North Carolina · best-of list
The 21 Best Outdoor Spots in North Carolina
All 21 outdoor spots our route editors picked in North Carolina, across 9 destinations, gathered in one list. 13 come with an insider tip, and 20 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
21 outdoor spots in North Carolina, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Dix Park & West Raleigh 4 picks
Dorothea Dix Park
Dix Park & West Raleigh · On our Raleigh New Year's Eve route
Former hospital grounds turned city park, with open meadows, old oaks and the best long view of the downtown skyline.
Tip: Walk up the Big Field at sunset for the skyline.
North Carolina Museum of Art Park
Dix Park & West Raleigh · On our Raleigh New Year's Eve route
Trails and large outdoor artworks across 164 acres around the state art museum, open dawn to dusk.
Tip: The park is open even when the galleries are closed; check museum hours for Jan 1.
Pullen Park
Dix Park & West Raleigh · On our Raleigh New Year's Eve route
Raleigh's oldest park, opened in 1887, with Lake Howell, a 1911 Dentzel carousel and a miniature train.
Tip: Rides close for winter; the lake path and playgrounds stay open.
William B. Umstead State Park
Dix Park & West Raleigh · On our Raleigh New Year's Eve route
Over 5,000 acres of hardwood forest and lakes between Raleigh and Durham, with bridle and hiking trails.
Tip: NC State Parks typically hold guided First Day Hikes on Jan 1; check the schedule and arrive early for parking.
Photo: Monumenteer2014camper · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cherokee 3 picks
Kuwohi
Cherokee · On our Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive route + 1 more
Highest point in the Smokies (formerly Clingmans Dome), with an observation tower.
Tip: Parking tag required in the park; road closed in winter.
Photo: Username11236 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mingo Falls
Cherokee · On our Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive route + 1 more
One of the tallest falls in the southern Appalachians, 120 ft, on Cherokee land.
Tip: Short but steep stair climb.
Photo: Kaldari · Public domain
Waterrock Knob
Cherokee · On our Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive route
Short summit trail from the Parkway with 360-degree views.
Tip: Popular sunset spot.
Photo: Thomson200 · CC0
Ocracoke 3 picks
Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach
Ocracoke · On our Outer Banks Beach Road route
Wide, undeveloped beach in Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Photo: Anders · Google
Ocracoke Pony Pen
Ocracoke · On our Outer Banks Beach Road route
Viewing platform for the island's herd of Banker ponies.
Photo: Jen Pagan · Google
Springer's Point Nature Preserve
Ocracoke · On our Outer Banks Beach Road route
Maritime forest trail to a sound beach linked to Blackbeard's hangout.
Photo: Helena Stevens · Google
Asheville 2 picks
Craggy Gardens
Asheville · On our Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive route
Rhododendron-covered balds with a short trail to a summit shelter.
Tip: Rhododendrons peak in mid-June.
Photo: Jom Roedema · Google
Mount Pisgah
Asheville · On our Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive route
1.6-mile hike to a summit with a broadcast tower and wide views.
Tip: Combine with Looking Glass Rock overlook nearby.
Photo: Thomson200 · CC0
Blowing Rock 2 picks
Mile High Swinging Bridge
Blowing Rock · On our Asheville, Blowing Rock & Boone route
Suspension footbridge between two peaks on Grandfather Mountain, with views across the Blue Ridge.
Tip: Grandfather Mountain closes for ice and high wind; check the morning status before driving up.
Photo: Thomson200 · CC0
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park
Blowing Rock · On our Asheville, Blowing Rock & Boone route
Former estate on the Blue Ridge Parkway with 25 miles of carriage roads for winter walks and snowshoeing around Flat Top Manor.
Tip: When the Parkway is closed, walk in from the Blowing Rock side on the carriage roads.
Photo: Leslie Anne Perry · CC0
Corolla 2 picks
Currituck Banks Reserve Trail
Corolla · On our Outer Banks Beach Road route
Boardwalk and maritime-forest trail ending at Currituck Sound.
Photo: Joel Wakefield · Google
Duck Town Park Boardwalk
Corolla · On our Outer Banks Beach Road route
Mile-long soundside boardwalk past shops and restaurants in Duck.
Photo: John Dodson · Google
Nags Head 2 picks
Jockey's Ridge State Park
Nags Head · On our Outer Banks Beach Road route
Tallest living sand dune system on the East Coast; prime for sunset and kite flying.
Tip: Sand is hot in summer midday; go late afternoon.
Photo: Pytheas at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
Nags Head · On our Outer Banks Beach Road route
Refuge ponds with herons, egrets and winter waterfowl along NC 12.
Photo: Vbofficial · CC BY-SA 3.0
NoDa 2 picks
Freedom Park
NoDa · On our Charlotte New Year's Eve route
Large park with a lake, trails and a bandshell, linked to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.
Little Sugar Creek Greenway
NoDa · On our Charlotte New Year's Eve route
Paved greenway along Little Sugar Creek through Midtown and Elizabeth, flat and easy for a first-day walk.
Photo: City Dweller 2 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Uptown Charlotte 1 pick
Romare Bearden Park
Uptown Charlotte · On our Charlotte New Year's Eve route
Uptown park beside Truist Field, its trees wrapped in lights through the holidays.
Tip: The ballpark's midnight fireworks go up right next door, so this is a free place to watch the sky.
Photo: City Dweller 2 · CC BY-SA 4.0
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in North Carolina?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 21 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of North Carolina has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Dix Park & West Raleigh has the most (4 of 21), followed by Cherokee (3) and Ocracoke (3).
Are any of these free?
20 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Kuwohi, Mingo Falls, Dorothea Dix Park, Waterrock Knob, Craggy Gardens, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for North Carolina
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Dix Park & West Raleigh 4 on this list
- Cherokee 3 on this list
- Ocracoke 3 on this list
- Asheville 2 on this list
- Blowing Rock 2 on this list
- Corolla 2 on this list
- Nags Head 2 on this list
- NoDa 2 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.