Mount Mitchell State Park is located about 30 miles north of Asheville in Burnsville. The park is primarily a day-use facility. Mount Mitchell State Park does offer nine campsites with no water or electricity, but with restrooms nearby, and two primitive camping areas that will each accommodate about 30 campers. The primitive camping areas are only accessible by backpacking. Hiking is one of the main attractions at the park, with short hikes and day-long hikes available. Mount Mitchell State Park also features an interpretive center at the base of the mountain, picnic shelters and a restaurant.
Mount Mitchell State Park
2388 State Highway 128
Burnsville, NC 28714
828-675-4611
ncparks.gov
Located 25 miles south of Asheville, Chimney Rock State Park offers hiking and rock climbing for day-trip guests. There are no camping facilities at the park. Chimney Rock State Park features hiking trails for all types of adventure levels. The Hickory Nut Falls Trail leads hikers to a 404-foot waterfall. Chimney Rock State Park features sights like Devil's Head, the Chimney, the Opera Box and Exclamation Point. Admission rates to Chimney Rock State Park are $14 for adults and $6 for ages six to 15 (as of April of 2010). Children under six are admitted free.
Chimney Rock State Park
P.O. Box 39
Chimney Rock, NC 28720
800-277-9611
chimneyrockpark.com
Gorges State Park is located about 35 miles from Asheville in Sapphire. The park offers primitive camping for backpacking with no electricity or water. Gorges State Park features a variety of rivers and streams that run throughout the facility. These areas offer trout fishing for visitors. The park also features hiking and mountain biking trails, and visitors are allowed to bring horses with them for horseback riding on some of the trails. Gorges State Park also offers several viewing areas that overlook waterfalls.
Gorges State Park
P.O. Box 100
Sapphire, NC 28774-0100
828-966-9099
ncparks.gov
