21 Natural Wonders in 7 States

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Mountains, caves, falls and other formations of nature create the lure. We have the added attractions, eats and sleeps as well. And, for each state, a softer wonder—a great wildflower walk.

Selecting favorite wonders of nature (full disclosure) is a challenging endeavor. Many places in our corner of the world are exceptionally beautiful, inspiring, intriguing and downright awesome. After thoughtful consideration, here are our suggested destinations—a primer list to launch further exploration.

Virginia

1. McAfee Knob. For a moderately challenging (and very-much-worth-the-effort!) hike, journey to one of the most visited, photographed and famous spots on the Appalachian Trail. Standing at 3,197 feet, this dramatic ancient outcrop with its iconic rock ledge has an unprecedented 270° view. Avoid parking lot headaches and take the weekend (Fri-Sun) shuttle to the trailhead.

Check the civic center calendar in nearby Salem for sports, music, festival and performance events. Take the family to indoor entertainment centers and museums and outdoor parks for horseback riding. Stop by local brewing companies, order a calzone at Mac and Bob’s or stop by a local diner.

Then, stay the night at your favorite hotel or book a special stay at the Inn at Burwell Place—four guest rooms in a 1907 downtown historic home.

4440 Catawba Valley Drive, Catawba. roanokecountyva.gov/2935/McAfee-Knob

2. Crabtree Falls. Drive just six miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway to see the “highest vertical-drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River.” Five large falls and several smaller ones create a 1,200-foot drop! There are five overlooks of the falls and Tye River Valley—the first is accessible for all abilities via a paved trail.

Visit a fish hatchery, ride horses through the mountains, take the family to a frontier museum or safari park and enjoy a meal at a country store in nearby Montebello.

Extend your travels with a stay in the cabins at a camping and fishing resort, a bed and breakfast like Steeles Tavern Manor (a 1916 mansion) or the country-chic log structures at Sugar Tree Inn.

11581 Crabtree Falls Highway, Montebello. nelsoncounty.com/crabtree-falls

3. The Channels Natural Area Preserve. Wind through a maze of 400-million-year-old sandstone crevices and boulders. The singularly unique 20-acre labyrinth is an otherworldly destination formed during the last ice age. The remoteness of this high-elevation forest requires planning ahead for food, drinks and sufficient time to explore.

While in the area, fish for trout at Big Tumbling Creek, visit Hayters Knob Fire Tower and paddle Hidden Valley Lake.

Eight miles south in Abingdon, restaurants, cafés and diners offer a wide variety of local and international cuisines. Choose from several overnight accommodations in historic structures, such as the Black Dog Inn (1934), The Martha Washington Inn and Spa (1832) or Abingdon Donkey Lodge (1760).

4250 Hayters Gap Road, Saltville. dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-area-preserves/thechannels

Georgia 

4. Mount Yonah. Find easy access to this steep two-mile climb to an extensive rock face summit with commanding views. Stone staircases, boulder fields, a footbridge and an elevation change of 1,500 feet await. Explore the various small side trails at the summit and watch your footing around the vertical drops!

Schedule a visit at The Gourd Place (the country’s oldest gourdcrafting business); and tour BabyLand General Hospital (home of Cabbage Patch Kids). Have lunch at The Soda Fountain Café, dinner at Clyde’s Table and Tavern and snacks at Country Bake Shoppe.

Combine a wine and vineyard tour with overnight accommodations at Dahlonega Resort and Vineyard or Sylvan Valley Lodge and Cellars.

1900 Chambers Road, Cleveland. hikethesouth.com/hikes/yonah-mountain

5. Panther Creek Falls. Take a challenging seven-mile roundtrip hike through deep forests to this secluded waterfall with a welcoming swimming hole at the base. Only experienced hikers should attempt this steep, rocky and (sometimes) narrow and precarious trail. At publication, high water and downed tree repairs in sections is ongoing.

Pet alpacas, visit an automotive museum, shop for antiques, fish for trout and watch artists create pottery pieces in local art galleries. Eat at a country kitchen; grab a coffee and dessert; and, have local BBQ for lunch or dinner.

Stay overnight in an elegant, rustic room at Glen-Ella Springs Inn & Restaurant, a B&B or a charming, family-owned motel.

