Crowders Mountain State Park – Well Worth the Hike!

Crowders Mountain State Park - Kings Mountain Pinnacle Trail © Katrena

As we welcomed a new year yesterday, I decided to make good on one of my resolutions to get out and enjoy nature and connect with my kids more. Although the weather report was about 50/50 for rain, we chanced it with good results.

Crowders Mountain State Park Visitor Center © Katrena

This is the first time we visited Crowders Mountain State Park. It is very close to I-85. I took back roads and made it most of the way via MapQuest but ended up using my GPS to finish the last ten miles of the route. I didn't see any signs for a state park via the Hwy 150 direction, so you might want to have a backup plan in case you get lost like I did.

Fun Family-friendly Educational Opportunity in Gaston County © Katrena

Crowders Mountain State Park has a nice welcome center with a friendly attendant. The welcome center is well designed with several interactive displays. My kids particularly liked the ones with the buttons that would sound like the bird calls of local birds one might see in the area. The welcome area is packed with information about preserving natural resources, rocks, animals, and more. They also have clean bathrooms.

Pinnacle Trail at Crowders Mountain State Park © Katrena

We arrived shortly after lunch time and decided we would like to try the Pinnacle Trail, a strenuous 2-mile trek (4-mile round trip) to Kings Mountain. You can see the pinnacle from the parking lot. Only parts of the trail were challenging – most of it was actually pretty level with a few tree roots and rocks scattered here and there, but this one would not be handicap accessible.

Pinnacle Trail to Kings Mountain © Katrena

There are a few places on the Pinnacle Trail where one has to watch footing and move around large rocks carefully. My 7-year-old carried a large baby doll by herself all the way to the top and back and I saw several hikers carrying small children, so families can still consider this trail. There were about two or three benches along the trail.

Hiking Trails in North Carolina © Katrena

One of our favorite parts of hiking is the journey. Enjoying the scenery along the way can add so much to the experience! We visited in January – that gave us the chance to see lichen, moss, and other interesting plants that might have gotten lost in the lush greenery of warmer months. If you have a camera, this state park is packed with great nature photo opportunities.

My family always enjoys meeting animals on trails. Crowders Mountain State Park is dog friendly. We probably saw at least 25 different dogs in the nearly four hours that we visited the park. One owner of a huge dog named Jake stopped and let us take a picture – I think my 7-year-old could have ridden that friendly pooch up the mountain, and the dog was not even full grown! Check the Crowders Mountain State Park web site regarding specific rules related to dogs, hiking, and other trail etiquette FAQ if you plan to bring furry friends.

Beautiful Hiking Trail in NC © Katrena

There is a sign at the base of the rock at the top that says the trail ends at that point. If you climb over a few rocks just behind that sign, you will see a dazzling view. I reminded my kids before they approached that the area can be dangerous and not to get close to the edge. It is a steep drop past the rocks, but wow, the view is amazing.

Turnback Trail at Crowders Mountain State Park © Katrena

We took the Turnback Trail back – that trail is less strenuous, and a small creek meanders beside part of the trail. Hikers start the return route on the Pinnacle Trail, but the Turnback Trail turns off to the right while the Pinnacle trail stays straight. Each of the trails is denoted by color coded markers with different shapes and they are well marked, so we had no problems finding either trail and staying on them.

North Carolina State Parks Hiking Trail © Katrena

Crowders Mountain State Park offers more than ten trails ranging from easy to strenuous, from less than a mile to over 6 miles, so I would think that most folks would find something that might work for them. As I look at the map, it looks like you could hike right into South Carolina if you took the notion to do so. The park also offers picnic areas, camping, an amphitheater, and camping. I'd like to visit again to check out more of their trails and amenities.

Enjoy Nature at NC State Parks © Katrena

In my opinion, a nature hike is one of the greatest ways to enjoy time together as a family. It is a fun way to unplug, unwind, and get a little exercise while engaging with family or friends along the way. North Carolina is blessed with several beautiful state parks. This one, like many of our state parks, offers free admission. You might want to pack a lunch and stay most of the day.

