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Hiking
through a mountain meadow
Photo courtesy of Dottie Shuman, Montreat
College |
Western North Carolina is home to
some of the largest expanses of public lands in
the Eastern United States. Our Great Smoky Mountains
National Park is the largest national park east
of them Mississippi, and the most popular of them
all. Our Blue Ridge Parkway connects the Smokys
with Shenandoah National park in Virginia, offering
motorists hundreds of miles of scenic vistas.
Those who prefer the challenge of a long-distance
trek can hike between the same destinations on
the famous Appalachian Trail, which continues
north to Maine and south to Georgia. The science
of modern forestry began in Western North Carolina,
and our national forests today preserve tens of
thousands of acres for a wide variety of recreational
opportunities. Scattered throughout the region
are a growing network of smaller parks, trails,
and nature preserves, providing visitors and residents
alike with a wealth of options for enjoying the
great outdoors. We have compiled some links for
some of these resources: |
