North Carolina has a number of trails with minimal obstacles. \u00a0Some are very easy and others are wheelchair accessible. \u00a0Here are just a few of them.
\nThese\u00a0links \u00a0were found through Internet search. \u00a0I would love some first-hand information. With your help, we can share our knowledge with disabled people everywhere and also increase awareness of the need for more accessibility. Please e-mail me with your suggestions using the form in the sidebar.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Federal<\/a>
\nState<\/a>
\nLocal<\/a>
\nPrivate<\/a>
\nMiscellaneous<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Federal<\/h2>\n

• Big Oaks Recreation Area\u00a0<\/strong>
  \nBig Oaks Recreation Area is a summer day-use area on Hartwell Lake, \u00a0a\u00a0man-made \u00a056,000 acre lake bordering Georgia and SC on the Savannah, Tukgaloo and Seneca Rivers.\u00a0 Description on Oh Ranger!<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Map<\/a>\u00a0 Phone\u00a0(706) 856-0300\u00a0 \u00a0 Hartwell Lake Visitor Center\u00a0 phone\u00a0888-893-0678\u00a0 \u00a0Here is their website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0 Reviewed on tripadvisor<\/a>
  \nHartwell Dam Walking Trail<\/a>\u00a0 on the Georgia side\u00a0 1.37 miles one-way “….follows the shoreline of Hartwell Lake from Big Oaks up to the concrete portion of the dam on the Georgia side.”
  \n<\/a>Hartwell Dam Walking Trail<\/a>\u00a0 on the South Carolina side\u00a0 0.75 mile one-way.\u00a0\u00a0“….follows the shoreline up to the concrete portion of Hartwell Dam on the South Carolina side. For a shorter walk, you can access this trail from the South Carolina Recreation Area, located approximately midway between the South Carolina Overlook and the GA\/SC border.”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

• Blue Ridge Parkway \u00a0<\/strong>
  \nThe Parkway is a 469 mile drive “revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands.” The Blue Ridge Parkway is in both Virginia and North Carolina.
  \nHere is their website.<\/a> Phone 828-348-3400 \u00a0 Recorded Park Information line 828-298-0398
  \nParkway Visitor Center<\/a>\u00a0in Asheville, North Carolina\u00a0 828-298-5330 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Real time open\/close road status map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0– \u00a0Accessibility<\/a><\/p>\n

  The Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia\u00a0
  \n<\/a>Peaks of Otter<\/a>
  \n <\/a> Abbot Lake Trail<\/a> \u00a0One mile loop around the lake “…through a woodland forest and open field.
  \nTrails in North Carolina<\/a>\u00a0 This site gives mileage and a rating of easy, moderate or strenuous and links to trail maps. \u00a0I can not tell just how easy is “easy” and there is no indication whether there might be obstacles such as stairs.
  \nRocky Knob <\/a>
  \n<\/a>?<\/strong> Rocky Knob Picnic area trail “… is an easy 1-mile loop and offers a pleasant walk through a mature forest of large oaks, ashes, hickories, Fraser magnolias, hemlocks, and other native trees and shrubs.”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  \n<\/strong>“Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America’s most visited national park.”
  \nHere is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0 Phone 865-436-1200\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Maps<\/a> \u00a0
  \n<\/strong>Trails accessibility information<\/a>
  \n<\/strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Hiking In The Smokies.com – difficulty<\/a> has a trail list with difficulty ratings. \u00a0You can see that the rugged Great Smokies offer little in accessibility. \u00a0You might try\u00a0Randy Johnson’s Best Easy Day Hikes guide.
  \n
  \n<\/strong>NORTH CAROLINA
  \n<\/a>Deep Creek Trail to Tom Branch Falls<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0“The trail begins as a wide path as it traces Deep Creek upstream. The 80-foot Toms Branch Falls is located only three-tenths of a mile from the trailhead. The park service has provided several benches for visitors to admire these beautiful falls, which spill down into the creek from the opposite bank.”<\/p>\n

  TENNESEE
  \n<\/a>Sugarlands Valley Nature trail is 0.5 mile round trip. \u00a0Reviewed on AllTrails.com<\/a> \u00a0 \u00a0It\u00a0is located on Newfound Gap Road, just south of Sugarlands Visitor Center.
  \n<\/a>Spruce Fir Trail<\/a> is 0.35 miles with an elevation gain of just 25′ according to the author of Hiking In The Smokies.com<\/a>.
  \nLaurel Falls<\/a>\u00a02.6 miles \u00a0Map<\/a> \u00a0 EveryTrail.com says the trail is paved and is suitable for strollers, but considered ‘moderate” in difficulty. \u00a0“wideopencountry.com<\/a>” warns that the first half is uphill.
  \nMetcalf Bottoms Trail<\/a>\u00a0 1.4 miles. \u00a0A short nature hike through the woods to\u00a0Greenbrier School. Map from EveryTrail
  \n<\/a><\/a>Middle Prong Trail<\/a> \u00a0 Trip Advisor<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0hikingproject.com<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 maliasmiles<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a04 miles.\u00a0 The trial is a 12′ wide\u00a0graveled railroad grade\u00a0for the first two miles. \u00a0Descriptions vary for the difficulty after that. \u00a0Video by The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