3995 Old Historic US 441, Turnerville. gawaterfalls.com/panther-creek-falls.html

6. Tallulah Gorge. Experience verticality and five cascading waterfalls at this 1,000-feet-deep gorge (second only to the Grand Canyon). Rim trails and an 80-foot-high suspension bridge offer views; and (for the adventurous), descend 1,099 stairs to the bottom of the gorge. Look for the Wallenda tightrope towers—yes, Karl Wallenda crossed on a high wire in 1970!

Enjoy rock climbing, fishing, paddling, swimming and biking. Then, go horseback riding and geocaching, and ask about the “water release”—700 cubic feet per second into the gorge.

Eat in the old railroad station, Tallulah 1882, or grab a soup and sandwich at Tallulah Adventures. Camp in the state park or primitive backcountry. Stay at Lake Rabun Hotel—the state’s last surviving historic lakeside lodge.

338 Jane Hurt Yarn Drive, Tallulah Falls. gastateparks.org/TallulahGorge

Kentucky

7. Carter Caves. Channel your inner spelunker exploring six unique cave environments via guided or self-guided tours. Ancient structures, caverns, a 30-foot underground waterfall and stories from history await. Experience lighted adventures or muddy, dark and tight spaces. Make reservations and ask about appropriate clothing.

See five natural bridges above ground, watch for birds and pan for gems at the park. Explore hiking, water and rail trails in the town that once produced the largest number of fire bricks in the world. Listen to country and bluegrass music and eat local at Walker’s Family Restaurant, bison brisket at Tierney’s Cavern Restaurant, followed by dessert from Sweet Sensations.

Extend your visit at the campground (RV and tent), new cottages or the 28-room lodge with private balconies.

344 Caveland Drive, Olive Hill. stateparks.com/carter_caves_state_resort_park_in_kentucky.html

8. Pine Island Double Falls. Walk “off the grid” through the untouched wilderness to see a rare double waterfall. The hike is a mile roundtrip along a creek and is considered easy to moderate (follow the pink ribbons—no cell service here). Time your visit to follow a good rain for the best experience.

Ride bikes in the state’s “cycling capital” of London. Learn Civil War history. Watch a race at the dragway. Find treasures at the flea market. And be sure to eat fried chicken—this is home to the Colonel’s original restaurant.

Choose from (interestingly named) accommodations like The Bird House, The Beehive and Peaceful Nostalgia for an overnight stay.

Daniel Boone National Forest. Laurel County. kywaterfalls.com/dir/index.php/cumberland-plateau/1895-pine-island-double-falls

9. Yahoo Falls and Arches. Leave the crowds behind to stand inside a “rock house” cave behind a 133-foot waterfall.

A moderate one-mile hike on a loop trail leads to this shady location—best water flow in spring. Acoustically, the spot for listening (or singing!) to the music of a waterfall.

Take the trail spur to see two classic arches. In the surrounding towns, learn about the culture at the Blue Heron Coal Mining Camp and McCreary County Museum. Ride the Big South Fork Scenic Railway and go whitewater rafting. Have a vegetarian meal at Kristina’s Kitchen and homemade pie at Whistle Stop.

Then, add an entirely unique experience by staying in a “company house” constructed from original floor plans (with modern amenities) at the historic Barthell Coal Mining Camp.

Big South Fork, 700, McCreary County. world-of-waterfalls.com/waterfalls/eastern-us-yahoo-falls

North Carolina

10. Mingo Falls. Slip away into a quiet mountain hollow for a 120-foot horsetail cascade. A favorite of locals, this little-known waterfall is just 0.4 miles from the parking lot up a steep climb of 161 steps and an uneven trail. A wooden viewing bridge across the creek at the base has exceptional views. Although the hike will be slippery, after a rain or in early morning fog offer great photo opportunities.

Watch for elk; experience First Nation culture at museums, villages and plays; try your luck at the casino; and drive into the Great Smoky Mountains. Find casual dining throughout the town, gourmet choices at the casino and stop at roadside stands for boiled peanuts and cheeses.

Rustic and luxury cabins aplenty, campgrounds and iconic vintage establishments, like the Pink Motel, are readily available.

