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Stone Mountain State Park
Embrace your natural surroundings by hitting the mountains first at Stone Mountain State Park, where there are 14,100 acres of rock, forest, meadows and cascades at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains’ slope. During warm months, you’ll catch the dogwoods, wild azaleas and mountain wildflowers in bloom. If you enjoy fishing, the park has miles of protected trout waters, and the trail network here offers plenty of scenic wallop. The 4.5-mile Stone Mountain Loop explores a mountain meadow and gives full view to the park’s namesake 600-foot granite dome (which, hiking counterclockwise, you’ll climb via a wood staircase). Expansive views and stunning opportunities await up top.
Stone Mountain Country Store
Grab some provisions — deli sandwiches, burgers, chicken tenders or ice cream — at Stone Mountain Country Store on the way to your next stop.
Doughton Park
Head to Doughton Park, the largest recreation area on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Catch a sunset along the 7.5-mile Bluff Mountain Trail, which winds through wildflower-filled meadows.
Stick Boy Bread Company
Start your day with a bakery treat and espresso from Stick Boy Bread Company, or fuel up with a hearty Southern breakfast at the Hillbilly Grill in West Jefferson.
Elk Knob State Park
Elk Knob is a mile-high park, but rather than resembling the Southern Appalachians, it’s more akin to a northern hardwood forest, with lots of sugar maple, yellow birch, American beech and yellow buckeye trees. You climb through this forest on the 1.9-mile Summit Trail, which takes you to a rocky top with 360-degree views.
Mast General Store
Explore Boone’s Main Street and stop at Mast General Store for outdoor gear and nostalgic finds, then order up a wood-fired pizza and craft beer at Lost Province Brewing Co. around the corner.
Price Lake
Take a scenic 4-mile stroll around the serene waters of Price Lake, or, if you're up for more adventure, explore the carriage trails at Moses Cone Memorial Park or the rugged Tanawha Trail near Grandfather Mountain.
Linville Falls Campground, RV Park & Cabins
More than likely, you’ll need to put off exploring Linville Gorge for a day and check into your accommodations for the evening: your tent at the Linville Falls Campground, RV Park & Cabins.
Linville Gorge
Linville Gorge has been described as one of the wildest spots on the East Coast. During its 13-mile run through the gorge, the Linville River drops 2,000 feet. The 11,786-acre Linville Gorge wilderness includes several trails, though because this is a wilderness, they are neither maintained nor blazed — and as a result, not easy to follow. Don’t let this deter you; the gorge can be experienced in several ways. A good start is at the National Park Service’s Linville Falls Visitor Center at Milepost 316.3 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, where you can get general information about exploring the gorge. It’s also a gateway to about 2 miles of trail that provide the safest access to the defile.
Conley Cove Trail
If you want more, enter the gorge from the west rim via four trails off the “Kistler Memorial Highway” (which is actually a gravel road). The easiest of the lot is the 1.4-mile Conley Cove Trail, rated “more difficult” (the others are all “most difficult”).
Table Rock Picnic Access
Another gorge option that offers as much scenic bang without as much banging terrain, is from the east rim and the Table Rock Picnic Access. You can hike the ridge south to The Chimneys (popular with rock climbers) and on to Shortoff Mountain (mostly flat hiking from The Chimneys south) or north to Table Rock Mountain; then into the gorge via the 1.75-mile Spence Ridge Trail, which also offers “more difficult” access to the gorge.
Black Mountain Campground
Set up camp at a primitive site that’s equipped with picnic tables, tent pads, lantern posts and campfire rings with grills. The facility provides hot showers, restrooms with flush toilets and a small supply store.
Mount Mitchell Summit Hike
If you’re feeling fit, a trail departs the west end of the campground and doesn’t stop until it’s covered 5.5 miles and climbed 3,700 vertical feet to the summit. It’s not an easy hike. Though there are few killer climbs, the ascent is relentless with very little in the way of relief. It’s also very rewarding, starting in a classic Southern Appalachian hardwood forest and, around the 5,500-foot mark, transitioning into a forest of Fraser fir and red spruce more representative of Canada. The temperature is also known to drop the higher you climb, so you'll want to dress in layers.
Mount Mitchell State Park
A second option is to drive to the summit — not all the way, there’s still about a 100-yard paved walkway from the concession stand parking lot to the impressive stone observation tower that anchors Mount Mitchell State Park.
Mount Mitchell Cafe and Eatery
Regardless of which adventure you choose, check out the state park’s mountaintop restaurant before heading home. It’s got the type of food you crave after a long day on the trail. Better still is the view: the east-facing, floor-to-ceiling windows let you look out and recap not just your day, but a good deal of your mountain escape.
North Carolina State Parks offer a variety of nature activities, but this also includes potential hazards. Take care, be safe and enjoy. And visit Outdoor NC for additional tips on how to connect with nature and help preserve the natural beauty of our state.
Snapshot Module
Your Trip at a Glance
Stop 1
Stone Mountain State Park
Stop 2
Stone Mountain Country Store
Stop 3
Doughton Park
Stop 4
Stick Boy Bread Company
Stop 5
Elk Knob State Park
Stop 6
Mast General Store
Stop 7
Price Lake
Stop 8
Linville Falls Campground, RV Park & Cabins
Stop 9
Linville Gorge
Stop 10
Conley Cove Trail
Stop 11
Table Rock Picnic Access
Stop 12
Black Mountain Campground
Stop 13
Mount Mitchell Summit Hike
Stop 14
Mount Mitchell State Park
Stop 15