South Mountains State Park

About

Located 55 miles east of Asheville in Burke County, South Mountains State Park sits at the crossroads of the Appalachian Mountains and the Foothills. The campground at Jacob Fork Access provides tent, trailer, and RV camping with some sites offering electric hookups, as well as a dedicated equestrian campground with horse stalls and a horse barn. Backcountry camping is available at several primitive sites including Little River, Sawtooth, Jacob Branch, Fox Trail, and Murray Branch. Facilities include a bathhouse with showers and vault toilets, with at least one wheelchair-accessible campsite adjacent to the accessible shower house. The park features over 40 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and bridle trails, along with the scenic Jacob Fork River. A visitor center at the main entrance provides information and orientation. Reservations are available through the NC State Parks reservation system. Note that the High Shoals Falls Loop trail and waterfall viewing areas remain closed due to hurricane damage, and some backcountry sites (Shinny Creek, Upper Falls) are temporarily unavailable.

Directions

From I-40, take exit 105 onto Hwy 18 South. Travel approximately 6 miles and turn right on River Road. Continue 3 miles, then turn left on Walker Chapel Road. Travel 0.9 miles and turn right on Rock Falls Road, then continue 1.6 miles and turn right on Sugarloaf Road to reach Jacob Fork Access at 3001 South Mountain Park Ave, Connelly Springs, NC 28612.