Just 30 or so minutes north of Greensboro lies a hidden gem of nature called the Mayo River State Park Deshazo Mill Access.
Here you will find birds, flora, a waterfall, a hardwood forest, a beautiful creek, and a mighty river. All of this can be seen while on an easy hike (maybe a mile one way?) that will take you through a forest along Falls Creek and then along the Mayo and North Mayo Rivers. You can walk all the way to Virginia!
From the trail head (directions below), it is a short distance to the falls. They are quite impressive, especially for a waterfall not in the mountains. You can continue downstream along Falls Creek, seeing a few smaller falls along the way. This is a scenic and easy walk through a lovely hardwood forest. You will likely see wildflowers along the way and hear plenty of birds trilling about in the trees.
Eventually, you will come to where Falls Creek flows into the Mayo River. Turn right here and head upstream along the Mayo. Next you will come to the confluence of the South Mayo and North Mayo Rivers. Along the way you will pass rock outcroppings that enable you to walk out into the river without getting wet. You will also see some decent rapids. Continue along the North Mayo until you get to a large Beech tree with three yellow stripes painted on it. This is the Virginia State line. I believe this property is owned by Virginia, so you can walk a little ways into Virginia with minimal risk of a Deliverance Encounter. If you don't know what that is, bask in your naivete.
This is a magnificent place.
If thou art worn and hard beset
With sorrows that thou wouldst forget,
If thou wouldst read a lesson that will keep
Thy heart from fainting and thy soul from sleep
Go to the woods and hills. No tears
Dim the sweet look that nature wears.
Take U.S. 220 north to the Smith Road exit just a few miles before you get to Virginia. Turn left on Smith Road and go about 5 miles until it comes to a T. Turn left onto Anglin Mill Road and go 0.3 miles. Turn right onto Deshazo Mill Road at the North Stoneview VFD. Take this for 1 mile to the parking area on the left (the second half mile is dirt road). This is the trail head. Enjoy. read more