Great Birding and Hiking Sites in SC and NC State Parks

Spring is almost here and it’s time to get out your hiking shoes. Did you know that there are several great State Parks not far from you that are excellent for birding?  March and April are great months to get out to the trails as weather improves and migration is taking place through our western Carolina mountains.  Several parks that are not far from you were recently highlighted in the March/April issue of Blue Ridge Country (BlueRidgeCountry.com).

Table Rock State Park, northwest of Greenville, SC: a wide variety of birds include Peregrin Falcons, Brown-headed Nuthatches, Solitary Vireos, Scarlet Tanagers, Red Crossbills, several species of hawks, and about eight varieties of warblers.

Gorges State Park, just over the NC border near Lake Toxaway: Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Red-breasted Grosbeaks, Ruffed Grouse, Winter Wrens, Ovenbirds, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and several varieties of warblers.

Other regional State Parks that are noted for their birding include:

Unicoi State Park and Lodge, in the Chattahoochee National forest near Helen, GA

Grandfather Mountain State Park, near Linville, NC

New River State Park, north of Statesville, NC

Grayson Highlands State Park, east of Abingdon, VA, just over the border from NC