State and National Parks
The Lake James region is blessed with natural beauty and an abundance of parks and protected wilderness.
Lake James State Park was established in 1987 with the purchase of 605 acres. In 2004, Crescent Resources, LLC, worked with the state to expand Lake James State Park by almost 3,000 acres. The park is in the heart of the Lake James region and sections are next to the Old Wildlife Club and 1780 communities.
Much of the region’s land is part of the 500,000-acre Pisgah National Forest, the oldest national forest in the United States.
South Mountains State Park, with an 80-foot waterfall, 3,000-foot elevations, and 40 miles of trails, rises out of the foothills of the North Carolina Piedmont.
More than a mile high, Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. The 1,946-acre Mount Mitchell State Park is one of the best places to enjoy breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Known as the Grand Canyon of North Carolina, the Linville Gorge Wilderness is a 12,000-acre playground for outdoor enthusiasts.
The Blue Ridge Parkway – America’s favorite drive – is a 469-mile national treasure connecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
