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This Is The Best State Park In North Carolina According To The Experts

Author Melanie Day
State Park boundary sign at Mount Mitchell in the Black Mountains in Western North Carolina.

Looking to get outdoors this spring or summer? Visiting a state park is a great way to explore nature and see the incredible natural wonders we are home to. North Carolina is home to 41 state parks, as well as 10 national park sites and four national forests. But with so much to explore which is the best? All have something unique to offer visitors but the travel experts over at Southern Living recently published a list of the best state park in each state. So what did they choose as the best state park in North Carolina?

It’s one I’m sure you have heard of even if you can’t name the other 40 state parks. Nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains just southeast of Asheville you’ll find Chimney Rock State Park. You’ve most likely seen photos of the 315-foot namesake of Chimney Rock. And while this is the main draw for visitors the park actually spams 8,014 acres. Want to visit the top but hiking isn’t your thing? There is an elevator or you can always elect to climb the 500 steps to the top. Once you reach the summit you can take in the 75-mile views overlooking picturesque Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge. There are also plenty of trails for hikers, including the Skyline Trail and Four Seasons Trail.

Get more info about Chimney Rock State Park in North Carolina here! And read about what Southern Living considers the best state parks in the other southern states here.

South Carolina Is Home To One Of The Least Visited National Parks

Spring is here and it’s time to get outside, but apparently, for those in South Carolina, visiting ones of the Palmetto state’s National Parks isn’t in the cards.

Congaree National Park in South Carolina comes in as one of the least visited National Parks in the country in 2021, according to data released by the National Park Service.

The top 15 parks on the list of least visited are some of the most beautiful places in the country. But a few of them do have some similar logistics or location challenges. But for many other ones, there’s not much excuse for not celebrating how beautiful our country is.

Let’s take a look at the least visited national parks in the United States so that you can get some spots on your bucket list. We are going to leave off the ones in places like American Samoa, but we’ll leave in Alaska because they are beautiful.

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.

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