SEE THE REAL SOUTH
30 authentic places for outdoor adventure in southern USA
To learn more and to WIN the ultimate holiday to the South, please visit the Travel South Naturally Website.
The American South is perfectly primed for outdoor adventure. Its wildlife-rich backyard comprises pine forests carved with trails, sprawling cave systems, bird-filled salt marshes, and white-sand beaches that trim the Gulf of Mexico. To reveal the region’s natural bounty, Travel South USA teamed up with leading influencers and photographers Amelia Le Brun, Amy Shore, Federico Penta, James Norbury and Guy Davies, who embarked on road trips through the area. Keep reading to find out what authentic outdoor experiences these travellers discovered...
Amelia Le Brun
UK writer and photographer Amelia Le Brun regularly heeds the call of the wild, working with outdoor brands such as The North Face and On, and striking out on hiking adventures in the mountains or surfing trips on the coast.
AREAS VISITED
Kentucky . North Carolina . South Carolina
Amy Shore
UK-based photographer Amy Shore can usually be found snapping cars and motorbikes backdropped by quaint English towns, Omani deserts or the vineyard-striped Douro valley. She loves to document road trips and tell human stories through her work.
AREAS VISITED
Kentucky . North Carolina . South Carolina
Federico Penta
While his home base is Rome, Italy, award-winning photographer Federico Penta has visited more than 40 countries across five continents. He specialises in landscape shots, capturing everything from city sunsets to aerial views of mountains and coastlines.
AREAS VISITED
Alabama . Louisiana . Arkansas
James Norbury
Filmmaker James Norbury has been making videos since childhood and is an Executive Producer at Zebrafish Media, alongside Guy Davies. He lives in Chamonix, in the French Alps.
AREAS VISITED
Alabama . Louisiana . Arkansas
Guy Davies
Guy Davies founded award-winning independent production house Zebrafish Media, where he works as an Executive Producer. He studied at the prestigious New York Film Academy and his work runs the gamut from music videos to feature films.
AREAS VISITED
Alabama . Louisiana . Arkansas
LOUISIANA
Northlake Nature Center (Federico Penta)
Northlake Nature Center (Federico Penta)
Water is everywhere in the Pelican state. Louisiana’s wildlife puts on a dazzling show in its serene, bayou-trace swamps, its vast lakes, and its sprawling marshes. The best way to glimpse the state’s elusive wildlife is with boat tours and paddling trips that get you close to the water.
Atchafalaya Swamp
Louisiana is well-known for its wildlife-rich swampland and this one is the largest in the country. That means the possibility for watery adventures are near endless. Jump in a kayak to slink through mist-cloaked bayous and ease past acres of bottomland hard forest and cypress trees. As you slice through the channels, check the skies for bald eagles, the shores for nutria and beavers, and the murky waters for the formidable American alligator. Communities such as St Martin Parish, in central-south Louisiana, make great jumping off points for exploring the wetlands.
Northlake Nature Center
This non-profit organisation protects some 400 acres of land fringing Bayou Castine and trails zig-zag through the area, showcasing pond-filled cypress swamp and hardwood forests. Helpful information displays along the way will call out various species of flora and fauna.
The Northlake Nature Center is an oasis for bird lovers. You might see a blue heron resting on a mossy tree stump or an anhinga drying its wings after a hunt. Time your trip for one of the various BirdFest events throughout the year, when experienced naturalists join visitors on pontoon boat rides and hikes.
Lake Pontchartrain
Especially in the sultry summer heat, Louisianans are drawn to the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, an enormous brackish estuary that extends north of buzzing New Orleans. Stand at the water’s edge and you’ll feel as though you’re looking out to the ocean. Pontoon boats leave from sites such as Fairview-Riverside State Park, on the Northshore, inching down bayous before striking out onto the lake’s great expanse. You can also rent kayaks and paddle boards. Tour guides will be able to point out various bird species, from snowy egrets to the black skimmer, and the elusive American alligator may well make an appearance once more.
