marketing strategist, and overall creative type. She, her husband Brian, and their giant dog Bentley love their downtown Black Mountain neighborhood.
