South Mountains State Park

South Mountains State Park is North Carolina’s largest state park, more than 20,000 acres of rugged foothills about 90 minutes northwest of Charlotte near Morganton. Forty miles of trails run through it, along with a 3,000 foot peak and High Shoals Falls, an 80 foot waterfall reached by a steep loop from the main lot.

What to know

• It is the park on our list that feels like the real mountains.
• Rhododendron tunnels and creek crossings line the trails.
• A campground sits along the river.
• The falls loop is steep, so allow extra time.