• The\u00a0National Forest Service<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0website lists a great many\u00a0trails, but with no details. You have to already know the name of the trail you might be interested in. \u00a0I suggest you call the supervisor’s office in Asheville for information: 828-257-4200. \u00a0The NFS published this helpful Recreation Guide<\/a>\u00a0in 2011.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

• Pisgah<\/strong> National Fore<\/strong>st<\/strong>
  \n“The Pisgah National Forest is a land of mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls, and heavily forested slopes.”
  \nHere is the Forest website<\/a>.\u00a0 Map<\/a> Phone\u00a0 828-877-3265
  \n<\/a>Roan Mountain Gardens Trail<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Brochure\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0“On a clear day you can enjoy views of Mount Mitchell, Grandfather Mountain, Table Rock and Hump Mountain. This trail passes through a large patch of Catawba rhododendrons and consists of two loops. The upper loop is wheelchair accessible, while the lower loop has several steps.”
  \n<\/a>? Deerfield Loop Trail<\/a> in the Bent Creek area 0.8 miles with a 100′ elevation change. This is described as easy, but you might call ahead to ask about conditions.
  \n<\/a>Wiseman’s View<\/a> in Grandfather District \u00a0 a 0.2mile access trail to a spectacular view.
  \n<\/a>?\u00a0Tom’s Creek Falls<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0near Marion. \u00a0This 0.8 mile trail is described as easy, but the last 0.2 miles get steeper and may be too much for you.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

  <\/a>State<\/h2>\n

  • North Carolina State Parks<\/a><\/strong> – this is a page from which you can look for accessible facilities in the state parks.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Goose Creek State Park<\/strong>
    \nGoose Creek State Park brings a “…broad range of coastal experiences\u2014live oaks draped in Spanish moss, wetlands along the Pamlico Sound and a cypress swamp viewed from an extensive boardwalk. A visitor and environmental education center explains it all with detailed exhibits. Getting into or onto the waters of the sound is easy at a sandy swim beach, a boat ramp or a separate paddling launch.”
    \nHere is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 252-923-2191 \u00a0Map<\/a>
    \n<\/a>Palmetto Boardwalk Trail 0.5 mile across a freshwater marsh.<\/p>\n

    <\/a>There are 7 trails described as “easy”.\u00a0 They include the Flatty Creek, Huckleberry, Goose Creek Trail, Ivey Gut , Live Oak, Mallard Creek and Tar-Kiln trails.\u00a0 Be sure to check at the Environmental Education Center to see if these are easy for you.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Hanging Rock State Park<\/strong>
    \nHanging Rock State Park has a “73-site campground, picnic grounds, stocked lake for swimming and canoe rentals and more than 20 miles of hiking trails that climb onto spectacular views and weave alongside clear streams and waterfalls. ”
    \nHere is the Park Website<\/a>. Phone 336-593-8480 Map<\/a>
    \n<\/a>Rockgarden trail 0.1 mile one way<\/p>\n

    <\/a>Upper Cascades Trail. “The trail to the Rock Garden is a paved 0.1 mile walk (0.2 miles round-trip). The trail to the Upper Cascade Falls is a 0.2 mile walk (0.4 miles round-trip) on crushed rock. The entire TRACK Trail is 0.6 miles round-trip.”
    \n<\/a>Tory’s Den Cave and Waterfall Trail 0.2 mile<\/p>\n

    <\/a>Riverbluffs Trail 1.3 miles round trip. Call ahead to be sure this is easy enough for you.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Jockey’s Ridge State Park<\/strong>
    \nWetlands, grassy dunes and maritime thickets, massive dune field and the tallest living sand dune on the Atlantic coast are attractions at Jockey’s Ridge State Park.
    \nHere is the Park Website<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 252-441-7132 \u00a0 Map<\/a>
    \n<\/a>“By calling ahead 24-hours in advance, it\u2019s possible for mobility-impaired visitors to schedule a ride in our all-terrain-vehicle to the top of the dunes.”
    \n<\/a>Boardwalk 0.07 mile\u00a0 “A short option for a partial view of the dunes. The 360 feet of boardwalk begins just behind the visitor center and leads to a deck with benches. Along the way, live oak branches curve overhead and wildlife tracks are often seen.”
    \n<\/a>Soundside Nature Trail\u00a0 0.60 mile round trip<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Jordan Lake State Recreation Area<\/strong>
    \n“Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is a collective of nine access areas scattered around the shoreline of this undeveloped, 14,000-acre reservoir.” There are campsites, swim beaches, and nearly 14 miles of hiking trails, most of them easy.
    \nHere is the SRA’s website.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 919-362-0586 \u00a0Map<\/a>
    \nBe sure to call ahead as Jordan Lake is subject to flooding.
    \n<\/a>“The beaches at Ebenezer and Seaforth are accessible, and all the campground beaches are accessible as well. Park staff will guide you to facilities best suited to your needs.”
    \n<\/a>Seaforth Pond Trail 1.2 miles through “…Loblolly Pine forests, hardwood forests, an old field and past 3 ponds. A long boardwalk traverses a wetland teaming with Buttonbush, Black Needle Rush and other water-loving vegetation.”
    \n<\/a>Children’s Nature Trail 0.5 mile loop<\/p>\n

