Loved it and want tintine back in a sunny day! main attraction of the park, is a sweet little slice of paradise that is the equal to the most beautiful beaches anywhere in the wo... Hikers can also get a taste of the woods surrounding the. It’s great to hike for half a day then come down the. Ride along the horse trail, hike to mountain peaks, and sunbathe on one of the many rocks in the river. With more than 1,000 campsites, seven swimming beaches, and 14 miles of gentle hiking trails, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is a great all-around vacation spot. The park has several campsites, a museum dedicated to the mountain's history, and an on-site restaurant. There’s a cute little swinging bridge, an open log cabin, You can take short walks or combine them for hikes through wetlands with rare native plants, find a young longleaf, ... swamps rather than over or through them), Campground Trail (easy and a short distance to the sites), and the Sugarloaf Trail, This park is a must see if in the area with tranquility trails to walk, beautiful, On this trail you can go down about 100 stairs to view some magnificent rock formations and really, Nestled in south central BC near Badin Lake and Lake Tillery, this is a great place to. It is special to us for so many... 3. The hike is just 0.7 miles out and back, dog friendly, and accessible to those with disabilities via an elevator in the Top Shop. All in all, though, it is a well-maintained park with opportunities for viewing Great Blue Herons. The area has an on-site visitor center with an exhibit hall that explore the lake's ecology. We spent the day here and we barely scratched the surface. Founded in 1916, North Carolina State Parks is celebrating its 100th year of preserving and maintaining the natural wild in North Carolina. Expert RVers visited 439 RV Parks in North Carolina. At nearly 8,000 acres, the park has four waterfalls, including the 150-foot Rainbow Falls, which can be accessed via the Grassy Ridge Trailhead just off Highway 218-S in Sapphire. The Top 10 State Parks in North Carolina Jockey's Ridge State Park. and while you'll have an elevation climb to get to the summit on the other side of the trail, you'll end the loop on a descent which makes for a less strenuous hike -- and easier on the legs! Born near Lancaster in 1767, Jackson is the only president to be born in South Carolina. What a gem, and it is right there for the taking...so many trails that you can walk your dog/jog, It’s a great hidden gem in Raleigh for those. Try moving the map or changing your filters. Overall: Great fort with well maintained and interesting exhibits and the bonus beach. The park features one of the highest peaks in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge range (5,520 feet), from which Watauga County spreads out beautifully before you. Thousands of families visit this state park and one would always find the park crowded, especially during the summer season. The 1,020 acre-preservation of unique trees and plants, flood plain, and uplands is recognized for it's picturesque. Swansboro. Reservations for campsites are strongly recommended. daunting on a sunny day... all sand... many hills... we had cloud cover and were still pretty tired after the hike Loved the views! Boasting more than 80,000 acres of protected land, South Carolina is home to some of the most beautiful parks in the country. Access 9832 reviews, 2935 photos & 2094 tips of every rv park & campground in North Carolina. North Carolina is known for its natural beauty and resources from the shores of the Outer Banks to the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition to more than 20 miles of hiking trails, including the nearly five mile the Moore's Wall Loop that climbs along several crappy outcrops to an Observation Tower at the park's highest peak.The park also has rock climbing outposts, 8.4 miles of mountain biking trails, and a lake and river for paddling, canoeing, and other water-based activities. At 6,684 feet, Mount Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi River, and the surrounding near 2,000 acre-area of the Blue Ridge Mountains was North Carolina's first official state park. Lake Waccamaw is one of the largest Carolina bays. Travel guide to the best state parks in North Carolina. Head to Gorges State Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Transylvania County near the small town of Brevard. Access the summit via the steep but short Outcroppings Trail. Laura Scholz is an Atlanta-based freelance writer and editor who has called Atlanta home since 2000. Lake Waccamaw State Park. trail, but a good challenge for me as a beginner :)! There are no pins in your viewport. From family-friendly activities to advanced outdoor ones, this is the place to be. For a longer excursion, take the 2.2-mile round-trip Skyline Trail, which travels through hardwood forests and offers views of the 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls as well as Lake Lure, which is popular in the summer months for water-based activities ranging from canoeing to fishing and water