North Carolina Trails

Fresh salty air, the low rumble of the mighty Atlantic Ocean's surf, and a pristine undeveloped beach await you at Cape Lookout. Uninhabited and reachable only by a small ferry that runs just a few times a day, it is the perfect spot for secluded beachcombing, camping, fishing, bird watching, and shelling. The distance from one end to the other takes all day to drive. There are several historical sights, such as the namesake lighthouse and the Historical Village that once was home to troops staging for their trip to Europe in World War II. It is the perfect location to spend several days relaxing, decompressing, and reconnecting with the most essential things in life.

Rocky Top is a rare offroad trail within the Cherokee National Forest of Tennessee. Long stretches of broken rock exposed to midday sun will surely delight anyone used to the mud or gravel roads in darkly shaded hollows that make up most of the trails in the area. As you ascend, and hear the rocks crunch under the tires, the foliage parts, giving you views of the misty-looking Blue Ridge Mountains. Further adding to the rareness factor, continue to Big Fill to give yourself over 9 miles and a full day of an authentic 4WD experience when you are done with this trail.

Skirting the northwest side of Longarm Mountain in the Pisgah National Forest, Old Buzzard Roost, also known as Goat Trail, is a spirited offroad trail for new and seasoned offroaders alike. Dense dark green laurels line the trail as it winds in and out, following terrain lines and climbing over 900' in total elevation. Each of its many twists provides a new experience, from rocks to climb over or mud to go through. This is no gravel road, and it is not a stand-alone trail either. You can combine this rugged 4WD trail with other trails to turn a short thrill ride into a multi-day overland adventure that should include Hurricane Creek.

Hurricane Creek is one of the more famous offroad trails in the southeastern United States. It lies within the Pisgah National Forest and is neighbored by the Cherokee National Forest and the nearby Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Enshrouded in mountain laurel, you follow the trail's namesake creek, where you hear its rushing waters through your side windows. The real adventure and memory-making experiences unfold as you cross Hurricane Creek several times and encounter obstacles as you find one of the storybook campsites dotted along the creek. Pack the camping gear and camera for this one!

Big Fill is located in the Cherokee National in Tennessee. It starts or ends at Rocky Top, giving you an adventurous offroad experience when combined. After coming onto the trail from Rocky Top, the terrain change is startling, with the laurels dwarfing your vehicle, the dark shades of green allowing only small rays of sunshine in, and those "am I going to get stuck?" questionable moments. In an area with mostly gravel roads, this is a must-do trail.