State Parks Are Underappreciated

This summer, I’ve been in the habit of visiting state parks in the high country and piedmont region of North Carolina. I would make the drive from Durham on Friday evening and get a couple hours of sleep in before starting the hike early in the morning. Part of the reason for this kind of schedule is to help me and my dog get used to crashing out in the car for our big road trip in September.

I’m starting to realize just how amazing and underrated some of the state parks are in North Carolina. They don’t have the prestige of National Parks but can be just as rewarding to visit. I wanted to share three parks that have stood out to me thus far: Hanging Rock in North Carolina, Roan Mountain on the North Carolina-Tennessee border, and Grayson Highlands in Virginia.

Hanging Rock is located 30 miles north of Winston-Salem, next to a small town called Danbury. We avoided the popular Hanging Rock Trail (1.3-mile one way) and instead opted for the moderately challenging and arguably more rewarding Moore’s Wall Loop Trail (4.7-mile loop), which leads to Moore’s Observation Tower (2497 ft). Remember to hike the loop in the clockwise direction if you would like a slow elevation climb. We hiked counterclockwise and was confronted with the 684-step “endless staircase” climb from the outset.

Roan Mountain is covered by rich hardwood forest and abundant wildflowers. For an easy-to-moderate out-and-back trail, park at Carvers Gap Trailhead (go early because spots fill up super fast) and hike to Grassy Ridge Bald (6,184 ft). This route is part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

For wild ponies and scenic views, visit Grayson Highlands State Park, which is located next to Virginia’s two highest mountains, Mount Rogers (5729 ft) and Whitetop Mountain (5525 ft). We loved hiking around the Massie Gap, where we encountered the resident herd of ponies.

My dog had been having joint pain but was able to comfortably finish the hikes with me after getting treatment at the vet. So our plan is to do mountain hikes of increasing difficulty. We are planning to visit Crowders Mountains near Charlotte, Mount Pisgah near Asheville, and Chimney Rocks (recently reopened after hurricane damage). I’m also planning to hike Table Rock Mountain and Grandfather Mountain before I leave for San Diego.