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South Mountains State Park, Connelly Springs, NC

Photo: 5minutes, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sports & OutdoorsOutdoor Adventure

South Mountains State Park

Partly closed: High Shoals Falls Trail, the waterfall viewing areas and the Headquarters, Shinny and Possum trails are closed, and the Clear Creek access is closed for construction; the rest of the park is open (per ncparks.gov, checked 2026-11-02).

Ride or hike backcountry trails, fish the trout waters of Jacob Fork and camp in the rugged foothills of the Blue Ridge east of Asheville.

3001 South Mountain Park Ave., Connelly Springs, NC 28612 (Jacob Fork access) · Connelly Springs, NC

About South Mountains State Park

South Mountains State Park covers about 21,000 acres in Burke County, 55 miles east of Asheville, where the foothills rise to 3,000 feet at Buzzard's Roost. Its signature sight is High Shoals Falls, an 80-foot waterfall on the Jacob Fork River, which also holds designated trout waters. The park has close to 50 miles of trail for hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers, plus tent, RV and equestrian campsites at the Jacob Fork access. Day use is free. Check the park website before you go, since several trails and the waterfall area are closed for now.

  • #state park
  • #hiking
  • #horseback riding
  • #trout fishing
  • #camping

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