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!

Been there a million times. Even though it's changed alot through the year's it's a beautiful…read moreplace.

Beautiful grounds and wonderful activities! I bring my kayak in the summer to tan and relax in the…read morepeaceful water and sunshine. The park is spacious, and the facilities are clean. The employees are exceptionally friendly, and the food at the lakeside restaurant is delicious. Highly recommended!

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

Well I do have to address the issue with the cost as I see someone left a 2 star review because of…read morethe pricing. I definitely think that $21 a person is extreme especially since minimum wage is $7.50. So this is kind of a tourist trap. But they should definitely do something about the pricing. I understand that they have to feed the animals but a lot of people would look ar the price and leave. Was 3 of us and Ive been to others like this in Montana with Bears and another wildlife one.... but prices were better. So you park and pay and can buy a pail of feed for $5 then drive the property. You can go more than once if you want. The first 1/3 had no animals, so not sure where they were hiding or if there were any in that area. You take your time because some animals want to walk right in front of your car and wont move. One donkey was a smart cookie, he kept walking beside our car as we were moving slowly, then he went and stood in front of the vehicle, we slowly started backing up thinking he would move if we moved... he ran to the back of the vehicle.... lil twerp. Cute animals.... cows, zebra, buffalo and donkies were all hanging out in the same area.

I had sticker shock at $21 per person, not a per car price. I'm glad I went though. We got the 3…read morebuckets of food for $12. They were nice sized buckets so I didn't feel gouged. The animals were very "friendly" and would put their heads into the car window to get food if you let them and weren't quick enough to feed them. I was practically nose to nose with a bison, fed an ostrich, and my daughter loved the young zebra. Staff were pleasant. I had to get a car wash afterwards, but it was worth it.

Have been to Laurel Creek Falls (Trash Can Falls) many times and we love it. It's beautiful every…read moretime off year. I've came when it's crowed and when it's empty. The parking is off on a gravel area on the side of the road and it's limited. To get to the falls cross the street and follow the path through the woods. It's a super short and really easy path but once you get to the falls you do have to do some climbing and maneuvering so I don't recommend for anyone disabled, small children, or older folks who have issues getting around. We recently went post hurricane Helen and it looks a little different. The wood planks for crossing are gone but the straps remain to help you get out of the swimming hole. There is a fallen tree we had to climb over. Still many people there having a great time just as before!

This place is awesome to jump into a fresh spring & clean water as well, the rocks are a bit high…read morebut once the fear of heights is gone you'll have a blast!!!!! :)

We enjoyed our hike - from car, to falls and back was a little over 3 miles. It is a great hike but…read morebring a walking stick to help navigate some of the rocky areas- you do cross a creek but the rocks were easy to cross without getting wet and were not slippery. On the way down you really tend to enjoy the views - because you aren't focused on getting to the end ;) my husband and I - are out of shape lol but it was not that bad of a hike - our daughter , who is an athlete had no issues - but there is a good 30 ye diff between us ha! I highly recommend spending a few hours enjoying nature ;)

Sooo, not something you should do in the nude, but it felt so good to feel the sun and wind on my…read moreskin. LoL, it was a great trail leading out to the falls and it was nice meeting Barry and Jim.

Driving north of SR-70 (Asheville Highway), I crossed the bridge and my eye was drawn to the dam to…read morethe east. Thankfully, there is a turnoff and I was able to get a proper look at the dam. A little further, a road turns to the right and it curves back under the dam and leads down to the riverside. A few pickup trucks were parked as people are using the dam for some intense fishing. The dam was built by the Tennessee Eastern Electric Company in 1912-1913 and generates hydroelectricity. It was later purchased by the Tennessee Valley Authority who improved it to the point where it was able to generate 10,640 kilowatts of electricity. Unfortunately, the area became too blocked with sediment and the generators were taken offline in 1972. The dam and reservoir are now used for flood control and recreation. It is a smaller dam compared to most but it is pretty to look at and the fishing looks good. Enjoy this dam review! [Review 20137 overall - 463 in Tennessee - 1113 of 2023.]

I always went there when my children were younger we loved it went there a few years ago n it was…read moreeven better alot of improvement basketball and golf n putt putt and a big swimming pool they have campground with electric hookups n hot showers with electricity in theose too. Going soon again also a huge kiddie park too

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.

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!