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Create an AccountNature Hiking in the Southern Appalachian Mountains
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United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.
Arrival day is on Sunday, August 10, 2025.
Meet the group at Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, NC
Start of Trip: 4:00 p.m. Conference Center Check-in; 5:00 p.m. Program Registration; 6:00 p.m. Welcome Dinner; 7:00 p.m. Orientation.
Your trip ends on: Friday, August 15, 2025 in Hayesville, NC at Hinton Rural Life Center
End of Trip: 9:00 a.m. Farewell hike after breakfast and conference center check-out. . Day’s activities will conclude around 1pm.
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
The estimated travel time to the check-in location is 2 hours .
The estimated distance to the check-in location is 110 miles .
None - Car Required
Hinton Center is approximately two hours from the Asheville, NC airport and two and one half hours from the Atlanta, GA airport. Commercial transportation is not generally available from either airport.
Arrival day is on 8/10/2025.
Meet the group at Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, NC.
Start of Trip: 4:00 p.m. Conference Center Check-in; 5:00 p.m. Program Registration; 6:00 p.m. Welcome Dinner; 7:00 p.m. Orientation.
Your trip ends on: Friday, August 15, 2025 in Hayesville, NC at Hinton Rural Life Center.
End of Trip: 9:00 a.m. Farewell hike after breakfast and conference center check-out. . Day’s activities will conclude around 1pm..
Free
From North (Knoxville, Asheville)
Follow I-40 (east or west) to exit 27. Follow US 23 South/74West. Just past Sylva take exit 81 (US 441). In Franklin the road will become 64W. Follow 64 West approx. 32 mi. toward Hayesville. Turn left at Hinton Center Road. Go straight at the stop sign (church on right). Road ends in Hinton's parking lot. Follow signs to Joe Ervin Retreat House.
From Chattanooga
Follow I-75 North to Highway 64 bypass. Take bypass to exit 64 East. Follow 64 East through Murphy, NC to Hayesville, NC. Turn right onto Hinton Center Road approx. 1 mile beyond Hayesville Business 64 sign. Go straight through the stop sign (church on your right). Road ends in Hinton's parking lot. Follow signs to Joe Ervin Retreat House.
From Western SC (Anderson)
Follow US 76 to Hiawassee GA. Turn right onto GA 75. Follow the road approx 9 miles (It becomes NC 175). Turn left on US 64 toward Hayesville. Sign for Hinton Center will be on your left. Turn onto Hinton Center Road and go straight at the stop sign (church on right). Road ends in Hinton's parking lot. Follow signs to the Joe Ervin Retreat House.
From South (Atlanta Hartsfield airport)
Follow I-75 North through downtown. Take exit I-575 through Marietta. I-575 will turn into GA. 515 North. About 3.3 miles past Young Harris turn left GA. 17/515. Go 4.5 miles toward Hayesville(you will cross NC line and road becomes NC 69). Turn right on US 64E bypass. Go 1 mile and turn right onto Hinton Center Road. Go straight at stop sign (church on right). Road ends in Hinton's parking lot. Follow signs to Joe Ervin Retreat House.