Y
ou’ve hit the crowded, big-name parks like Great Smoky Mountains or famous mountain towns like Asheville. And yes, those places are busy for a reason— they’re awesome. But there are plenty of lesser-known Southern spots just waiting to be found. Here are four underthe-radar destinations in the region worth exploring for your fall adventures.
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, Tennessee & Kentucky
Less Crowds, More Adventure UNDER-THE-RADAR FALL ESCAPES IN THE SOUTH
BY MIKE BEZEMEK
SUNRISE ABOVE WHITE LAKE IN B L A D E N C O U N T Y, N . C . P H O T O COURTESY OF VISITNC.COM
When it comes to big pieces of public land in the Southeast, plenty of attention is rightfully directed toward several big names. The 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway is the most popular, with 14.1 million recreational visits in 2020, according to the National Park Service. Close behind is Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with 12.1 million visits amid 522,419 acres. Even the much smaller DuPont State Forest (at 12,500 acres) reported a record 1.2 million visitors during 2020. Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic boosted numbers, but these park units had been seeing rising visitation for years. In comparison, the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area’s 125,310 acres saw fewer than 800,000 visitors in 2020. Located about 70 miles northeast of Knoxville, the rec area straddles the Tennessee-Kentucky state line. The reason for its under-theradar status is probably a combination of factors. It’s remote, with a low surrounding population. It has fewer amenities. And many highlights are a bit more rugged. While hiking trails closer to visitor centers and trailheads are maintained, the farther out you go, the segments become rougher with less signage. Top hikes include Angel Falls Overlook and Angel Falls Rapids, Twin Arches Upper and Lower Loops, or the Middle Creek Loop, which passes several Native American rock shelters. Area mountain biking options are also growing, with the Big South Fork Bike Club building and maintaining trails, particularly those around Bandy Creek which were designated an IMBA Epic in 2012.