skiing. and while you'll have an elevation climb to get to the summit on the other side of the trail, you'll end the loop on a descent which makes. “ Stone Mountain State Park, in northwestern North Carolina, offers invigorating walks, impressive vistas, and idyllic environs for fishing, horseback riding, picnicking, and camping. There are hundreds of excellent RV sites to choose from across North Carolina, all with something different to offer visitors. Existing Customers Mount Mitchell State Park. The first 2/3 of the trip is pretty easy. We have suggestions. Our parks offer family camping, group camping, tent and RV sites, paddle-in sites, and much more. Top Carolina Beach State Parks: See reviews and photos of state parks in Carolina Beach, North Carolina on Tripadvisor. The state is best known for the beaches and marshes of its coastline, but it has a wide variety of other terrain to offer as well, including towering mountains, beautiful forests criss-crossed by streams and rivers, and even sand dunes. I go to Mount Mitchell on regular basis for cycle and hikes, there’s so many wonderful trails for, We've been to Mount Mitchell State Park a few times, and always enjoy the Appalachian spruce/fir forest, especially when you can go to the top and up the little tower to. Swim, boat, or ski on the 14,000-acre reservoir or go bird watching: Jordan Lake is home to the largest number of bald eagles on the East Coast. We take privacy seriously. Paddle through miles of serene, swampy forest at this unique state park located just 30 miles northwest of Elizabeth City. Highest rated places of interest or tour operators on Tripadvisor, based on traveler reviews. Unwind from your outdoor adventures with dinner at Hello, Sailor, a lakeside seafood spot from the owners of the award-winning Kindred. This park boasts... 2. All the information needed to plan your visit to any park is available on these pages, including fees, hours of operation, maps, fact sheets, amenities, accessibility and reservation information, and FAQs, plus up-to-the-minute information that might affect your visit. under shade trees, some very close to the side of the mountain, providing nice views of the countryside. Learn about the area's unique ecological and weather features at the on-site interactive museum, or explore the iconic 360-foot boardwalk or the Tracks in the Sand Trail, which at just over a mile gets you up close and personal with the dunes. 15. the large Price Park Picnic Area and walk downstream to Hebron Falls where it intersects the Mountains to Sea Trail and back again. visitor center with exhibits on the park and a man-made lake with swimming and boat rentals in the summer. Looking to expand your search outside of North Carolina? Due to changing advisories, please check local travel guidelines before visiting. amazing! picnic areas, and hiking trails, and more. There are several campsites at the State Park, but RVers are interested in the sites that contain electric and water hookups along with picnic table, fire ring, and grill. Elk Knob State Park is located in the remote northern reaches of western North Carolina, where winter weather is known to make quite an impression. So, hitch up the trailer and make plans to visit the Tar Heel State on your next RV adventure! Read our Privacy Policy . GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK (understandably) draws much of the attention in terms of North Carolina’s public lands, but the Tarheel State is home to 41 great state parks that hold plenty of appeal of their own. Just 20 miles north of Charlotte, this 32,510-acre park boasts the largest manmade lake in the Carolinas. Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Located just 30 miles west of downtown Charlotte, the 5,054-acre Crowders Mountain State Park make a great day trip or weekend getaway from the Queen City. it had the auto off and on, and was hot and great pressure. brackish water wetlands, ending at an elevated observation platform that offers views of the creek, the Pamlico River, and the surrounding marshes. While there are no campsites or accommodations at the park, there are several rentals available in town, where you can catch stunning views of the shore from the 19th-century era Bodie Island Lighthouse, fishing from the Nag's Head Fishing Pier, or stroll through the forests of the Nags Head Woods Preserve. From pristine beaches along the Atlantic coast to calming lakes in the piedmont and sweeping vistas in the mountains, North Carolina is full of natural beauty, and you can experience it at the state's 41 state parks and recreation areas. Here are some of the most scenic and singular walks in the state: 1. Hammocks Beach State Park. It turns out the National Park Service isn't the only parks organization that can brag about being 100 years old. The Mile High Swinging Bridge, which is the country's highest suspension footbridge and offers panoramic views of the mountains below. , offers panoramic views of the trip is pretty easy campsites in the United States man-made with... 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