Make this spring the best one ever with a visit to some of the following spots in North Carolina that are a shoe-in for natural beauty this time of year. See below what makes each one of them worthy of a visit – and then start planning!
- Gorges State Park - Sapphire
Google Maps/David Burgos Drop down into one of the most beautiful gorges on the east coast to explore waterfall after waterfall. This state park is pretty new in the system and offers primitive camping, backpacking, hiking, and tons of waterfall chasing. Admission is free. Learn more from this previous article.
- Great Smoky Mountains Railroad - Bryson City
Facebook/Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Take a ride through the smokies to enjoy the glorious period during springtime when the foliage brightens up with new green leaves. You can also take a special adventure on the train where you’ll travel deep into the Nantahala Gorge, get off the train, and then go ziplining through the lush green canopies. Learn more about the “Tarzan Train” here.
- Mingo Falls - Cherokee
Google Maps/Sean White Hike into the stunning Mingo Falls, located just outside of Cherokee. The hike is short, but it’s a steady uphill climb on more stairs than you’ll care to count. But totally worth the effort! Learn all about it right here.
- Merchants Millpond State Park - Gatesville
Google Maps/Henry Francisco Canoe, kayak, camp, and wander in wonder in this entirely underrated state park with stunning vistas everywhere you look. Find out more here.
- Shackleford Banks
Frank Staub / Photodisc Collection via Getty Images Gaze out over the bluest water on the North Carolina coast from Shackleford Banks. And prepare to share the beach with the famous wild horses that live here. Learn more about it from this previous article.
- Moore Cove Falls - Brevard
TripAdvisor/Lisa S Make the 1.2-mile hike into one of the most beautiful, natural fountains you’ll ever encounter. Play until your heart’s content under the ledge and behind the waterfall’s steady stream as it pours over the tall cliff and barrels toward the spillway that carries it further down the mountain. Learn all about Moore Cove Falls in this previous article.
- Morrow Mountain State Park - Albemarle
Flickr/Brian Hathcock Discover some ancient discoveries at this North Carolina state park. The quarry sites alone were used thousands of years ago for making chipped-stone tools. See six more places to explore ancient ruins in the Tar Heel State here.
- Prodigal Farm - Rougemont
Facebook/Prodigal Farm Is there any better time to visit a farm than during spring? get down on the ground and play with the baby goats at this 94-acre farm in the rolling hills of North Carolina’s Piedmont. Find out more about it right here.
- McGaillard Falls Park - Valdese
Google Maps/Jason Kyes Just to the east of Morganton in the town of Valdese is a city park with a waterfall as the main attraction. McGaillard Falls is perfect for enjoying a day in the water, if you happen to visit on a warm enough day in the spring. Bring your bathing suit! Find out more about this gorgeous waterfall park from this previous article.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Flickr/Greg Holtfreter April to June in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the optimal time to view wildflowers all along the highways and the trails. It’s also a fantastic time to visit the park, period! Learn more about those wildflowers from this previous article!
How many of these have you already discovered – and how many of those are worthy of a return trip this spring? Let us know in the comments!
Google Maps/David Burgos
Drop down into one of the most beautiful gorges on the east coast to explore waterfall after waterfall. This state park is pretty new in the system and offers primitive camping, backpacking, hiking, and tons of waterfall chasing. Admission is free. Learn more from this previous article.
Facebook/Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Take a ride through the smokies to enjoy the glorious period during springtime when the foliage brightens up with new green leaves. You can also take a special adventure on the train where you’ll travel deep into the Nantahala Gorge, get off the train, and then go ziplining through the lush green canopies. Learn more about the “Tarzan Train” here.
Google Maps/Sean White
Hike into the stunning Mingo Falls, located just outside of Cherokee. The hike is short, but it’s a steady uphill climb on more stairs than you’ll care to count. But totally worth the effort! Learn all about it right here.
Google Maps/Henry Francisco
Canoe, kayak, camp, and wander in wonder in this entirely underrated state park with stunning vistas everywhere you look. Find out more here.
Frank Staub / Photodisc Collection via Getty Images
Gaze out over the bluest water on the North Carolina coast from Shackleford Banks. And prepare to share the beach with the famous wild horses that live here. Learn more about it from this previous article.
TripAdvisor/Lisa S
Make the 1.2-mile hike into one of the most beautiful, natural fountains you’ll ever encounter. Play until your heart’s content under the ledge and behind the waterfall’s steady stream as it pours over the tall cliff and barrels toward the spillway that carries it further down the mountain. Learn all about Moore Cove Falls in this previous article.
Flickr/Brian Hathcock
Discover some ancient discoveries at this North Carolina state park. The quarry sites alone were used thousands of years ago for making chipped-stone tools. See six more places to explore ancient ruins in the Tar Heel State here.
Facebook/Prodigal Farm
Is there any better time to visit a farm than during spring? get down on the ground and play with the baby goats at this 94-acre farm in the rolling hills of North Carolina’s Piedmont. Find out more about it right here.
Google Maps/Jason Kyes
Just to the east of Morganton in the town of Valdese is a city park with a waterfall as the main attraction. McGaillard Falls is perfect for enjoying a day in the water, if you happen to visit on a warm enough day in the spring. Bring your bathing suit! Find out more about this gorgeous waterfall park from this previous article.
Flickr/Greg Holtfreter
April to June in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the optimal time to view wildflowers all along the highways and the trails. It’s also a fantastic time to visit the park, period! Learn more about those wildflowers from this previous article!
And for another list to check out: 11 Low-Key Destinations In North Carolina That Will Fuel Your Wanderlust!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Gorges State Park, 976 Grassy Ridge Rd, Sapphire, NC 28774, USAAddress: Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, 45 Mitchell St, Bryson City, NC 28713, USAAddress: Cherokee, NC, USAAddress: Merchants Millpond State Park, 176 Mill Pond Rd, Gatesville, NC 27938, USAAddress: Shackleford Banks, North Carolina, USAAddress: Moore Cove Falls, North Carolina 28768, USAAddress: 49104 Morrow Mountain Rd, Albemarle, NC 28001, USAAddress: 4720 Bahama Rd, Rougemont, NC 27572, USAAddress: McGalliard Falls Park, Church St NW, Valdese, NC 28690, USAAddress: Great Smoky Mountains, United States
