3001 South Mountains State Park Ave., Connelly Springs, NC 28612 (828) 433-4772
south.mountains@ncmail.net

Camping, education and events, fishing, picnicking, trails

Camping
Sink gratefully into your sleeping bag after a day of hiking at South Mountains and fall asleep in the stillness of the forest. Click here to learn more about camping fees.

Backpack camping: Twenty backpack camping sites are offered in six areas of the park. These sites are designated on the park map, and hiking distances to each backpack camping site vary. Each camping area has a pit toilet located nearby. All sites are available on a first-come basis.

Upon arrival at the park, backpackers should proceed to the park office and register using the board beside the office door. All supplies, including water, must be packed to the sites. To ingest water from nearby creeks and streams, use a filtration device or boil the water for at least five minutes. Below is a listing of the backpack campsites and the distance between the campsites and the parking lot.

Upper Falls Trail, 1.5 miles to campsite
Shinny Creek, 1.5 miles to campsite
Sawtooth Trail, 2.5 miles to campsite
Jacob Branch, 3.5 miles to campsite
Fox Trail, 5 miles to campsite
Murray Branch, 6 miles to campsite

Family camping: Primitive family camping is available a half mile east of the park office. Eleven campsites include a picnic table and fire circle, and one site is wheelchair accessible. Pit toilets are located nearby. Family campsites are available on a first-come basis. When you arrive in the campground, set up in an unoccupied site, and a park ranger will register you near the park's closing hour.

Group camping: Group camping facilities are available in some backpack areas. Reservations for groups may be made by contacting the park office.

Equestrian camping: The equestrian camping area adjacent to the horse trailer parking area consists of 15 campsites, a 33-stall barn and a washhouse with hot showers and flush toilets. Sites in this area should be reserved by contacting the park office. Campers without reservations must confirm site availability with park staff before occupying a site. Only campers with horses can stay at the equestrian campsites. Proof of a negative equine infectious anemia (Coggins) test is required for horses using the barn. Click here to download the equestrian camping reservation form and map as a PDF file.
Click here to view an html version of the reservation form.

Education and events
Rangers hold regularly scheduled educational and interpretive programs about South Mountains State Park. Click here to search our database of park events.

To arrange a special exploration of South Mountains State Park for your group or class, contact the park office.

Educational materials about South Mountains State Park have been developed for grades 4-7 and are correlated to North Carolina's competency-based curriculum in science, social studies, mathematics and English/language arts. The South Mountains program introduces students to stream and watershed ecology, focusing on the aquatic life, water quality, indicator species, biotic index, watershed and stewardship of Jacob's Fork River. Accompanying the program is a teacher's booklet and workshop, free of charge to educators. To learn more about environmental education or to search our database of upcoming workshops, click here.

Fishing
The park has many miles of streams where an angler can cast a line. Most of the streams are classified as wild trout water while approximately two miles are classified as delayed harvest trout water. While general trout regulations apply in this area for part of the year, only single hook artificial lures can be used from October through the first Friday in June, and every fish caught must be released. A special license is needed for trout fishing, and all rules and regulations of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission are enforced.

Picnicking
Dining in the out-of-doors is a special treat at South Mountains State Park. The Jacob's Fork picnic area is adjacent to the parking lot and is accessible for persons with disabilities. Facilities include 10 tables, two grills and a fireplace. Electricity and water are also available. The picnic shelter is available on a first-come, first-serve basis unless reservations are made. The Shinny Creek picnic area is less than a half mile from the parking area. Four tables, three grills and a pit toilet are provided.

Trails
Hiking: Choose from a variety of marked hiking trails. The most popular trail, High Shoals Falls Loop Trail, travels one mile along the Jacob Fork River to the base of High Shoals Falls, a beautiful crystal-clear waterfall. The trail then continues to the top of the falls before looping around and returning to the picnic area. The terrain can be rugged, so be observant of the trail and wear sturdy shoes.

An easier trail, originating near the park office, is the Hemlock Nature Trail. This .74-mile wheelchair-accessible loop travels along the Jacob Fork River and through a forest. Eleven display areas along the trail explain the riparian environment of South Mountains State Park and describe its plants and animals. In addition, two kiosk areas provide information about watersheds and trout-stream ecology.

Another popular but very strenuous trail is Chestnut Knob Trail, a two-mile trail to Chestnut Knob Overlook.

Horseback riding: There are 29 miles of equestrian trails at South Mountains State Park. Ride horseback on the Dogwood Trail past Benn Knob, the second highest peak in the park at an elevation of 2,894 feet. The trailhead is located at the west end of the horse trailer parking area on Turkey Ridge Trail. All visitors with horses must be able to provide proof of a negative equine infectious anemia (Coggins) test while visiting North Carolina State Parks.

Mountain-bike trails: South Mountains State Park is one of the few parks in the state parks system offering mountain bicyclists the chance to ride through the park. The 18-mile loop trail is strenuous, so riders should be in good shape before attempting it.