2023's Top Ten TRACK Trails
Let's celebrate 2023's Top 10 Most Visited TRACK Trails! These sites, in no particular order, had the highest numbers of Kid in Parks registrations, with each park offering unique sights and experiences across the United States. We had many returners from previous years and TWO new ones that made the cut. Keep reading to learn more about these favored parks and why they are well worth a visit!
Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site | Clinton, SC
The Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site preserves a historic site to the American Revolution. On, August 19, 1780, the outnumbered Patriots fought the British Loyalists and ended up victorious. This victory boosted the morale of South Carolina Patriots and dispelled the British force's belief that they had crushed all resistance. The battle and history of the Revolutionary War in South Carolina is detailed through signage in the Visitor Center and along the 1-mile British Camp Trail and 1.5-mile Battlefield trail.
The TRACK Trail brochures here allow Trail TRACKers to join either the Loyalist or Patriot forces. Beyond the history of Musgrove Mill, visitors can experience excellent birding opportunities, as well as views of other wildlife. The trail meanders along the Enoree River and past Horseshoe Falls before ascending through a forest of large trees and a pond. Admission for the Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site is: $3 per adult (16 years and older); $1.50 for seniors (65 and older); $1.00 for children (ages 6-15); and free for children under 5 years old.
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Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site | Flat Rock, NC
“Connemara” is the home of the late Carl Sandburg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and biographer of Abraham Lincoln, whose family moved to the 245-acre farm in 1945. The peace and solitude of the farm, in its abundance of nature, was a quiet haven for Sandburg as he worked on his writing. Meanwhile, his wife, Lillian, used the many acres of land to raise her champion dairy goats.
Now you can experience the Sandburg's little slice of heaven for yourself, via miles of hiking trails through pastures, forests, gardens, and an orchard. The Carl Sandburg Home also offers two unique Kids in Parks adventures. The “Farm, Field and Forest” activity brochure leads kids on a search-and-find adventure around Connemara, guided by Carl Sandburg's grandchildren Paula and John Carl. The second adventure is a Citizen Science trail around Front Lake, where you visit science stations and gather data to help determine the health of the park's environment.
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Chimney Rock State Park* | Chimney Rock, NC
An icon of Western North Carolina, Chimney Rock is a beloved attraction with spectacular views around Lake Lure. For those looking to expand their visit and explore hiking opportunities, Chimney Rock State Park offers an array of trails throughout the park. One hike is the Great Woodland Adventure Trail, an easy, 0.6-mile loop featuring 12 discovery stations for kids. Here you can use any of the available Kids in Parks brochures, which can be found at the trailhead located near the beginning of the trail.
In addition to six hiking trails located within the fee-based Chimney Rock access, there are four free trails that are accessible from the Rumbling Bald access, the Eagle Rock Reserve Parking Area, and from Chimney Rock Village. *The TRACK Trail materials at Chimney Rock State Park are located within the fee-based Chimney Rock access*
Click here for more information on Chimney Rock State Park or to purchase tickets
Hanging Rock State Park | Danbury, NC
Located in the “mountains away from the mountains”, Hanging Rock State Park is a great stop for waterfall enthusiasts. The park features spectacular views where you can discover sheer cliff faces, bare rock peaks, and of course, waterfalls!
The TRACK Trail at Hanging Rock begins near the Visitor Center with one trail leading to the Upper Cascades. These falls are one of the park's more picturesque features, where you can complete the Kids in Parks “Waterfall Wonders” activity brochure. The other trail leads to the Rock Garden, an impressive outcropping of natural rock formations. Round-trip, the TRACK Trail is 0.6 miles, which leaves plenty of remaining time to venture down to the nearby lake for a picnic. Or, if you are an older more experienced hiker, you can take the 1.3-mile trail to the Hanging Rock.
Hanging Rock State Park offers a variety of interpretive programs, plus opportunities for other recreational activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, and paddling.
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Pilot Mountain State Park | Pinnacle, NC
Pilot Mountain State Park, located in the Sauratown Mountains, is known for its centerpiece rock formation. Big Pinnacle, most recognized by its walls of bare rock and vegetation-covered dome, has served as a navigational landmark for centuries. Nowadays, it is a destination for rock climbers. Like nearby Hanging Rock State Park, this park also offers fantastic views of the North Carolina Piedmont and the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains from its Mountain Section of the park. To the south of Pilot Mountain, the park expands to the Yadkin River Section, featuring trails along the water as well as opportunities for paddlers.
