Every species is a genius.
Fireflies
The Blue Ridge Mountains harbor an abundance of bioluminescent life, from glow-in-the-dark mushrooms to lightning bugs and glowworms. Blue ghosts and synchronous fireflies are among the celebrated firefly species that only live in Southern Appalachian forests.
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We are preparing for the return of the fireflies in 2025 and will post a schedule of walks in early spring. There will be one firefly retreat May 22-24 - more details found here.
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At Snakeroot Ecotours, we seek the genius of each species and trace the relationships that make the Appalachian forest.
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On our guided tours we invite you into astoundingly diverse habitats and reveal the mysteries of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
We offer custom full-day outings, overnights, nature retreats, seasonal nature walks, and youth programs.
In spring we search out the best wildflower coves and conduct blue ghost and synchronous firefly tours. During the summer and fall, we hunt for rare orchids, spectacular mushrooms, and search for foxfire at night
Mushrooms
From July to September, the Blue Ridge forest floor features thousands of species of mushrooms. Mushroom foraging and identification is front and center during the Summer Headwaters Nature Retreats. We schedule Mushroom Walks and Foxfire Nightwalks throughout the peak season.
Wildflowers
The Southern Appalachians are internationally renowned for botanical diversity. Our tours orient you to various local plant communities, and we highlight any bloom that is in season during our hikes. Spring ephemerals headline our Chasing Spring Nature Retreats, and we lead ephemeral and orchid walks through the spring and summer.
Waterfalls
Every major creek in the Black Mountains tumbles over 3000’ from the cloud forest to the South Toe River. We guide trips to hidden waterfalls and secret swimming holes in the Appalachian headwaters, where water temperatures rarely exceed 60 degrees, even during the warmest parts of the summer.
Cloud Forests
Cloud forests in North Carolina? WNC is home to a globally rare and threatened habitat – the Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forest. It is a temperate rainforest – more accurately, a cloud forest – that inhabits the highest mountaintops of the Blue Ridge. Our Cloud Forest Hikes explore these high elevation mossy forests.
Want to book a guided tour for a small group?
Book a Custom Outing
Offerings
Half or Full Day Outings
These custom guided hikes are for families and adventurous travelers. Hike up into the Black Mountains, finding unmarked trails, rockhopping up creeks. Hidden waterfalls, secret swimming holes, cloud forests, and rare plants and fungi. Each trip is tailored to the clients' interests and fitness level.
Multi-Day Adventures
Join a small group of fellow nature-lovers -- led by a renowned local naturalist --
for a weekend exploring the magical summertime forests of the Blue Ridge.
Up in the headwaters of the east, outside of Asheville, NC, we tromp through cloud forests, old growth, and rich coves of wildflowers.
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Testimonials
About
Tal Galton
Owner, Naturalist, Lead Guide
A committed naturalist since early childhood, Tal has been introducing people to wild places for 30 years. He spent much of two decades teaching in the experimental and experiential environs of Arthur Morgan School and The Arete Project, and he lives with his family in a timber-frame home that he and his wife designed and built out of local white pines. Tal writes a column on Appalachian ecology for Asheville's Mountain Xpress, maintains certifications in WFA and CPR, coaches cross country at Mountain Heritage HS, has served on the board of the Burnsville-Yancey Chamber, and is a co-founder of the South Toe Conservation Fund.
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The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.
- Rachel Carson