Kisatchie National Forest
A departure from the swamps farther south, Kisatchie National Forest protects acres of fragrant pines and white beech, and is traced by more than 100 miles of hiking trails. Bikers will love the Wild Azalea Trail which, as its name suggests, is bright with pinkish wildflowers come spring. Hikers and horse riders share some trails, such as the Caroline Dormon Trail which beats a quiet 10.5-mile path through the pinelands. Some nearby dude ranches also offer guided tours on horseback. The protected forest is dotted with campgrounds, too, so you can turn your visit into a stargazing trip.
Flyway Byway
America is the land of the road trip and this scenic byway provides plenty of opportunity to strike out and explore the wilds of Louisiana. Routing through the Jeff Davis Parish, the byway wiggles out for around 55 miles with plenty of photo-worthy stop-offs, whether you travel by car or by bike. Make for the Lorrain Bridge and Park, with its charming old wooden bridge, camping grounds and boat launches. Or Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge is a birder’s paradise. Waterfowl descend on the protected area for winter and you can spot species from anhinga to great egrets.
ALABAMA
Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge (Federico Penta)
Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge (Federico Penta)
Whether you want to snap photos of shore birds on a peaceful barrier island, strike out in search of swamp-dwelling alligators, or see a twinkling landscape painting by glowworms, Alabama delivers. Take to the state’s lakes and Gulf shores, backcountry waterways and underground caves to discover a fascinating wild world.
Mobile Tensaw River Delta
Get out on the water with a trip to the Mobile Tensaw River Delta which is well deserving of its nickname, “America’s Amazon”. The region’s drawcard is its biodiversity. You’ll discover a mosaic of cypress swamps, marshes and bottomland hardwood forests, and have the chance to spot wildlife from American alligators to osprey. The best way to explore is on a kayak and the Bartram Canoe Trail system wriggles out in all directions across the Delta. Pitch up at one of the elevated campsites reserved for kayakers and canoeists for a real adventure.
Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge
This Wildlife Refuge is Alabama’s last frontier. The coastal preserve, protecting a barrier habitat that juts into the Gulf of Mexico, is a sanctuary for species including loggerhead, green and Kemp's Ridley sea turtles, who all nest on the refuge’s powder-white beaches, You may also see the Alabama beach mouse which loves the region’s dunes and scrubland. There are birds aplenty too. Scour the shores and the skies for snowy plovers, purple martins and various colourful warblers. You can ease off for kayaking adventures in the Little Lagoon or take to trails exploring coastal forests.
Lake Shelby
The limpid waters of Lake Shelby, part of Gulf State Park, are inviting indeed and you can take things at your own pace. Dive into the lake for a refreshing dip, plough the fresh water in a boat, or content yourself with picnicking on the grassy, tree-studded shores. Tables and shady pavilions are available to rent. Fancy kicking things up a gear or two? The vast lake is a popular spot for water skiing.
Gulf State Park
Gulf State Park has plenty more to discover beyond Lake Shelby too. The highlight, of course, is the white-sand-beach-trimmed Gulf of Mexico, whose warm waters invite swimmers and paddlers. If you’d prefer to stay on dry land, miles of easy, paved trails loop into moss-cloaked oaks and past marshy banks twitching with alligators. Get to grips with the varied ecosystems on a hike or cover more ground with a bike ride instead. However you choose to explore, stick around for sunset: the sight of the sun sinking into the orange-tinged Gulf is one you’ll not forget in a hurry.
Alabama caves
Did you know that northern Alabama is home to some stirring cave systems? Among them is the subterranean wonderland that is Cathedral Caverns. The complex was so named for its grand structures, from a mighty entrance (one of the world’s largest) to gargantuan interior formations. You’ll not be able to miss Goliath, a 45-foot stalagmite that’s thought to be one of the biggest on earth. To the west, Dismals Canyon presents visitors with more heroic rock formations. The sandstone canyon dives towards a gently flowing stream, though the real stars are the resident dismalites – rare glowworms that set the gorge alight come twilight.
ARKANSAS
Hot Springs National Park (Federico Penta)
Hot Springs National Park (Federico Penta)
There’s a reason that Arkansas has earned its ‘Natural State’ moniker. A bounty of outdoor adventures unfold within state lines, from hikes up forested peaks to bike rides on wooded downhill tracks. You can slow things down too, soaking in ancient thermal waters or ploughing gin-clear lakes on guided boat tours.
Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs protects a patchwork of 4,000-year-old thermal springs and 19th-century and early 20th-century bathhouses. You can sink into the waters yourself with a visit to the 1912 Buckstaff Bathhouse or the Quapaw Bathhouse, which offers modern spa facilities. Beyond those mineral-rich waters, hiking routes twist into the forestland, often opening out onto pinch-yourself mountain views. Try the short Peak Trail whose paved and gravel path eventually reaches the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, an observation deck that spikes 216 feet towards the clouds. The Pullman Trail is a popular route for bikers too.
Lake Ouachita
The vast Lake Ouachita reservoir looks pretty striking from above. Its main expanse is surrounded by a series of jagged-edged waterways that splay from the centre of the lake like outstretched limbs. That leaves ample opportunity for getting lost down snaking canals with thickly forested banks – both boat and kayak rentals are available from the marina. There are also 93 campsites, from back-to-nature tent areas to RV sites with hook-ups.
For keen hikers the relatively challenging, four-mile Caddo Bend Trail cuts through the forest with views of Lake Ouachita peeping through the trees. The island-dotted waters draw scuba divers too. Sink beneath the surface to see sunken boats, strange rock forms and fish such as striped bass and catfish.
Petit Jean State Park
One of Arkansas’ star attractions – and the state’s first state park – Petit Jean is known for its mountain landscapes peppered with rustic cabin hideaways and wooded hiking trails. A star trek is the route to the Cedar Falls Overlook. The vantage point milks views of 95-foot Cedar Falls as it plunges over jagged, layered sandstone. Meanwhile, natural arches and swooping canyons await on the Seven Hollows Trail which extends for 4.5 miles. It’s a fascinating place for geology lovers and you can duck into Rock House Cave, which is a site for rare Native American rock art.
Pinnacle Mountain State Park
As its name suggests, the crowning glory of this state park is Pinnacle Mountain, a near perfectly pyramidal peak that thrusts up some 1,011 feet. You can climb to the top of the mountain with the rugged West Summit Trail. Your considerable efforts will be rewarded with stirring views over Lake Maumelle. Mountain bikers should check out the forested Monument Trails which promise thrilling downhill stretches and jumps.
The park is also a Trails of Tears National Historic Site: in the 19th century, thousands of Native Americans, including members of the Cherokee and Choctaw nations, were forcibly removed from their Southern homelands into what’s now modern-day Oklahoma.
Buffalo River
Wild beauty awaits along the shores and waterways of the undammed Buffalo River which is also the USA’s first designated National River. You’ll be dwarfed by giant forested crags as you take to the protected 135 miles of water in a kayak. The river’s fast-moving upper reaches are best for thrill-seeking kayakers searching for white water. Staying in the park’s Upper District, the challenging Cecil Cove Loop hike follows a rushing creek and grants access to mammoth Thunder Canyon Falls.
Buffalo River is a designated International Dark Sky Park, too, so pitch up at one of the backcountry campsites and check the NPS website for details of ‘star parties’ held by organisations such as the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society.
NORTH CAROLINA
Gorges State Park (Amelia Le Brun)
Gorges State Park (Amelia Le Brun)
Claiming a mighty parcel of the Great Smoky Mountains plus waterfalls, forest preserves and limpid lakes, North Carolina is ripe for hiking and biking. It’s also a fine destination for wildlife lovers with majestic creatures like elk and black bear calling the state’s backyard home.
Maggie Valley
A perfect archetype of a mountain town, Maggie Valley is the ideal base for adventures in the Smokies – it’s just a 30-minute drive to the National Park, which is a playground for hikers, bikers, rafters and horse riders. Even closer to Maggie Valley’s doorstep is Soco Falls. Lace up your hiking boots and trek to this double cascade which sits at the edge of the Cherokee Indian Reservation.
The area also has plenty of campgrounds and RV resorts and, after sunset, the ink-black skies put on a star-studded show.