Welch/Sherrill Cove Roads, Cherokee. nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/mingo-falls.htm

11. Sliding Rock. Queue up for a ride on nature’s best water slide—a 60-foot waterfall sloping over a wide, smooth rock face. Eleven thousand gallons per minute of 50° to 60° water propels you into an eight-foot-deep pool below. Wear rugged swimsuits and water shoes for the ride.

In Brevard, attend festivals, walk the quaint main street, mountain bike, visit the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute and watch for the famous white squirrels. Eat at a 1941 lunch counter, Rocky’s Grill and Soda Shop, or select from eclectic cuisine at The Square Root.

Spend the night at cottages or cabins (like Pilot Cove or Appalachian Havens) or a four-star resort (like Earthshine Lodge or The Greystone Inn).

US 276, Brevard. fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48156

12. Chimney Rock. Climb 494 stairs (or ride the elevator) into the sky to reach the top of this 535-million-year-old granite monolith. See 75 miles in all directions from this 315-foot natural tower. While you can stop, rest and enjoy the scenery along the way, it is a fitness trek even riding the elevator (which requires climbing 44 steps at the top).

Learn about the park’s animal ambassadors; take rock climbing and rappelling classes (all levels); and listen to live hammered dulcimer music. Shop for local arts and crafts, play mini-golf and mine for gems in the small village nearby.

Book a luxurious night at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn and Spa, The Esmeralda Inn & Restaurant or the Hickory Nut Gap Inn for a comfortable stay.

431 Main Street, Chimney Rock. chimneyrockpark.com

South Carolina

13. Issaqueena Falls. Add a walk inside a human-made Pre-Civil War tunnel and a covered bridge in the journey to this 100-foot popular cascade. Read about the legends on the signage and take an easy five-minute walk through lush forests to the viewing platform. The bottom of the falls is accessible via a steep, dirt and caution-worthy path.

Visit a veteran’s park and museums, walk the downtown area for shopping and tour historic churches. Grab picnic supplies at Mountain Rest Trading Post. Have a meal at Dakota Grill steakhouse. Or relax at The Last Chance of Walhalla bar and grill.

Bring your horses and stay at the Chattooga Trails Bed and Barn. Pitch a tent, rent a glamping site or stay in the chalet at Mountain Rest Cabins & Campground.

Stumphouse Tunnel Road, Walhalla. visitoconeesc.com/destination-issaqueena-falls-oconee

14. Reedy River Falls. Discover an urban landscape oasis at the gentle waterfalls of a historically important river. Walk the gardens, rest on benches, look across the landscape from Liberty Bridge and enjoy public art. Check online for an activity booklet for family fun and self-guided tour information.

“America’s Friendliest City” boasts over 115 retail shops, 13 museums, “foodie” tours and over 110 independent restaurants. Taste award-winning casual fare like burgers at Golden Brown & Delicious, southern cooking at Soby’s and hometown favorites at Grits & Groceries.

Get a good night’s rest downtown at one of many upscale hotels or B&Bs like Pettigru Place, The Swamp Rabbit Inn or The Orchard Inn.

37 Furman College Way, Greenville. greenvillesc.gov/167/Falls-Park

15. Table Rock. Lace up the hiking boots, take a deep breath and hike (“climb”) 2,000 feet up to the most photographed natural wonder in the state. The 3,100-foot exposed granite dome calls to adventurers for the challenge, the scenery and the sense of accomplishment. Follow the red blazes for 3.4 miles. Take your time. Keep your resolve. This summit is attainable!

Go fishing, boating, kayaking and swimming on two lakes. In town, visit the Hagood-Mauldin House, the museum and the historic Hagood Grist Mill. Eat world-class BBQ and visit vineyard wineries.

Book a reservation in a CCC-built cabin. Bring the tent or RV. Stay the weekend at nearby Sunrise Farm B&B or the Table Rock Inn.

158 E Ellison Lane, Pickens. southcarolinaparks.com/table-rock

Tennessee

16. The Lost Sea. Travel deep inside a mountain to ride a glass-bottom boat upon America’s largest underground lake. See rare “cave flower” crystals and huge rainbow trout. Hear stories of moonshining, First Nation cultures and Civil War activities. Stop at the visitor center to see tracks left by a jaguar 20,000 years ago.