    <\/a>There are six other easy, short trails<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Lake James State Park\u00a0 <\/strong>
    \nLake James State Park offers boating, camping, swimming and fishing and 25 miles of trails, 15 of which are open to mountain biking.
    \nHere is the Park website.<\/a> Phone 828-584-7728 Map<\/a>
    \n<\/a>Holly Discovery Trail 0.75 mile round trip\u00a0 “a flat, easy trek through riparian forest adjacent to Paddy’s Creek.”
    \n<\/a>Overmountain Victory Trail\u00a0 2 miles “follows the shoreline of Lake James and Paddy’s Creek through rolling terrain. Almost all of the trail is shaded under a mature, forest canopy.”
    \nThere are some other easy trails shared with mountain bikers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Lake Waccamaw State Park<\/strong>
    \nThe State Park lies along the southwest shores of 9000 acre Lake Waccamaw, one of hundreds watery, oval depressions called the Carolina bays.
    \nHere is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 910-646-4748 \u00a0Map<\/a>
    \n<\/a>Boardwalk Trail 0.1 mile “A gravel path from the picnic area parking lot winds through the picnic ground and leads to a 700-foot boardwalk.”
    \n<\/a>Sand Ridge Nature Trail 0.75\u00a0 mile<\/p>\n

    These and other trails are called “easy” on the website.\u00a0 Call to be sure they will work for your abilities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Merchants Millpond State Park<\/strong>
    \n“Southern swamp and hardwood forest mingle at Merchants Millpond State Park, adorning the landscape with massive bald cypress trees, beech groves, Spanish moss and exotic wildlife.”
    \nHere is the Park website<\/a>. Phone 252-357-1191 \u00a0 Map<\/a>
    \n<\/a>Cypress Point Trail 0.33 mile self-guided interpretive trail<\/p>\n

    <\/a>Coleman Trail and Bennets Creek trails both 2.0 miles described as easy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Mount Mitchell State Park <\/strong>\u00a0 Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0(828) 675-4611 \u00a0Trails<\/a>\u00a0described on the WNCoutdoors.info website.
    \n<\/a>Commissary Trail<\/a>\u00a0 1 mile. \u00a0“Provides spectacular views of Mount Mitchell and the mountains below. Passes through grassy fields on Bearwallow and Grassy Knob Ridges; also Spruce-Fir forests.”
    \n<\/a>Summit Trail<\/a>\u00a00.1 mile A paved path from the summit parking area to the observation deck at the top.
    \nThe State Parks’ website says there is a trail for the visually impaired at Mount Mitchell, but I haven’t found any information about it. \u00a0Try calling the park.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  • Mountains to Sea Trail<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 When complete, this 900+ mile trail will link the Mountains in the West to the Coastal Plain in the East. \u00a0Very little of it is easy, let alone accessible.
    \n<\/a>? From Sleepy Gap around Grassy Knob<\/a>\u00a0 near Asheville \u00a0This up to two mile trail is described as “nearly level with a fairly smooth surface. ……\u00a0You will find a few rocks, roots, and muddy stretches here and there, but it’s nothing to worry about.”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

    <\/a>Local<\/h2>\n

    • Holly Springs<\/strong>
      \nBass Lake Park<\/a>\u00a0 Trails<\/a>\u00a0 Map<\/a>
      \n<\/a>Lake Trail is described as\u00a0<\/span>1.25 miles and easy. \u00a0“The trail begins behind the visitor\u2019s center and follows the shoreline with beautiful views of Bass Lake. Keep watch for waterfowl, osprey and snakes.”
      \n<\/a>Greenway connection to Womble Park is\u00a0<\/span>a “1.32-mile paved greenway that travels past Sugg Farm to Grigsby Avenue across from an entrance to the paved Womble Park trails.” \u00a0I am assuming that this is accessible, but the website doesn’t say, so call first: \u00a0919-557-2496.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

