Join one of our guided night hikes at Stars & S'mores. These hikes typically sell out in advance, so purchase tickets early! You must have a general admission ticket in addition to a reserved hike time in order to join a guided hike. All participants must have a General Admission ticket to Stars & S'mores.
If you want to be grouped with others on the same hike, please make sure all participants are purchasing tickets for the same hike. It's important to note that there are two hikes leaving at each timeframe. This year, we have set up the reservation system so that participants can purchase tickets for the group that they want to participate in. If you are meeting others and want to be on the same hike, be sure to share which hike you have chosen - such as "Friday 6:30 All-ages Group A".
Please note that each hike has a maximum capacity. If you see that a particular hike is full or does not have the capacity available to accommodate your group, please check the other hikes for availability. We are unable to increase hike capacity without impacting the enjoyment of other guests.
The majority of our hikes are suitable for all ages. These hikes will be approximately 30 minutes in duration and will likely not be more than about a half-mile in length, round trip.
Our "adult-only" guided hikes are for ages 18 and up. We offer two of these hikes each evening - at 7:00p and 8:00p. These hikes are longer in trail length and in duration (approximately 50-60 minutes in duration, mileage will vary, but expect no more than 1.75 miles). The interpretive information presented by the guides on these hikes will be geared towards adults.
Children ages 2 and under do not need tickets, but may not join the adult-only guided hikes. We recommend taking very young children on earlier hikes due to darkness increasing throughout the evening.
All guests participating in hikes should dress for the conditions and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Please do not bring flashlights on the hike. Trekking poles are permitted, but not necessary or required.
Because we run hikes back-to-back during this event, it is pertinent that guests be lined up for the hike prior to departure. Guests should time their arrival at Dogwood Canyon at least 30 minutes prior to the reservation of any timed activity. This will allow time to park (next door at Newman International Academy), hop on one of our free shuttles, get checked in at the event gate/table, and make your way up to the building where the hike will depart. Keep in mind that the event ends at 9:00p and there are many activities to enjoy, so plan your arrival, departure, and any ticketed event times accordingly.
Due to the limited nature of the event, tickets are not refundable. However, we do permit the transfer of tickets. If you are unable to attend and want to transfer your tickets, please contact [email protected] no later than noon, Thursday, January 16, 2020. We cannot guarantee the transfer of tickets after that time.
Please note that this portion of the event is weather-dependent. In the event that we are experiencing heavy local precipitation at the time of your scheduled hike, the hike will be canceled. We will not cancel solely due to cold temperatures.
If the event is canceled due to weather, please consider your ticket purchase to be a contribution to Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, a non-profit operation of National Audubon Society, Inc., federal tax ID number 13-1624102.