Elk Park, North Carolina

Picken's Bridge has a parking area and boat drop that is accessible to place kayaks or paddle boards. From the boat drop there is a large open area of the lake to paddle around and explore. Northwest from the boat drop there are some cliffs that can easily be climbed up to cliff jump. Please rem...

Park at the work center but don't block the gate. Hike around the gate and head up the grassy and gravel road. Once you get to the creek a narrow path leads upstream to the base of the falls.  gps: n35 46.101/ w82 11.713 

Cascades Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Deep Gap, North Carolina.

Lake Ridge Trail and Lakeside Trail is a loop trail that takes you through a nice forest located near Bristol, Tennessee.

Lake Ridge Trail to Cross Ridge Trail Loop is a loop trail that takes you through a nice forest located near Bristol, Tennessee.

I personally find this trail to be more difficult and have more rewarding views than the Mt. Mitchell summit trail. The Deep Gap Trail starts near the Mount Mitchell summit and heads into a forest of spruce and balsam fir trees. The trail then climbs along the ridgeline to neighboring summits. E...

Balsam Nature Trail to Mount Mitchell is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Burnsville, North Carolina.

First, from the parking lot, there is a trail which climbs up to walk on top of the rock. The top of the rock is narrow, but has hand rails to hold on to.  Once finished walking on top of the rock, cross the road (be extremely careful) and walk away from the tunnel. Here is a good angle to take a...

Powerline Trail and Lakeside Trail Loop is a loop trail that takes you through a nice forest located near Bristol, Tennessee.

Gray Quarry is a perfect destination for scuba diving in TN! The quarry is about 70 feet deep with ~3 acres of clear water. They have sunk a plane, bus, truck, firetruck, boat, seedoos, and more to the bottom. There is also a large variety of aquatic animals in the quarry. This is an awesome, loc...

This scenic drive is along NC 80 between a small town called Pleasant Gardens and Micaville. It can also be taken in the opposite direction depending on where you are driving from, but the main attraction is Lake Tahoma. Lake Tahoma is a private lake in the Western North Carolina Mountains, but ...

After arriving in the park off of the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, park at the first parking lot you encounter on the righthand side of the road. There is a visitor's center there where you can inquire about the park and pick up a park map. Once you do that walk outside and look to the left of t...

Green Knob Lookout Tower is an abandoned fire tower near Mt. Mitchell and located directly off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The tower boasts a full 360-degree, unobstructed view of Mt. Mitchell, Craggy Mountains, Table Rock, Grandfather Mountain, and the Parkway. Unlike most fire towers, this tower is...

The Lump Trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Purlear, North Carolina.

This multi-use (hiking, biking, horseback riding) rail-trail stretches 34 miles from Abingdon, Virginia to Whitetop, Virginia, passing through forests in the Blue Ridge Mountains, small farming communities in the countryside, and small historic towns.While you can pick up the trail at any point, ...

Virginia Creeper National Recreational Trail is a point-to-point trail that takes you by a lake located near Whitetop, Virginia.