Location: Avery County, 13 miles southwest of Boone
You can find: over 70 species of rare, threatened and endangered plants and animals
Highlights: Grandfather Profile; backcountry camping; free hiking access to more than 13 miles of trail
Location: Transylvania County, near the NC/SC/GA tripoint
At this park, you can find: 26 remote waterfalls and over 8,000 acres of temperate rainforest that host extraordinary biodiversity
Highlights at this access: free backcountry camping; multiuse trails; access to the Foothills Trail and Lake Jocassee
Location: Wake County, 17 miles north of downtown Raleigh
At the park, you can find: 12,000-acre Falls Lake reservoir and monarch butterflies in the spring and fall
Highlights at this access: backpack camping with access to Falls Lake Trail (Mountains-to-Sea State Trail); drive-in group camping
Location: Orange County, 11 miles northwest of downtown Durham
At the park, you can find: a shallow, rocky river corridor combined with upland forests; the endangered Carolina madtom
Highlights at this access: the Cascades; swinging bridge; Piper-Cox House; backpack and group camping; park office
Location: Durham County, 8 miles northwest of downtown Durham
At the park, you can find: a shallow, rocky river corridor combined with upland forests; the endangered Carolina madtom
Highlights at this access: Bobbitt Hole; Pea Creek; backpack camping; picnic areas; paddling access
Location: Watauga County, 11 miles north of Boone
You can find: Gray's lily, trailing wolfsbane, large purple-fringed orchid, and flame azalea
Highlights: the summit, offering views from one of the highest peaks in the high country; cross country skiing and snowshoeing on ungroomed trail; backpack and zone camping
