Visitors seeking outdoor adventure, communion with nature, breathtaking vistas, wilderness solitude, or simply a relaxed drive in the country will find it in spades in the North Carolina mountains and foothills.  The Blue Ridge Parkway, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, scenic byways, and State Parks and Forests offer hundreds of square miles of majestic scenery, hiking trails, bike trails, waterfalls, whitewater, and rare and unusual ecosystems.

National Parks

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area is home to the two most-visited National Park lands in the country:

• Blue Ridge Parkway - 252 miles of scenic roadway winding through the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park - a half million+ acre park renowned for its biodiversity, old growth forests, historic farm sites, and abundant recreation opportunities.

A National Historic Site and National Historic Trail are also found in the North Carolina mountains:

• Carl Sandburg Home - a 264-acre farm in Flat Rock which was home to the esteemed author and poet.
• Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail - a 330-mile driving trail which commemorates the marching route of citizen militia to the pivotal Battle of King's Mountain during the Revolutionary War.

National Forests

The North Carolina mountains are also home to two National Forests, which were some of the earliest forests to be protected by the federal government and which are among the most biodiverse.

• The Pisgah National Forest - the country's first National Forest - was the site of the first forestry school and the early history of forest conservation in the United States.
• The Nantahala National Forest - is distinguished by its spectacular whitewater, waterfalls, old growth, and the scenic byways that pass through it.

Together, the two National Forests offer visitors over a million acres of protected landscape for an abundance of recreational pursuits - hiking, camping, picnicking, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing, birding, mountain biking, horseback riding, and much more.

Other Federal Lands

• W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir (near Wilkesboro, NC)

State Parks and Forests

Nine State Parks, two State Forests and the Green River Game Lands in Western North Carolina protect spectacular natural landmarks and provide outstanding recreational opportunities. These state lands are popular destinations for hiking, camping, picnicking, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, fishing, boating, and swimming.

Many offer special events, including educational and interpretive programs, organized hikes, concerts, fishing lessons, and environmental workshops.

State Parks

• Chimney Rock State Park (Chimney Rock, NC)
• Gorges State Park (between Brevard and Cashiers, NC)
• Grandfather Mountain State Park (near Blowing Rock, NC)
• Lake James State Park (near Marion, NC)
• Mount Jefferson State Park (between Jefferson and West Jefferson, NC)
• Mount Mitchell State Park (off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Burnsville, NC)
• New River State Park (near West Jefferson, NC)
• Pilot Mountain State Park (Pinnacle, NC)
• South Mountains State Park (Connelly Springs, NC)
• Stone Mountain State Park (Roaring Gap, NC)

State Forests

• DuPont State Forest (between Hendersonville and Brevard, NC)
• Holmes Educational State Forest (Hendersonville, NC)
• Tuttle Educational State Forest (Lenoir, NC)

Other State Lands

• Green River Game Lands (near Hendersonville, NC)