The 2026 Tour des Trees will feature additional events for riders and Tour alumni to participate. See details below. 
Alumni Dinner and Paul Wood Retirement Celebration:
Our Tour Director of 22 years, Paul Wood, will be retiring after this year’s Tour des Trees. Paul has had a great impact on the Tour over the years and we want our Tour des Trees family to come out and honor him in his home region.
Tour alumni that are not planning on riding but would like to attend Paul’s Celebration Dinner can sign up to attend at www.tourdestrees.org. Alumni attending will join us for dinner and have one, double-room night reserved the evening of Thursday, September 27 at the Embassy Suites, 192 Haywood St, Asheville, NC. Dinner and celebration will begin at 6:00pm. Cost is $350.
Field Trip to Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory:
The Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory is a fascinating facility located in Charlotte, NC, focusing on tree health and tree care with a fully equipped diagnostic laboratory with molecular testing capabilities, an extensive reference library, an education center, and arboretum.
Charlotte is not on our route, but we know there are riders who would not want to miss the opportunity to visit the Bartlett Labs while they are in the area. Interested riders should plan to arrive early, arriving on or before the morning of Friday, September 11. We’ll organize a carpool set to depart from Greenville, SC at 10am Eastern on September 11, drive to Charlotte (approx. 2 hours), have lunch at the labs followed by a tour of the grounds and research facilities, and drive back at around 4pm, arriving back in Greenville before dinnertime.
Interested riders should plan to book additional hotel nights for Thursday night, September 10 (if needed) and Friday, September 11. See Travel Document on the Resources page for hotel information. We will confirm all interested riders in the spring and organize rides at that time. Cost is expected to be between $25 and $50, depending on numbers.
Hurricane Relief Service Day:
Two years ago, the region was rocked by Hurricane Helene and the recovery efforts are still on-going. Part of our decision to host the 2026 Tour des Trees is the area was so that our riders, with all their experience in the field, could volunteer time to help with recovery efforts.
There will be additional opportunities to help during the week, but we will be organizing a volunteering day with a local group in Greenville, SC on Saturday, September 12 in the late morning/ early afternoon to help with recovery efforts. Riders are encouraged to bring proper clothing and equipment. We will alert anyone interested in volunteering what work will be done so that any special requests for additional equipment from local supporters can be brought and borrowed. Interested riders should plan to book an additional hotel night for Friday, September 11. See Travel Document on the Resources page for hotel information.