Each month, we’re celebrating North Carolina’s official Year of the Trail by exploring amazing places to hike, bike, walk, and play across the state.
trail
Year of the Trail
Each month, we’re celebrating North Carolina’s official Year of the Trail by exploring amazing places to hike, bike, walk, and play across the state.
Going with the Flow: 5 Stops Along the Cape Fear River
Paddle to ancient bald cypress trees, explore a wetland boardwalk, race through rapids, catch your own clams, and savor shrimp and grits as you head east along the mighty Cape Fear.
A Local’s Guide to Cary
Take a trip to this Piedmont city with a small-town soul, where you can savor award-winning ice cream, explore a peaceful, shady nature preserve, go restaurant- and brewery-hopping downtown, and more.
Swing Time: North Carolina’s Suspension Bridges
In Gorges State Park and other remote areas of our state, swinging suspension bridges — practically woven into the woods around them — transport hikers over rivers, across creeks, and into the past.
From Land to Sea in Elizabeth City
Before the Pasquotank River flows into Albemarle Sound, it passes by a historic and welcoming coastal town known as the “Harbor of Hospitality.”
16 Worlds to Explore at Grandfather Mountain
Discover hiking trails where you’ll wonder at magical forests, one-of-a-kind critters, panoramic views, and beautiful blooms.
A Spring Paradise Found in Olde English District
Head (just a little bit) south, to a patchwork of Palmetto State counties that offers countless hiking, biking, and paddling adventures — plus gardens, you-pick farms, and more.
Our State Knows Best: Hiking
Find out what three hiking experts have to say about hitting the trail, the gear they’d never leave behind, and North Carolina’s must-do mountain treks with stunning views.