Awesome state park with plenty of parking, pull offs to play in the creek, and tons of hiking…read moretrails. Dog and kid friendly, no bathrooms available. Lots of wildflower blooms and creekside hiking. Great spot for a picnic and sunning by the water.

Great park to take kids for easy access to wade and swim in a mountain stream. Has trails. Picnic…read morearea is very limited and located too close to porta-potties. Just go for the water!

Area is amazing. Views are spectacular.read more

Beautiful and Serene Park…read more This park is located in the Cherokee National Forest. My Harley-Loving husband takes us here all the time, he has a ride he calls the Watuaga Lake Loop. It is a great ride in the hotter months because of the higher elevations. For him, it is a great ride through both the Pisgah and Cherokee National Forests just getting to this lake. I love the ride because I love the water views with the mountains in the background at this lake. I have posted a couple of photos. There are actually a few parks around this lake however this particular one seems especially nice. I have seen small boats on this lake but never noticed any water sports such has water skiing. I imagine the water is probably too cold for that even in the summer. So that being said, it is a very quiet lake. We love boating also and are considering a pontoon for this lake. The park has the basics -- restrooms and picnic tables. We generally just stop for a picnic lunch. Cannot beat the views for lunch. I recommend this park for a picnic, or a solitary quiet time, or a romantic day trip to just name a few suggestions.

Great little kid park but no swings. Bathrooms near entrance and park is set up so kids cannot…read morewander off too easily.

Beautiful hiking trails! Most of them are on the moderate or harder level but amazing views and…read moreeasy to get to!

Definitely my favorite hiking spot! I have a tight work schedule, so hiking isn't something I have…read morethe opportunity to do often. However, this is my favorite spot to go to. They have mild spots for beginners, and extremely difficult long hikes for those who love a challenge! There are many paths to take and different destinations, so you never get bored of hiking the same trail over and over. There's always a surprise. The view is absolutely stunning, and somehow, it's always so clean! I absolutely adore this trail, it's the only trail I go to now. Here's a photo of me after the hike! This has become my usual spot to just hang out and enjoy nature. It's very peaceful closer to the top, so I enjoy meditating here, as well. Definitely recommend this wonderful place!! Will never go anywhere else!

This is definitely worth the hike if you're a local or an out of town put this in your GPS pack you…read morea little cooler and some snacks and enjoy the outdoors at its best. Fun fact for you, Do you know the origin of Unicoi!??

Definitely not for babies or kids under 5 I'd say. Also not really for beginners as it ends up…read moregoing straight up the side of the mountain. Took our group about six hours round trip. But it was definitely worth it. Little waterfalls all the way up the trail to the big one.

What a gorgeous park, even in the winter time…read more Since it's winter when I visited, I can't review all of the incredible summer time water sports but I know this park can get busy then. Winter was in incredible time to visit, easy parking, a chance to chat with the staff at the visitor center, and walk around. The lake is beautiful. I've heard that this area did get some hurricane/ storm damage but everything needed to drive around is up and running! Make a plan to visit next time you're nearby. It's about 1 hour drive from downtown Asheville.

This has the look of one of those parks formed around a dam. Don't get me wrong; I'm all for…read morehydroelectric power, but artificial lakes always feel like they're lacking a certain mystique. This park had an impressive visitor center and restrooms were open even after it closed, though neighboring water fountains were not functioning on a hot summer day. The trail I selected was rugged and had occasional waterside views, most notably on a footbridge that offered a mountain vista. Cell service was not great for me, and while I'd hoped to do a zoom meeting on the run I had to return to more urban areas. But if you actually want to get unplugged, the people on boats here appeared to be having a good time.

Not Too Bad Of A Hike. Very Rewarding Views At The End! Slippery When Wet. Wear The Proper Shoes!read more

You can't pay for views like this, and good news is... you don't have to!…read more Rough Ridge Overlook is a local *and* tourist hot spot for some of the best views in the state! I went there with some GFs for nature and the views, and it didn't dissapoint. Definiteluy put this spot on your map when planning a trip to Grandfather Mountain.

This campground was completely destroyed by Helene. They are working to try and restore the park…read more As far as camping, they have not given a time line as to when they will even begin on fixing camp sites again.

We have family in the area and came across this jewel while visiting. The grounds are well…read moremaintained. There are nice FHU and rustics sites with several miles of dog-friendly trails. This is not a large State Park but it has a lot to offer. The historical site is a short walk from the campground and contains a plethora of information. The rangers are very friendly and gladly answer any questions as well as giving nature hikes and historical tours. The sites slope downhill toward the river but get leveler the closer you are to be the river. Large Motorhomes will want to avoid the first row (closest to the road) and possibly the second row. You will definitely need a few more leveling blocks on these rows. The last two rows are not too bad with few to no leveling blocks needed. We found Verizon and AT&T Cell and Data Services to work well. The park offers free WiFi that is readily usable most of the day. Note: If you have a long trailer or Motorhome, say 30' or more. There are several routes to get here coming off of 11E. Make sure and call the campground for directions. You want to follow the route from the Limestone area that takes you under the railroad tracks. Otherwise, you will be on some uncomfortable narrow curvy roads.

A functional space with paved trails and various playground and picnic facilities, this offers some…read morenice views of surrounding mountains. It is utilitarian, but serves a purpose.

I got to visit the park while in town to see family, and it was so fun we went back twice! There…read moreare multiple playgrounds, swing sets, and even workout equipment for the adults. The paths are great too, and it is all in a beautiful setting. The kids really enjoyed it here and I did as well. It's a great spot!

We love this park!! We moved to the area in October, and live right across the road. We take our…read moredogs here often. Nice people always around, very clean, and we love the large size of the park. There's a 3/4 mile loop, a fenced dog area, soccer field, playground, and an open water area!

Convenient to drive to- to walk the dogs or walk about. A couple nice, quiet, short riverside…read morepaths. I've only visited in the winter, but sporting fields for soccer seem to allude to more use in the summertime. There is a kids playground and athletic exercise equipment for adults. Its a wee bit sparse on trees and a natural feel, but for a municipal space it is useful and pleasant to have access to. Seems like it is still in a developmental state.