2024's Top Ten TRACK Trails
Let's celebrate 2024'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 well-loved parks and why they are worth a visit!
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Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site | Clinton, SC
The Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site memorializes the battle on August 19, 1780 between South Carolina Patriots and British Loyalists. The Patriots outnumbered the British and came out victorious, dispelling the British force's belief that they had crushed all resistance during the American Revolution. The history of this land and the Revolutionary War is told through reenactments and signage, including the 1-mile British Camp Trail and 1.5-mile Battlefield trail.
The TRACK Trail follows along the Enoree River and past Horseshoe Falls before ascending through a forest of large trees and a pond. Custom Kids in Parks brochures ask visitors to join either the Loyalist or Patriot forces. Beyond the history of Musgrove Mill, nature-enthusiasts can spot a wide range of birds and wildlife living on the grounds.
Admission Fees: $3 per adult; $1.50 for seniors (ages 65+); and $1.00 for children ages 6-15 (ages 5 and under are free).
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Sesquicentennial State Park | Columbia, SC
Founded in celebration of the City of Columbia's 150th anniversary, Sesquicentennial State Park, affectionately known as "Sesqui" (ses-kwee), is a state park in the Sandhills region of South Carolina. It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression and given to the City of Columbia. The park's 1400 acres provides a spacious getaway in the heart of the city, and offers hiking, biking, camping, fishing, canoeing, and more!
The TRACK Trail at Sesqui begins near the lake's edge, by the Visitor Center, and traverses 2.2 miles around the pond. Visitors can use the brochures to learn about the native birds and trees to the area.
Admission Fees: $6 for adults; $3.75 for seniors (ages 65+); and $3.50 for children ages 6-15 (ages 5 and under are free).
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Chimney Rock State Park | Chimney Rock, NC [CLOSED]
​An icon of Western North Carolina, Chimney Rock is a beloved attraction with spectacular views above Lake Lure and the surrounding landscape. This state park is known for the big rock at the top, but there are also miles of trails to explore. Whether you want to swim under a 404-foot waterfall or head over to Rumbling Bald for some climbing, there's something for everyone! More trails are accessible for free from the Chimney Rock Village.
The TRACK Trail follows the Great Woodland Adventure Trail, an easy, 0.6-mile loop featuring 12 discovery stations for kids. Visit the Animal Discovery Den to meet a few animal ambassadors and then head over to the kiosk to grab one of the six Kids in Parks brochures available.
Admission Fees: $17 for adults and $8 for children ages 5-15 (ages 4 and under are free).
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Hanging Rock State Park | Danbury, NC
Located in the “mountains away from the mountains,” Hanging Rock State Park features spectacular views and sheer cliff faces. While exploring this park, visitors can enjoy quiet forests and cascading waterfalls, with views of the North Carolina Piedmont once higher up. The park offers a variety of interpretive programs, plus other recreational opportunities, likes rock climbing, mountain biking, and paddling.
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. Visitors can choose to continue up the hike to Hanging Rock, or enjoy a refreshing picnic by the nearby lake.
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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.
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. If you're up for a challenge, there are plenty of other trails to explore and recreational activities, including paddling along the Yadkin River.
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Blue Ridge Parkway - Asheville Visitor Center | Asheville, NC
The National Park Service Visitor Center at milepost 384 on the Blue Ridge Parkway is only ten minutes from downtown Asheville and the perfect stop for all your parkway needs - maps, merchandise, restrooms, and more! While at the Visitor Center, check out the inside exhibits to learn about the history of the Blue Ridge Parkway and its importance to the area. Pick up a Junior Ranger activity sheet and you can also receive a special badge designed just for Blue Ridge Parkway Junior Rangers.
This site is home to the very first Kids in Parks TRACK Trail, and the loop follows a section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail - a 1,175-mile trek across the state of North Carolina. The 1-mile trail offers a refreshing hike through the woods and is perfect for all ages needing a good stretch between car rides.
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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 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. The “Senses and Sensitivity” activity brochure will have visitors using their imagination to discover the wonders of Limberlost.
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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 that be along the shore of a waterfall or atop a mountain.
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 in the early 20th century before Shenandoah National Park was established. Look for the purple flowers of the the vinca vine (periwinkle) in spring and for piles of stones where generations of the Fox family would put rocks when clearing the land for farming.
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George Washington Memorial Parkway | Washington, DC
During the first half of the 20th century, Congress chose to protect several sites around the nation's capital as a way to preserve the natural woodlands and provide an escape for those living in the bustling city. The George Washington Memorial Parkway was created just for recreational driving and the old, overgrown Mason's Island was converted into Theodore Roosevelt Island. Once a neglected farmland, this forested island park now hosts miles of trails through wooded uplands and swampy bottomlands.
The George Washington Memorial Parkway TRACK Trail follows the Swamp Trail on Theodore Roosevelt Island. This trail is an easy 1.3 mile loop through wetlands featuring views of the Potomac River and Washington, DC. The parkway and its associated trails provide a scenic place to play and rest in the busy Washington, DC metropolitan area.
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Seven Points - Pine Nine NTDGC | Hesston, PA
The Seven Points Campground, located in the central region of Raystown Lake Recreation Area, is an outdoor-lovers dream spot. Located right along the lake, Seven Points offers a wide range of recreational opportunities within walking distance of your campsite. From hiking on interpretive trails to fishing out on your canoe, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
The Seven Points - Pine Nine disc golf course weaves throughout the area and each tee-sign tells a story about the natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources found at Raystown Lake. Each sign also provides the rules of play for that hole, as well as some useful tips.
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