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Gorges State Park - Mountain
Newest state park, still in development.
Waterfalls, gorges, elevation rises 2,000 feet in only
three miles, one of the greatest concentrations of rare
and unique plant and animal species in eastern
United States.
Extensive hiking trails. Backpack camping, river and
lake fishing, picnicking.
Hanging Rock State Park - Mountain
Rock outcrops up to 2,500 feet, five waterfalls and
cascades, mountain lake, access to scenic river.
More than 70 tent, trailer and recreational vehicle
campsites with showers;
eight group tent campsites; ten cabins.
More than 15 miles of hiking trails, including nearly
four miles of bridle trails, rock climbing.
Lake swimming and fishing, rowboat and canoe rentals;
boat access to nearby river. Visitor's center with exhibits,
interpretive programs, three picnic shelters,
historic bath house.
Lake James State Park - Mountain
Scenic vistas of surrounding Appalachian and
Black mountains overlooking manmade 6,510-acre lake.
Two boat ramp areas, canoe rentals, lake fishing and
swimming.
Twenty backpack campsites 150 to 300 yards from
parking lot; showers.
Picnic shelter, three miles of hiking trails, interpretive
programs.
Mount Jefferson State Natural Area - Mountain
Panoramic views from scenic Blue Ridge mountaintop at
4,683-foot elevation.
National natural landmark, unique plant communities. Picnic area with shelter,
1.3 miles of hiking trails, interpretive programs.
Mount Mitchell State Park - Mountain
Highest peak east of the Mississippi at 6,684 feet, views
up to 100 miles, North Carolina's first state park.
Nine tent campsites, 11 miles of hiking trails.
Trailheads for hikers, backpackers, equestrians using
trail system on adjacent U.S. Forest Service lands.
Exhibit hall, gift shop interpretive programs.
Two picnic shelters, restaurant.
New River State Park - Mountain
Believed to be the oldest river in North America, canoeing
past scenic rock outcrops, farmlands, woodlands;
26.5-mile segment designated National Wild and
Scenic River. More than 30 canoe-in tent campsites,
many within hiking distance of parking lots.
Canoe access, river fishing, picnic shelter, community building.
Nearly five miles of hiking trails, interpretive programs.
Pilot Mountain State Park - Mountain
One of the state's signature landmarks,
peregrine falcon habitat, scenic river access.
Nearly 50 tent, trailer and recreational vehicle campsites,
showers; two canoe-in campsites; one group
tent campsite.
Ten miles of hiking trails, including seven miles of
bridle trails, rock climbing.
River fishing, canoe access, interpretive programs,
picnic shelter.
South Mountains State Park - Mountain
Rock outcroppings up to 3,000 feet, 80-foot waterfall.
More than 40 miles of hiking trails, including 29 miles of bridle trails and 18-mile bicycling trail. Eleven
tent campsites, 20 backpack campsites,
four group backpack campsites, 15 equestrian campsites
with 37-stall barn. Stream fishing, picnic shelter,
interpretive programs.
Stone Mountain State Park - Mountain
Rock dome rising 700 feet above valley floor, waterfalls,
Blue Ridge Mountain overlooks. Historic sites, exhibits,
interpretive programs.
Nearly 40 tent, trailer and recreational vehicle campsites,
showers, dump station; six backpack campsites;
five group tent campsites.
Two picnic shelters, more than 12 miles of hiking trails,
including six-mile bridle trail. Rock climbing, stream fishing.
I recently drove through Nantahala Forest, a part of Joyce Kilmer Forest, and the areas of the Great Smoky Mountains in those areas (near Fontana Lake). We saw NO wildlife except for butterflies. No squirrels, deer, bears, or anything. Weird. Still, everything was beautiful there!
I recently drove through Nantahala Forest, a part of Joyce Kilmer Forest, and the areas of the Great Smoky Mountains in those areas (near Fontana Lake). We saw NO wildlife except for butterflies. No squirrels, deer, bears, or anything. Weird. Still, everything was beautiful there!
If you want to see wild life get out of your car and onto the trail systems early in the morning or late in the evening. This isn't Yellowstone, the wild life is back in the woods. If you want to see bears you just have to spend a lot of time outdoors in the back country or just get lucky. I tend to see 2-3 each year; mostly their backsides as they're running to get away from me. Or just live in some of the neighborhoods in the area were bears come down to feed on garbage/bird feeders (much more dangerous than spooking a black bear back in the woods).
I hear you. We stayed in a house in a wooded area overlooking the river near Deals Gap. I thought for sure sometime while enjoying coffee outside on the deck in the morning hours (or being outside at night) I'd see some kind of wildlife - squirrels, raccoons, etc., but saw nothing. Maybe if we'd done some hiking off the beaten path we'd have seen more but we stayed to the trails near Bryson City. I guess we'll just have to go back and try again!
Plus we drove through the mountains from the TN side and with all the curvy mountain roads and beautiful scenery I thought we'd see some deer or something. When we've driven Skyline Drive in the northern Virginia area we've seen wildlife so I expected to see some there, too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jstubbspt
If you want to see wild life get out of your car and onto the trail systems early in the morning or late in the evening. This isn't Yellowstone, the wild life is back in the woods. If you want to see bears you just have to spend a lot of time outdoors in the back country or just get lucky. I tend to see 2-3 each year; mostly their backsides as they're running to get away from me. Or just live in some of the neighborhoods in the area were bears come down to feed on garbage/bird feeders (much more dangerous than spooking a black bear back in the woods).
I see more wildlife living near the city than I have out in the woods. Saw a fox not too long ago and I normally see possum, raccoons and I have enough squirrel to float a navy.
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