ELK KNOB STATE PARK

After visiting Mount Jefferson State Park in the morning I headed toward Elk Knob State Park to complete my State Park trilogy for the weekend. Turning right off Meat Camp Road into the park you'll drive up a wide well maintained gravel road to a large parking lot. A little further down the gravel road is a nice picnic area. At the large parking lot is the registration kiosk for primitive campsites, a port-a-potty, and the Elk Knob Summit Trailhead. Water bottle in hand I headed up the 1.8 mile trail. This trail is well marked, well maintained with several switchbacks to the summit. At the top go left to South View or right to North View. Not a lot of amenities but this State Park has great potential. Hiking back down the trail I heard American robins and the loud, cheerful chattering sounds of Carolina Wren. Back in the parking lot Bailey and I had a late lunch before heading back to Charlotte. On the way out of the park I encountered a wild turkey. What a nice weekend this has been.

WNC Park: 12                   Miles: 3.6

Trailhead for Elk Knob Summit Trail (1.8 miles)

A sneak peak out of the forest

North View

Carolina Saxifrage

MOUNT JEFFERSON STATE PARK

Just left New River State Park and headed for Mount Jefferson State Park. Driving up the windy road to the top of Mount Jefferson I spotted a hawk feasting on an unlucky snake. The sun shining, the breeze was blowing and the temperature has dropped about 10 degrees. If I didn't know any better I would have thought it was a beautiful fall day. Bailey and I started up the Summit Trail passing through the picnic area and two 80+ yr old ladies having nice McDonald's breakfast under the Rhododendrons and oak/chestnut trees. At the summit and beyond the radar tower one can peak through the trees for a nice view. Or hike over to the Rhododendron Trail (1.1 mile) to the Luther Rock Overlook for an even better view. Here, you see for miles. On the way back connect onto the Lost Province Loop Trail (1 mile) for an extended hike back to the parking lot. The cool breeze is just so comfortable. Not a lot of amenities but nice views at an altitude of 4,683 ft. This park is mostly for local use. With only limited amenities ( picnic area, restrooms, and hiking trails ), I wouldn't travel the 2.5 hours just to visit Mount Jefferson State Park.

WNC Parks: 11                 Miles: 2.4

Mount Jefferson State Park

Elevation 4683 ft

An overlook going up to Mt. Jefferson

Top of Summit Trail

View from Luther Rock

NEW RIVER STATE PARK

It was 6am Saturday and on my way up I-77 to New River State Park for the weekend. I stopped off at a local gas station near Cherry Lane and received some "good morning" pleasantries by two separate individuals. I then proceeded to stop off in Sparta for some last minute groceries and received even more "good morning" pleasantries. Driving down US-221S, I received the back country one finger wave from nearly everyone I encountered on the road. Leaving Charlotte I was the recipient of the  middle finger for a minor traffic infraction. And that is the difference between the city life and the back country. New River State Park has a drive-in campground and a walk-in/canoe-in campground. The drive-in campground seems to cater more toward the RV style camping, not for me. Even after getting to the park early, I was pretty fortunate to get Campsite #30, the last available site in both campgrounds. New River State Park is very popular so make reservations before you go. The walk-in campsites are equipped with a fire ring, a picnic table, lantern hook, and a grassy area for the tents. New River State Park even supplies wheelbarrows to carry loads the 250 ft walk-in. The river was crystal clear and flowing quite well. Especially after a heavy rain Friday night. After wading in the cool mountain river, Bailey and I hit the trails. First, the River Run Trail (1.4 miles) runs parallel with the water for the first part then goes back into the forest and connects onto the Hickory Loop Trail (1 mile) back to the parking lot. Make sure you stop once in a while and look around otherwise you might miss some wildlife like a white tail deer watching you through the trees on a few yards away. The weather was sunny with no humidity and a cool breeze sweeping through the forest. Back at camp resting, my camp neighbors came up to greet Bailey and I. They were from Charlotte as well as the drive-in campground host who sold me my firewood. Now that I rested and filled up with lunch I tried my hand at some fly-fishing. Only fished for a couple hours due to all the waiting for canoes, kayaks, and tubes floating lazily down the river and the baptism happening in a promising fish hole. Surrounded by mountains the sun goes down fairly early so back to camp to start a crackling fire and light up the JetBoil for some tasty cheeseburgers. Kids running and playing tag up and down the walk. A large group of canoe-in campers arrived to their reserved campsite. One guy had a massive Great Dane that came in on a canoe. Dishes washed and everything put up so now it's time to kick back and relax before bed. Bailey's already in the tent asleep. It's time to join the mutt. Bacon and eggs consumed, showered and teeth brushed, now all packed up and ready to go to my next location.

WNC Park: 10                      Miles: 2.4                        Deer: 2

SOUTH MOUNTAIN STATE PARK

Packed up and ready to go, I take off to South Mountain State Park. Only 50 miles from Charlotte, South Mountain State Park offers a spectacular 80 ft waterfall, miles of great streams for trout fishing, primitive camping, and 40 miles of marked hiking trails. Today, the plan is to hike up Chestnut Knob Trail to connect with Sawtooth Trail and onto Sawtooth Trail Campsite #3 for the weekend. The Chestnut Knob Trail is a strenuous trail ascending up the ridge with several switchbacks. At .7 miles take the 250 ft spur trail to Jacob Fork River Gorge Outlook for a breather. Then proceed back to the top of the ridge. On the ridge, the trail splits with Sawtooth Trail to the right and Chestnut Knob Outlook .2 miles to the left. Another .7 miles down Sawtooth Trail the blanket of trees open up to a hidden meadow with three campsites. Campsite #3 is at the bottom of the meadow. In my haste to put my plan into action I forgot to eat anything and to drink my morning caffeine so my energy was pretty low. Before I set up camp I indulged in a dehydrated ice cream sandwich from REI. Unbelievably this dry snack was somewhat tasty. It didn't help my caffeine headache.  The tents up, fire started and the water in the Jetboil is boiling for dinner, Mountain House dehydrated Beef Stroganoff. Now here comes the rain so retreating to the tent for the night and very early might I add. Listening to the rain tapping on tent is quite soothing. Adding to the symphony is a persistent woodpecker, a boisterous owl, an orchestra of chirping crickets, and a dog snoring. Woke up around 4am to a well lit tent and questioning why. So I rustled out of the tent to a bright moon and stars. Morning arrived quickly. The wood is too wet for a fire. Mountain House dehydrated Breakfast Skillet on a wrap for breakfast. Packed up and heading back down the trail. The birds are sounding the alarm that there's a stranger in their forest. Back at the parking lot I traded the backpack for my fly-rod and hit the stream for a few miles of fishing. On my way home I stop at the closest store for a coke.

Miles: 6                            WNC Parks: 9                        Deer: 0                   Fish: 2 (but no keepers)                                    

Jacob Fork River Gorge Overlook

Chestnut Knob Overlook

Sawtooth Campsites

Out House

Campsite #3

Jacob Fork River

High Shoals Falls (80 ft)

Fly-fishing

High Shoals Loop Trail

Wild Trout Regulations

South Mountain State Park