Shop the historic district for antiques and art in the smallest town ever to have hosted the Ringling Brother’s Circus. Discover interesting finds at the 800-booth flea market. For local flavors, taste dozens of cheeses at the nearby Sweetwater Valley Farm, artisanal toffee, muscadine wine and sustainably grown produce at WEE Farm.

Stay at Remedies Inn, a boutique hotel located in an 1860s downtown building. The suites offer 1920s elegance and Industrial Age charm with modern amenities.

Highway 68, Sweetwater. thelostsea.com

17. Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park. Walk loop trails and over swinging bridges amongst gorges and virgin hardwood forests to see four waterfalls (including one of the highest in the east at 256 feet). Attend naturalist-led programs at the Nature Center; play golf; and test your skills on the aerial adventure course. Explore 27 miles of mountain bikeways (rentals available).

Bring a picnic or grab a bite at the Olympic-sized pool snack bar or the golf pro shop. Thirty cabins and 222 campsites await. Or reserve one of the 85 rooms at the lodge overlooking the lake. Enjoy private balconies, fire pits, a full-service restaurant and charge your EV here.

For more pampered accommodations, stay at the Cascade Inn only minutes from the park—a gorgeous two-story B&B for the grownups only.

2009 Village Camp Road, Spencer. tnstateparks.com/parks/info/fall-creek-falls

18. Tuckaleechee Caverns. See the east’s tallest subterranean double waterfall tumbling 210 feet from geological formations tens of millions of years in the making. Walk through stadium-sized caverns with 24-foot stalagmites of glossy “cave onyx.” Learn about “the most sensitive seismic station on Earth” at this location and how it keeps us safe.

Stop by the railroad museum and Smoky Mountain Heritage Center and access the national park in Townsend. Time your visit to coordinate with seasonal festivals. Have a meal of regional fare (trout, BBQ, pancakes and more) and a cup of artisan coffee.

Choose from a host of luxury cabins and lodges or stay retro at local vintage inns. Sleep just outside the park in a tent, RV, cabin, tiny home or glamping accommodation at Little Arrow Outdoor Resort.

825 Cavern Road, Townsend. tuckaleecheecaverns.com

West Virginia

19. Sinks of Gandy. Bring flashlights, wear waterproof shoes, follow Gandy Creek into the mountain and emerge about a mile later out the other side. This “rite of passage” cave is a single underground route varying from four to 35 feet in height and 30 to 100 feet wide. No signs identify the openings, so old-time discovery adventures are included.

Take a walking tour of the largest nearby town, Elkins. Visit the Appalachian Forest Discovery Center, Darden Mill, historic courthouse and playhouse, Halliehurst and one of the largest powder horn exhibits in the country at The Stirrup Gallery.

Eat famous traditional BBQ at Smoke on the Water and lodge at the Victorian home, Warfield House.

Dry Fork Road, Whitmer. elkinsrandolphwv.com/place/sinks-of-gandy

20. Raven Rocks. Reserve a docent-led tour to see where a mountain makes ice! Learn stories from history about collecting the frozen blocks. Two Saturday hikes—one to the top of the chimney rocks for the view and the other to the base of the talus for the ice caves—reveal the secrets of this unique ecosystem. Prepare for a partially rocky climb with good boots and poles.

Spend some time at Fort Edwards (one of a chain of 18th-century frontier forts associated with George Washington); “sit and stay awhile” at The River House arts and music venue; and stop by the Farmer’s Daughter Market in Capon Bridge.

Plan a family vacation at Buffalo Gap Retreat or North River Retreat. Both offer friendly lodging surrounded by nature.

Ice Mountain Preserve, Cold Stream Road, Hampshire County. historichampshire.org/scenic/icemt.htm

21. Brush Creek Falls. Easily access one of the state’s most photographed waterfalls via a wide gravel and dirt path beside the parking lot. Plunging 30 feet over the rocks, this cascade can be 50 feet wide after a good rain. Walk quite close to the brink and the bottom—with the chance to go behind it during low water times.

Explore the mountains on an ATV, then travel a few miles to Princeton for the railroad museum, historic McNutt House and the tragically storied (and haunted?) Lake Shawnee Amusement Park.

Taste comfort classics at Lynn’s Drive-In; grab a sandwich and shake at historic Bramwell Soda Fountain; and find international flavors at local eateries. Bring your RV, stay in a cabin in the woods or book a night in a treehouse.