The TRACK Trail at Pilot Mountain is located in the Mountain Section of the park along the Sassafras Trail. It is a moderate 0.3-mile hike to an overlook which offers scenic views of Big Pinnacle.
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San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve | Cardiff, CA
The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve covers an expansive 1,000 acres and is one of the few remaining coastal wetlands in California. It is home to an exceptional number of plants and animals, many of which are listed as sensitive or endangered. Additionally, the lagoon serves as an important resting spot for the many migratory birds that travel thousands of miles along the Pacific Flyway.
The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve TRACK Trail is an ADA accessible, ¾ mile double-loop trail. It meanders through chaparral, salt marsh, and riparian woodland habitats. There is an abundance of plant and animal life to explore and plenty of spots to enjoy the view along the trail.
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Shenandoah National Park: Limberlost Trail | Luray, VA
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a recreational escape. Throughout the park are cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, and quiet wooded hollows. You can take a hike, meander along Skyline Drive, or go on a picnic with the family. The park's 200,000 acres of protected lands are a haven to deer, songbirds, and even the night sky as low light pollution allows for spectacular viewing of star-filled skies.
The Limberlost TRACK Trail is located in the Skyland section of the park. It is a 1.3-mile loop, built for visitors of all ages and abilities, that gently winds through sprawling mountain laurel, tall oaks, and feathery ferns. It's home to all sorts of creatures, and it's a place of many changes. Use the “Senses and Sensitivity” activity brochure to discover the signs of those changes and explore the wonders of Limberlost using your senses and imagination.
Click for more information on the Limberlost Trail at Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park: Fox Hollow Trail | Front Royal, VA
Like the Limberlost Trail, Fox Hollow Trail is nestled in the Shenandoah National Park, which consists of 200,000 acres of protected land. This park is home to a wide range of wildlife and beautiful views, whether exploring cascading waterfalls, mountaintop vistas, or quiet woodlands.
The Fox Hollow TRACK Trail is a 1.2 mile loop. On this walk in the woods you'll discover evidence of the people who lived here before Shenandoah National Park was established in 1935. Look for the purple flowers of the the vinca vine (periwinkle) in spring and for piles of stones that generations of the Fox family made when they cleared the land for farming. The activity guide will alert you to other discoveries waiting to be made!
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Stone Mountain State Park | Roaring Gap, NC
Whether driving north from Statesville or Winston-Salem, you’re going to be greeted by the 600-foot granite dome known as Stone Mountain. The Stone Mountain State Park preserves this unique rock formation along with the Hutchinson Homestead, a 19th century primitive farm at the base of the rock. The park is rich in wildlife and waterfalls and offers opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and even rock climbing. There are 18 miles to explore, and you can even venture out onto the top of the rock face if you dare!
The Stone Mountain State Park TRACK Trail is located on a portion of the park’s Stone Mountain Trail, from the Lower Trailhead parking lot to the Hutchinson Homestead. The trail is an easy 0.4-mile, one-way path, and hikers will be treated to hardwood forests, glimpses of wildlife, and views of the massive granite rock formation.
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Table Rock State Park | Pickens, SC
Table Rock State Park is named after the towering mountain that serves as the backdrop for the 3,000 acre park. Filled with the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the park features miles and miles of hiking trails which serve as an access point to the 76-miles Foothills Trail. Hikers can discover mountain streams, picturesque waterfalls, and history along each route. Visitors can also utilize cabins, a campground and an old-fashioned swimming hole on one of the park's two lakes.
While the park is well known to outdoor enthusiasts for its natural features, Table Rock also has its place in history. Many of the Table Rock State Park cabins and other structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps remain standing and are on the National Register of Historic Places.
The TRACK Trail at Table Rock State Park is located along the Carrick Creek Trail, a 2.0 mile long loop trail featuring several water features along the creek, including Carrick Creek Falls. The brochure-led adventures help visitors discover things hiding along the trail, the wonders of waterfalls, and how fire helps shape the mountain.