Travel

Exploring North Carolina: Bill Leslie shares your state park favorites

Bill Leslie lists the recommendations viewers sent him about their favorite North Carolina state parks.
Posted 2020-03-10T10:40:22+00:00 - Updated 2020-03-10T10:40:22+00:00
Bill Leslie finds 'Pungo magic' in Washington County

Thank you for the outpouring of response to my story about North Carolina state parks and why 2020 is a great year for visiting them.

Cindy and I will be kicking off our state park travels soon, and these recommendations are very helpful.

Peter Rant informed me of two sisters exploring all 41 state parks this year. They began with Pettigrew, Jockey’s Ridge, Umstead, Falls Lake and Eno River. We will be doing a follow-up story on their extensive travels.

Aaron Grogan of Clayton made an interesting recommendation to me as a composer who often finds inspiration in beautiful places.

Aaron wrote: “What if you found a great little secluded spot at each park and record a video of yourself playing something fun on the Irish flute?”

I like that idea, Aaron! Thank you!

Ed Buchner points to the northwest corner of the state as his favorite park location.

Buchner wrote: “Of all the N.C. State Parks I have visited, New River State Park is by far the best. It’s in Ashe County and worth a camping-out trip! Just gorgeous!!”

I’ve been there and I totally agree with Ed about the special beauty of this place right by the river.

Kimberly Gardner strongly recommends Merchants Millpond in Gates County with its canoeing, pleasant trails and stunning bald cypress trees.

I second Kimberly’s recommendation. Someone once described Merchants Millpond to me as a “dream swamp!”

William Burton of Cary says Merchants Millpond and Hammocks Beach on the coast are his two favorite parks today, but as a child he loved “swimming in the cold lake at Hanging Rock” and hiking the trails of Pilot Mountain.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Pilot Mountain. I took this photograph from the front porch of my cabin in Alleghany County. You can see the mountain peak poking through the clouds at sunrise.

Pilot Mountain
Pilot Mountain

Kay Struffolino of Cary says she is also a big fan of Pilot Mountain and Stone Mountain state parks. Kay says it is good to have dear friends who live near those special places.

Randy and Alice Brunk prefer the highest place in North Carolina as their state park getaway. The Brunks say the trails of Mount Mitchell offer incredible views: “It is like hiking in an enchanted forest.”

Nearly 30 years ago I landed on the crest of Mount Mitchell in a helicopter while doing a series of news reports on the devastating effects of acid rain. That trip inspired my song “Mitchell’s Lament” by Bragh Adair.

Fred Dietrich is “very fond” of Eno River State Park in Durham:

“I should say I am a volunteer with the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and coordinate the Eno River section.”

Dietrich added: “Last year we saw a snapping turtle laying eggs. I have seen bald eagles, coyote pups, beavers and many other animals out there. I am excited each time I go out there and still see new things.”

Greensboro’s Kenny Thompson wrote that he is a huge fan of state parks and this year he plans to visit Chimney Rock with its dramatic mountain scenery.

A Michelle listed three favorite state parks – Morrow Mountain, Medoc Mountain and New River, where on a clear night “you can see so many stars it will take your breath away.”

Not far from New River is a new favorite state park of UNC professor Jim Alb in Chapel Hill.

Alb recently fell in love with the beauty of Mount Jefferson State Park in Ashe County.

“The views are amazing from both sides of the mountain,” wrote Alb.

My favorite memory of Mount Jefferson State Park goes back to 1982 when Cindy and I had a summer picnic of homemade pimento cheese, cucumber salad and lemon squares.

Please keep the North Carolina state park recommendations and observations coming! bleslie@wral.com is my email address. I love to hear from you.

Credits