Cataloochee Valley
The elk in Cataloochee Valley – a grassy sweep of land that sits amidst sky-piercing peaks – represent a conservation success story. They were wiped from this area by aggressive hunting in the 19th century but were reintroduced in 2001.
The herd has grown four-fold since then and you should come down at dawn or dusk to see the fascinating creatures in their natural environment. If you visit in fall, listen out for the distinctive bugle sound – a bull’s mating call. You might spot deer and turkey in the area too.
Gorges State Park
More wonder-filled hikes await at Gorges State Park in the state’s western reaches. Some 26 waterfalls are folded into park limits and the striking Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls get top billing from most visitors. You can see them both on a round-trip hike that nudges in under four miles and, weather permitting, refresh with a dip in the pool at Turtleback.
For keen bikers, there’s the Auger Hole Trail, a gravel track that slices through the forest, and there are 12 miles of bridle paths too.
Lake Toxaway
There’s nothing quite like the peace that comes from being out on the water and the 640-acre man-made Lake Toxaway provides ample opportunity to make a splash. It’s not hard to see why the lake and its 14 miles of shoreline have been dubbed the “Switzerland of America”.
Swish resorts rise up on the grassy banks, set against a forested backdrop, and the hulking forms of Toxaway, Ravenrock and Hawk Mountains crown the horizon. The best way to explore is from the water. Outfitters such as Lake Toxaway Marine rent out kayaks, paddle boards and pontoon boats, or you could even try water skiing or tubing.
Transylvania County
If you’ve a penchant for exploring on two wheels, then beeline for Transylvania County, which offers some of the finest gravel biking in the States. The sport sits somewhere between road and mountain biking, with cyclists taking to unpaved gravel tracks on tailor-made bikes to drink in the spoils of the wild.
In Transylvania County, hundreds of miles of trails weave through the pines and oaks of Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest, with its rocky plateaus and waterfalls.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Congaree National Park (Amy Shore)
Congaree National Park (Amy Shore)
From soaring peaks to stooping swamps, South Carolina’s natural bounty is rich and diverse. Look out over the Blue Ridge Mountains from a dizzying vantage point, wander through wetlands on boardwalk trails, and discover some of the most underrated stretches of coastline in the USA.
Caesars Head State Park
Within kissing distance of the North Carolina border, Caesars Head State Park promises cinematic views with very little effort. Just moments from the car park the Caesars Head Overlook, strategically placed atop the soaring Blue Ridge Escarpment, grants visitors vistas of the mountains dressed in emerald for summer or burnt orange for fall. Come in autumn and spot the thousands of migrating hawks and other raptors who stop by the park. Beyond the most popular spot, some 60 miles of trails pour into the mountains.
Jones Gap State Park
Shake off the crowds with a hike in gloriously serene Jones Gap State Park, a sprawling expanse of wooded mountains revealed by more than 60 miles of hiking trails. The park’s big hitter is Rainbow Falls. While the five-mile hike to reach it is a challenge, the resulting view of the cascade plunging 150 feet over sheer granite is well worth it.
Natural swimming holes stud the park too and they’re helpfully joined up by the Jones Gap Trail. As you strike further into the wild, keep your eyes (and ears) peeled for migratory songbirds.
Swamp Rabbit Trail
Ideal for biking, the paved Swamp Rabbit Trail takes over an abandoned railroad ambling alongside the Reedy River for some 22 miles. It runs all the way from Travelers Rest to Greenville where Falls Park promises to be the prettiest section. Opening out on either side of the Reedy, the park features tended gardens, sports courts and Liberty Bridge, a graceful suspension bridge that loves the camera and offers views of the waterfall that gives the site its name. Hop off your bike for a while and picnic down by the river.
Congaree National Park
A quiet, mysterious beauty lurks in Congaree National Park which preserves the largest stretch of old growth, bottomland hardwood forest left in this part of the States. Spot bald cypress and tupelo trees from the mellow boardwalk trails that wind lazily through the wetlands or get closer with a trip along the Cedar Creek Canoe Trail which snakes its way to the Congaree River. Stop by the Harry Hampton Visitor Center to learn about the area’s natural and human history including indigenous cultures, the logging industry and wild residents such as the Eastern box turtle, various snakes and a bounty of birdlife.
Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge
South Carolina’s coast is on glittering display at this Wildlife Refuge, which stretches out for some 22 miles, protecting acres of the state’s feathered shoreline – from barrier islands to salt marshes. It’s a haven for wildlife lovers. Some 293 bird species, both resident and migratory, rely on the rich tapestry of wetlands and beaches. Look out for the piping plover and the American oystercatcher.
Beyond the birdlife, the refuge is a precious nesting site for the endangered loggerhead turtle. Take a guided tour or hit the trails alone. Look out for alligators in the waters off the relaxed Middens Trail where you’ll also see evidence of an ancient indigenous culture.
KENTUCKY
Green River (Kentucky Tourism)
Green River (Kentucky Tourism)
The Bluegrass State serves adventure on a silver platter. Hit trails that twist through oaks and maples, kayak on whitewater that rushes through narrow ravines, and spend the night in a rustic cabin. Stitched into the wilderness, quaint ‘Trail Towns’ are the perfect base for exploring the outdoors.
Mammoth Cave National Park
The longest known cave system on Earth, Mammoth wriggles out for some 400 miles, a riot of stalagmites and stalactites hidden below a patchwork of green hills and oak-hickory forests. You can explore the mysterious caverns on a variety of guided excursions, from trips that take historical deep dives to the Gothic Avenue tour, which explores a particularly impressive portion of the underworld. Be sure to book ahead as cave tours fill up quickly.
There’s plenty to do above the ground too. Trails criss-cross the park and the popular Cedar Sink route is a highlight: it beats a wooded path to an attractive sinkhole and it’s carpeted with wildflowers in spring and summer.
Red River Gorge
The cliffs and arches of this gorge are among Kentucky’s most impressive rock formations, carved out over millennia by the rushing Red River. They’re striking from any vantage point, whether viewed from the water in a kayak, or seen up close on one of the region’s many hiking paths. Take to the Gray’s Arch Trail, a mellow, quarter-mile route that culminates in an impressive natural bridge.
Want to string out your adventure a little longer? Overnight at one of Red River Gorge Cabins’ rentals. Hidden deep in the woodland, they range from snug two-person boltholes to luxurious yurts.
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
There’s something very special indeed about Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. It’s one of the few places in the world where you can see a moonbow, or lunar rainbow. Conditions need to be just right, with a full moon and a clear sky for this natural phenomenon to occur.
If you’re not in the right place at the right time, don’t fear: Cumberland Falls, a thick cloak of water that plunges 68 feet into a mist-cloaked pool, is a feast for the eyes at any time of the day. The area is a hotspot for whitewater rafting and hiking, and you can rest up after an afternoon on the trails at the DuPont Lodge. The rustic bolthole has cosy rooms offering stellar views of its natural surroundings.
Trail Towns
Plenty of quaint Kentucky towns serve as springboards to the great outdoors, from trail-laced forests to snaking rivers. Beeline for Berea, on the doorstep of Central Kentucky’s Pinnacles Trails . The trails are a feast of craggy rock formations and quiet woodland offering epic views from their upper reaches. Or, farther west, strike out from Dawson Springs – dubbed the state’s first “Trail Town” – and explore the forested boardwalks of the Braddock Creek Loop. Meanwhile, Hazard is a great jumping off point for waterside hikes in Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park. Fancy getting out on the water? Make for Munfordville which is set on the banks of the Green River and primed for paddling adventures.
Black Mountain Offroad Adventure Area
Got the need for speed? Drive an all-terrain vehicle at the Black Mountain Offroad Adventure Area. This 7,000-acre swathe of land is perfectly geared up for off-road adventures, with around 150 miles of dirt trails wired across a rugged and rippling mountain landscape. Look out for colour markings that indicate the level of skill required to complete a trail.
If you’ve got a stomach for heights, don’t leave without braving the Thunder Zipline either. The two mile course whisks you into the canopy at 400 feet and promises triumphant views over the Appalachian Mountains.
