Elyse ClarkExplorer

Explorer. Hiker. Photographer.

If you hike these trails in the winter, microspikes are a must. The trails have a few steep areas, but the short scrambling sections near the top take the cake. On a clear day you can see Mount Washington in the north. Don't forget to bring cash or a card to pay the day use fee ($5/person) if you don't have a pass.

This is a great short hike with a high effort to reward ratio. On a clear day you will be able to see the Boston skyline. A few parts may be a little steep or slick for novice hikers, but at a moderate pace, you could be at the summit in about 35-40 minutes. Well worth it.

The views from North Pack Monadnock aren't as great as in Miller State Park, but the hike over traverses through some nice woods. Keep in mind that it is a steeper ascent back to South Pack Monadnock from North Pack Monadnock.

Any trail you take up to the top has a fairly gentle/gradual incline. Therefore, this is a short quick hike up to the top with great views!

This hike is easy, but is definitely not one to pass over. The rock bridge is a very unique feature, and the hike has the added bonus of being able to see Creation Falls as well. Would definitely recommend.

Explorer

02/15/18

This is a great hike, with some great scenery. It is hard to capture the beauty of the narrow gorge with a camera, so it is one of those things you need to see with your own eyes. If you time your hike right, on the trail on the bottom of the gorge by the Little Miami River, there may be a waterfall cascading over the cliffs. Overall, a great hike, but not too strenuous.

The scenery here was unexpectedly beautiful, especially as you're walking under the cliff overhang right beside the river/stream. Although I'm not a fan of man-made waterfalls, Cedar Cliff Falls was still a nice reward at the end of the hike. It is also worth the (very short) side trip to check out the Indian Mound as well.

Explorer

11/13/17

Really a great and easy hike through some awesome sandstone formations and a nice rock overlook. Definitely worth your time.

As per the review below mine, the trailhead is currently closed and is gated with "No Tresspassing" signs. There is a map at the trailhead that will direct you to an alternate way of hiking to Spy Rock.

Due to its location right next to the Thornton Gap entrance, expect a lot of hiking traffic. I hiked it from the Panorama parking area, and the ascent is gradual but steep at times. A good aspect of this hike is the size of the summit-there is room to climb up some of the rocks and spread out so it doesn't feel as crowded. The views to the north are just gorgeous!

This hike is not as secluded as the write-up would suggest. I saw about 15 people while hiking to this spot (on a Saturday afternoon) and there is very limited room to spread out at the view so I had to wait a bit to enjoy the view. Regardless, it is a nice and gentle climb to this spot-not too strenuous- and the view is one of the best I've seen in the park. I would hike it again any day.

Hiked this on a Saturday morning (starting at 7am) and didn't see a soul. It is steep descending down to the falls and in the summer there aren't really views from the stone overlook as Brandon mentioned. Continuing to the base of the falls is your best option. After exploring the base of the falls, try hiking back up the fire road, then turning left on the Appalachian Trail (traveling south on the AT) for an easier ascent back to the parking area.

If camping at Cades Cove, this is a hike you should absolutely consider. The views from Spence Field and Rocky Top are simply breathtaking. It is definitely not an easy hike due to all the elevation gain and the distance, but it will be worth it!

This is an easy hike to a gorgeous waterfall that you can walk behind. Since it's so scenic and easy it draws the crowds, so try to arrive at the trailhead early in the morning.

Hiked this on Earth Day and during National Parks Week and didn't see a single person. As of April 2017, the trail has sustained damage from last year's wildfire, so much of the trail is through a barren, burned forest. The falls were incredibly beautiful and surrounded by greenery. Trekking poles may be helpful to navigate the stream crossings. Also, I would say the hike down to the falls is easy, but the hike back up to the trailhead gains a lot of elevation and was pretty brutal.

As others have stated, the trail is easy, paved the whole way, and the climb is gradual. It is a crowded hike, but if you arrive early (as in 7am) or are willing to hike it in the rain, chances are you'll encounter very few people.

This waterfall is located on private property. They do allow access, but you need to sign in at the parking lot. Access is restricted when summer and winter camps are going on, so check with them before you visit. The hike is short and sweet, and the falls have a nice 40+ foot drop.

This plantation is built for crowds, but if you get there early you will be able to explore the gardens almost all by yourself. There are 7 different bridges on the property and each one is unique. Try visiting in early spring to see the camellia and azalea gardens in full bloom. Watch out for alligators while walking around.

As Kenton says, the trail is flat and it's easy to knock out a lot of miles on this trail. The views of the New River are absolutely gorgeous and there are at least a dozen bridges that you cross throughout the length of the trail. If starting from Draper, a good place to stop for lunch and turn around is at Foster Falls, making for a 38 mile total bike ride.

This mill is simply breathtaking and worth a side trip to get here. There are many angles to photograph the mill from, but as the adventure states, downstream below the waterfall is probably the best angle. If you take a look inside Babcock's visitor center by the mill, there are some neat wooden replicas of the mill that are worth taking a gander at.

This is definitely worth a visit. There will likely be many other tourists around but the view is worth it. There is also a nice view of the New River Gorge from the back balcony in the visitor's center.

I was blown away by the beauty of these falls! The directions in the write-up are spot on for the best views of the falls. Definitely worth a side trip to see.

This hike is definitely not easy. Be prepared for very steep ascents to both Little and Big House Mountains-the good thing is that the ascents are relatively short. All the locations where the trail splits off from another road are well marked. The Little House Mountain trail was overgrown in early July, so either wear pants to not get scratched, or just complete the hike to Big House Mountain.

This hike has a high reward to hiking effort ratio. I hiked it as an out and back along the Henry Lanum Trail...it gets the steepest along the spur trail to the summit, but it is not a difficult hike overall. The views from the two summits are much better than the nearby Cole Mountain in my opinion, and I only encountered 8 other hikers on a summer weekend. Definitely a hike to add to your list!