Brush Creek Falls Road, Mercer County. wvtourism.com/company/brush-creek-preserve-falls 

EXTRA BONUS: Wildflower Trails

*For each of the seven wildflower trails, download a checklist to match the specifics of time, elevation and species. And use wildflower.org/plants-main for help with identification.

Virginia: Limberlost Trail. Bring the whole family to this wheelchair- and stroller-accessible high-elevation loop trail for a chance to see some of the 862 wildflower species in Shenandoah National Park. A combination of crushed greenstone and boardwalks offer close-up views, and 15 benches are strategically placed for resting. Find this trail at Milepost 43 parking lot on Skyline Drive. Mid-week is a good time to visit as the lot only has about a dozen spots (fee based). 

Location: Shenandoah National Park

Peak bloom times: spring-fall

Georgia: Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail. Take the easy and ADA accessible, 800-foot boardwalk to stroll safely above 50 species of native wildflowers. Then, proceed along a somewhat rugged path along the creek to a small waterfall. The entire trip is approximately half a mile with blooms covering the banks, hills and forest floor at this premier destination.

To locate the trail, continue along Pocket Road until it becomes gravel, crosses a creek and leads to a parking lot. Walk the gravel driveway to the trail. (Purchase a Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass ahead of time.) 

Location: The Pocket/Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area

Peak blooming time: mid-March to mid-April

Kentucky: Lilley Cornett Woods. See land untouched by humankind for over 150 years—old growth forest—that supports over 530 species of flowering plants. Over 250 acres of the 554 total in this “living museum” preserve are still first-growth, primeval forests. 

To experience this rare environment, visitors must take a free guided tour – one mile or two miles on moderately sloping trails. Contact the research station for reservations, or inquire at the Visitor Center (first come, first served basis).

Location: Appalachian Ecological Research Station

Peak blooming time: mid-March to the end of April

North Carolina: Pink Beds. Step into the world of a mountain bog, a rare wetland habitat fed by groundwater and supporting a high concentration of rare plants – including “one of the best populations known of the threatened Swamp Pink, bog Jack-in-the-pulpit, Robin Runaway, Cuthbert’s Turtlehead” and other wildflowers.

Park at the picnic area to access the trailhead and follow the orange blazes. A series of boardwalks and trails create a flat, easy loop through this “cradle of forestry” area. Total loop distance—just over five miles.

Location: Pisgah National Forest

Peak blooming time: April-May

South Carolina: Oconee Bell Nature Trail. Go in search of one of the rarest wildflowers in the country—Oconee Bell. Found only in a few counties in the Appalachians, this native perennial likes shady stream banks. It makes a single white to pinkish nodding bloom one to three inches in size.

Behind the park office, stroll along an easy, well-maintained 1.5-mile loop along the creek and through the hardwood forest. Rest on benches to check your wildflower guidebook and read the placards to identify multiple flora species.

Location: Devils Fork State Park

Peak bloom time: mid-March to early April

Tennessee: Whiteoak Sink. Envelope your senses at this unofficial “manway” trail with 30 wildflower species perfuming the air with millions of blossoms. This basin, called “nature’s botanical garden,” lies between two ridges and fills with spring ephemerals—right up to the edge of the trails.

Access this gently sloping, easy trail via Schoolhouse Gap Trail from Laurel Creek Road. Enjoy the self-guided option of exploring 4.6 miles out-and-back. Staying strictly on the paths is a must on this hike.

Location: Great Smoky Mountains

Peak bloom time: April 12 – April 30

West Virginia: Little Laurel Trail. Return time and again for an ascending parade of 70 wildflower species up a single trail. A steady 1,400-foot climb from the New River to the ridge near Grandview offers the chance to see successive peak times depending on the species—a consecutive wildflower show.

Or park at the rim of the gorge (more spots available) and walk down the 2.7-mile trail to the remains of an old coal town on the river. The wide gravel trail is not technically difficult but can be a bit strenuous.

Location: New River Gorge National Park & Preserve

Peak bloom times: early March to end of May

The story above first appeared in our March / April 2023 issue. For more like it subscribe today or log in with your active BRC+ Membership. Thank you for your support!