    • Wake County
      \n<\/strong>Website for Parks and Recreation and Open Space<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0919-856-6170
      \nBlue Jay Point County Park <\/a> is a \u201c236-acre park located on the shores of Falls Lake in northern Wake County. \u00a0Blue Jay Point\u2019s mission is to offer environmental education programming in a natural setting.\u201d
      \n<\/span>Brochure and Trail Maps<\/a> \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0919-870-4330
      \n<\/a>There are three short loop trails \u00a0Azalea 0.5mile, Sparkleberry 0.3 mile, and Laurel 0.2 mile which are described as old roads that\u00a0are wide and mulched.
      \n<\/a>Three short trails go to points on the lake. \u00a0They are the Sandy Point 0.2 mile, Blue Jay Point 0.3 mile, and Beaver Point 0.3 mile trails. \u00a0These are described as old road beds.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

      <\/a>Private<\/h2>\n

      • Green Swamp Preserve<\/strong>
        \nThe Green Swamp Preserve in Brunswick County, North Carolina has an easy trail running through it.\u00a0 The 17,424 acre preserve, owned by the Nature Conservancy,\u00a0 “…contains some of the country\u2019s finest examples of longleaf pine savannas. The open savannas have a diverse herb layer with many orchids and insectivorous plants. Almost 13,000 acres of the preserve, however, are comprised of a dense evergreen shrub bog (pocosin) dominated by gallberry, titi, and sweetbay.”\u00a0 Phone 910-395-5000\u00a0 Here is their website.<\/a> \u00a0 Described on North Carolina Birding Trail<\/a>\u00a0 Thank you to Bill Blevins are letting me know about this preserve.
        \n<\/a>The trail is 1 1\/2 mile round trip and flat.\u00a0 “A small portion of the trail is boardwalk through thick shrubs. The board walk can get quite slippery, so be careful.” Closed-toe waterproof shoes are advised.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

      • Nags Head Woods Preserve<\/strong>
        \n“This extensive ecological preserve on North Carolina\u2019s Outer Banks protects a remarkable range of unique habitats, including forested dunes, interdune ponds, marshes, and wetlands.”
        \nHere is the Preserve website.<\/a> \u00a0Phone\u00a0252-441-2525.\u00a0 \u00a0Trail Map<\/a>
        \nRemember that “easy” is a relative term.\u00a0 Call ahead or check at the office.
        \n<\/a>The Nature Conservancy has built an accessible one mile trail through the maritime forest, with views of an interdunal freshwater pond and the brackish marsh system.
        \n<\/a>Center Trail\u00a0 0.25 mile “easy”<\/p>\n

        <\/a>Discovery Trail 0.5 mile “easy”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

        <\/a>Miscellaneous<\/h2>\n

        • Access North Carolina<\/a>, a vacation and travel guide for people with disabilities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

        • Bridge II Sports<\/strong> in Durham, North Carolina, offers a wide variety of adapted sport opportunities.\u00a0 In addition to team sports, they have fishing and kayaking.\u00a0 Their phone\u00a0 is\u00a0866-880-2742<\/a>\u00a0and email is\u00a0admin@bridge2sports.org .\u00a0 Here is their website:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/www.bridge2sports.org\/about\/ .\u00a0 Thank you to Marya who wrote to tell me about Bridge II Sports and says she is starting to lead hikes for them.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

        • Carolina Outdoors Guide<\/a>\u00a0– A directory of public recreation in North Carolina. \u00a0<\/span>Although this site does not specifically address disability, it provides contact information including phone numbers for the parks and forests.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

        • A guide to the accessible trails<\/a> on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

        • Guide book \u00a0Hiking North Carolina<\/a>\u00a0by Randy Johnson, 2nd edition. \u00a0This is a Falcon book published in 2007 \u00a0with an appendix listing trails throughout the state noting accessibility.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

        • The\u00a0Rails-to-Trails Conservancy<\/a>\u00a0lists wheelchair accessible trails in North Carolina.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

        • Here are some\u00a0informative websites for hiking in North Carolina. \u00a0They do not specifically address disability, but have good descriptions and photographs.
          \nhttp:\/\/appalachiantreks.blogspot.com\/<\/a>
          \nhttp:\/\/blueridgencguide.com\/
          \n<\/a>Meanderthals<\/a>\u00a0– Easy Hikes<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul> Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          North Carolina has a number of trails with minimal obstacles. \u00a0Some are very easy and others are wheelchair accessible. \u00a0Here are just a few of them. These\u00a0links \u00a0were found through Internet search. \u00a0I would love some first-hand information. With your help, we can share our knowledge with disabled people everywhere and also increase awareness of … Continue reading Websites for North Carolina<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-66","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=66"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5873,"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66\/revisions\/5873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=66"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}