NC · Southeast
5 forest guides within driving distance
North Carolina's smallest national forest: 51,000 acres of ancient Uwharrie Mountains, the oldest mountain range in North America, with gold rush history, lake recreation, and a designated wilderness.
7 min read
160,000 acres of North Carolina coastal plain: pocosins, longleaf pine savanna, blackwater creeks, and the Neusiok Trail along the Neuse River estuary, between New Bern and Morehead City.
7 min read
Jefferson National Forest spans the Virginia and West Virginia Appalachians, anchored by Mount Rogers, Virginia's highest peak, and the Appalachian Trail's finest southern Virginia miles.
5 min read
Complete guide to George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia and West Virginia. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, McAfee Knob, Dragon's Tooth, and trip planning resources.
13 min read
Francis Marion National Forest covers 259,000 acres of South Carolina's Lowcountry, preserving longleaf pine savannas, blackwater swamps, and Carolina bays between Charleston and the Atlantic Coast.
6 min read
A 20.5-mile point-to-point trail running the full length of Uwharrie National Forest in North Carolina, crossing hardwood ridges, creek hollows, and old farm fields returning to forest.
4 min read
A 5.3-mile out-and-back trail following Hannahs Creek through one of Uwharrie National Forest's most scenic hardwood hollows, with spring wildflower displays and reliable creek flow.
3 min read
A 10.5-mile challenging loop in Uwharrie National Forest crossing multiple ridges of the ancient Uwharrie Mountains with the most sustained elevation change of any trail in the forest.
3 min read
A 7-mile out-and-back section of the Uwharrie National Recreation Trail exploring the northern ridges of Uwharrie National Forest, with views over the Piedmont and classic ancient-mountain terrain.
3 min read
An 8-mile loop through North Carolina's only Piedmont wilderness area in Uwharrie National Forest, exploring creek hollows and hardwood-lined ridges in a setting that feels surprisingly remote.
3 min read
A 1.5-mile easy interpretive loop near the Uwharrie Ranger District office in North Carolina, exploring creek-bottom bottomland forest with wildlife viewing and educational signage.
3 min read
A 4-mile easy-moderate loop in Uwharrie National Forest near Badin Lake, passing through mixed pine-hardwood forest popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians.
3 min read
A 6.8-mile loop around the western shores of Badin Lake in Uwharrie National Forest, combining lake views, mixed pine-hardwood forest, and shoreline access.
3 min read
A 4.5-mile easy out-and-back along Brice Creek through bottomland hardwood and cypress forest in Croatan National Forest, the best single-day hike for wildlife and blackwater creek scenery.
3 min read
A 3-mile easy out-and-back along Island Creek through bottomland hardwood and mixed coastal forest in Croatan National Forest, North Carolina, near the forest's northern boundary.
3 min read
An 11-mile out-and-back on the northern section of the Neusiok National Recreation Trail in Croatan National Forest, through longleaf pine savanna, pocosin margins, and coastal plain forest along the Neuse River.
3 min read
A 3-mile easy loop from the Pine Cliff Recreation Area on the Neuse River in Croatan National Forest, with river views, mixed coastal forest, and access to Flanners Beach.
3 min read
A 5.0-mile out-and-back to the Long Point peninsula on the Neuse River estuary in Croatan National Forest, through longleaf pine savanna and pocosin to open water views.
3 min read
A 4-mile easy-moderate loop around Catfish Lake through pocosin and longleaf pine in Croatan National Forest, North Carolina, with one of the most remote and botanically rich settings in the coastal plain.
3 min read
A 10-mile out-and-back on the southern section of the Neusiok National Recreation Trail in Croatan National Forest, through freshwater marsh, coastal pine forest, and the Newport River terminus.
3 min read
A 2.0-mile boardwalk and path loop through saltmarsh and tidal flat terrain at Cedar Point in Croatan National Forest, offering one of the best interpretive saltmarsh experiences on the North Carolina coast.
3 min read
Guide to Apple Orchard Falls in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Virginia. A 3.2-mile out-and-back through a rhododendron and hemlock canyon to one of the tallest waterfalls in Virginia at 200 feet.
8 min read
Guide to McAfee Knob in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The most photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail, an 8.8-mile out-and-back hike to an iconic rock ledge overlooking the Catawba Valley.
11 min read
Guide to Tinker Cliffs in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Virginia. A 10.5-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail to a half-mile-long quartzite cliff band with sweeping views over the Roanoke and Catawba valleys.
8 min read
Guide to Dragon's Tooth in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. A 4.6-mile out-and-back to Virginia's most dramatic rock scramble, featuring Class 3 climbing and a quartzite spire on the AT.
10 min read
Guide to Crabtree Falls Trail in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi, a 3.4-mile out-and-back with five major cascades.
10 min read