Hiking Trail in January © Katrena

Additional articles

• South Mountains State Park in NC – Great Hike, Beautiful Scenery, and More
• Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville NC Offers a Ride-Through Safari and More
• Carolina Raptor Center – See Eagles, Owls, Hawks, and More

Thanks so much for visiting my Travel NC With Kids blog – I hope you'll visit my site again soon.

NC Zoo – Oh the Sites You'll See in the Winter!

NC Zoo in Asheboro

My family has visited the North Carolina Zoo several times in warmer months, but this year we decided to try something a little different and visit the zoo on December 31, 2014. High temps were in the mid-40s that day. What a way to end the year! There are quite a few advantages to visiting the zoo in winter months....

Sculpture at North Carolina Zoo

Shorter Lines

We have visited the zoo on days when it seemed like everyone else in North Carolina must have had the same idea, but visiting at the end of December was quite a different story. There were no or minimal lines to enter the zoo, see animal exhibits, or ride the vans from one area to the next. If you do visit during colder weather, plan your visit carefully. Icy conditions might be dangerous for travel and/or the zoo might need to close, so check the NC Zoo web site before venturing out. Some animal exhibits in Africa, for example, were not open earlier in the day when we visited, but once weather conditions were above about 45 degrees, they began to open those areas. Some exhibits might close before closing time, so if you particularly want to see an exhibit, you might plan to see that one early or by mid-visit. We began our visit on the North America side and by the time we reached the Africa side, those areas were open.

Nicobar Pigeon in Aviary at NC Zoological Park in Asheboro

Heated Indoor Areas

Even if several of the outdoor exhibits are closed due to colder weather, there are plenty of indoor exhibits to enjoy, and to me, it was a bit easier to walk the trails in cooler temperatures. If visitors are getting chilly outside, several indoor areas offer comfortable temperatures. The Sedona Desert, one indoor area, is the perfect place to slow down and search for the animals. Many of the animals are an amazing display of camouflage and might be a little challenging to see at first glance. One of my favorite indoor zoo spots is the aviary. I could hang out in the aviary for hours and enjoy watching the birds, ducks, and the beautiful plants. We happened to arrive at the aviary at feeding time – if you want to get a chance to see some of the more elusive birds, feeding time is the perfect time to visit.

Gorilla at Zoo in Asheboro NC

Animated Animals

When it feels like 110 degrees in the shade in North Carolina, perhaps neither people nor animals feel like moving faster than a sloth, if at all. However, in cooler weather, I noticed that several of the animals were particularly animated when we visited in December. An adult female gorilla was hanging out right by the window and licked the window almost as if trying to give a little girl a "kiss" through the window. The lion cubs were putting on quite a show while the male lion roared several times while we were watching – what a memorable sound! A chimpanzee sauntered right up to the window and grinned at me as if posing for a picture before lumbering over the hill. Even a rattlesnake opened its mouth as wide as possible as if it were yawning just as my oldest was getting ready to snap a picture.

Inspirational Poems at NC Zoo

Added Details More Prominent

The Asheboro Zoo is packed with added details for those who are looking. A poem might grace steps or a sidewalk. A picture on a wall might offer words of encouragement. Much of the artwork at the zoo is nestled in unexpected places and is pretty impressive, from sculptures to holograms. Educational details abound, and visitors can learn a wealth of information about the animals, plants, conservation, our natural resources, and more. Volunteers and those who work at the zoo might offer added interesting tidbits about the animals, plants, and exhibits that one might not learn from simply walking around.

NC Zoo in December

Winter Beauty

Each season offers its own style of beauty. Winter is no exception. I enjoyed simply walking around and searching for memorable moments. Many of my favorite photo spots in December were those places that were not necessarily planned or expected. I enjoy travels that are less crowded and a little slower paced, so this winter zoo visit suited me very well. My kids seemed to enjoy the visit as much as I did. This became a fun, relaxing finale for 2014 for my family.

Friendly Chimpanzee at North Carolina Zoo

Additional articles

• North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro – This is One Huge Place for Animals!
• NC Zoo in Asheboro – See Animals, Plants, Art, & Enjoy Nature
• Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville NC Offers a Ride-Through Safari and More

Thanks so much for visiting my Travel NC With Kids blog – I hope you visit my sites again!