Hiking North Carolinas State Parks
The Best Trail Adventures from the Appalachians to the Atlantic
JOHNNY MOLLOY
The University of North Carolina Press
Chapel Hill
A SOUTHERN GATEWAYS GUIDE
This book was published with the assistance of the Blythe Family Fund of the University of North Carolina Press.
2022 Johnny Molloy
All rights reserved
Designed by Jamison Cockerham
Set in Scala, Scala Sans, Alegreya Sans, and Officina Sans
by Kristina Kachele Design, llc
Manufactured in the United States of America
The University of North Carolina Press has been a member of the Green Press Initiative since 2003.
Cover illustration: Widow Falls in Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina iStock/gsagi. Page i: Fort Macon State Park. Page iiiii: High Shoals Falls, South Mountains State Park. Page vi: Triple-trunked tree offers a hiker respite at Eno River State Park. Page xvi: The falls just above High Shoals Falls, South Mountains State Park. Page xxiii: Shorts Lake reflects autumn glory at Crowders Mountain State Park. Page xxiv: Squeezing past the Panthers Den at Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Names: Molloy, Johnny, 1961 author.
Title: Hiking North Carolinas state parks : the best trail adventures from the Appalachians to the Atlantic Ocean / Johnny Molloy.
Other titles: Southern gateways guide.
Description: Chapel Hill : The University of North Carolina Press, [2022] | Series: A Southern gateways guide
Identifiers: LCCN 2021041602 | ISBN 9781469668239 (pbk; alk. paper) | ISBN 9781469668246 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: HikingNorth CarolinaGuidebooks. | TrailsNorth CarolinaGuidebooks. | Natural areasNorth CarolinaGuidebooks. | ParksNorth CarolinaGuidebooks. | North CarolinaGuidebooks.
Classification: LCC GV199.42.N66 M654 2022 | DDC 796.5109756dc23/eng/20211020
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021041602
Southern Gateways Guide is a registered trademark of the University of North Carolina Press.
FOR THE
FOUNDERS, MAINTAINERS, AND SUPPORTERS
OF
NORTH CAROLINAS STATE PARKS
Contents
Mountains
Hike Summary Chart
Hike | State Park | Distance (miles) | Time (hours) | Difficulty | Highlights |
Gorges State Park | 3.8 | 2.5 | Moderate | Hidden Falls, Rainbow Falls, Turtleback Falls, Stairway Falls |
Gorges State Park | 10.6 | 5.3 | Difficult | Giant swinging bridge over scenic lake, river, and creek |
Mount Mitchell State Park | 5.6 | 3.3 | Moderate to difficult | Highest point in the East, views, spruce-fir forests |
Lake James State Park | 5.1 | 2.4 | Moderate | Lake views, pre-park history, additional park activities |
South Mountains State Park | 8.6 | 4.2 | Moderate to difficult | Remote ridges, multiple views, backpacking possibilities |
South Mountains State Park | 4.9 | 2.3 | Moderate | High Shoals Falls, other cascades, extensive interpretive information |
Grandfather Mountain State Park | 8.2 | 5.1 | Difficult | Iconic trail to multiple vista points amid spruce-fir forest |
Grandfather Mountain State Park | 3.7 | 2.0 | Moderate | Multiple views from outcrops on Grandfather Mountain, spruce woods |
Elk Knob State Park | 3.8 | 2.1 | Moderate | Mountaintop vistas, high-country forest |
Mount Jefferson State Natural Area | 4.7 | 2.3 | Moderate | Panoramas galore |
New River State Park | 7.7 | 3.8 | Moderate | River views, backcountry camping |
New River State Park | 2.5 | 1.2 | Easy to moderate | River views, Stump homesite |
Stone Mountain State Park | 8.2 | 4.4 | Moderate to difficult | Granite domes, vistas, historic farm, waterfalls |
Piedmont
Hike Summary Chart
Hike | State Park | Distance (miles) | Time (hours) | Difficulty | Highlights |
Crowders Mountain State Park | 5.4 | 3.0 | Moderate | Grand views, geology |
Crowders Mountain State Park | 5.5 | 3.0 | Moderate | Multiple vistas, geology, lake |
Lake Norman State Park | 5.4 | 2.5 | Moderate | Lake views |
Pilot Mountain State Park | 2.7 | 1.5 | Easy to moderate | Views, bluffs, rock climbers, biodiversity |
Pilot Mountain State Park | 5.4 | 2.7 | Moderate | Vistas, trail around Pilot Mountain |
Pilot Mountain State Park | 5.3 | 2.4 | Moderate | Old canal works and islands on the big Yadkin River |
Hanging Rock State Park | 4.6 | 2.8 | Moderate | Three waterfalls and outcrop with stellar views |
Hanging Rock State Park | 5.8 | 3.2 | Moderate | Panoramic vistas along stream and lake |
Hanging Rock State Park | 4.7 | 2.6 | Moderate | 360-degree views from historic tower |
Haw River State Park | 1.9 | 1.1 | Easy | Lake-viewing deck, wetland boardwalk |
Morrow Mountain State Park | 5.0 | 2.5 | Moderate | Aquatic and land views, history |
Morrow Mountain State Park | 5.6 | 3.0 | Moderate to difficult | Mountaintop views, high point in state park |
Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area | 2.8 | 1.3 | Easy to moderate | Loop to distant views, bluffs, quarry |
Eno River State Park | 4.9 | 2.6 | Moderate | Interesting geology, historic mill, home ruins |
Eno River State Park | 4.5 | 2.4 | Moderate | Iconic swinging bridge, riverside rapids, backpack camping |
Eno River State Park | 5.1 | 2.5 | Moderate | Eno River, Eno Quarry, Cabe Mill site |
Eno River State Park | 2.7 | 1.4 | Easy | Trail along Eno River to Bobbitt Hole, backcountry campground |
Eno River State Park | 1.7 | 1.0 | Easy | Pump station ruins, dam ruins, Eno River |