Head to the Woods for a Long Weekend
The Field Trip Newsletter: #91
Fall in the South hits differently than other parts of the country. In the summer, the humidity is so thick that the air feels like you could slice it with a knife. But in the Fall, the air is crisp, the nights are in the 60s to 70s, the mosquitoes have dispersed, and we can get outside and go camping. Everything is still green, the leaves have not yet changed, and migrating birds are still passing through. It's a pretty magical time to plan a long weekend in the woods.
I'm not averse to camping in all the wild and different conditions that can come up in other parts of the country, but Fall camping is certainly my favorite time of year. When I lived in Florida, I would wait to get to summer camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains to go outside and into nature to avoid the sticky night air of the South. I moved to Boston for grad school and never left the city, even once, in my short time there. I quickly transferred schools and made a point to explore my new city more. While living in the Pacific Northwest, I would escape the city and hike miles to a secret campsite along the Pacific Ocean to camp in the cold, rainy winter months. I later moved to San Francisco and would cross the bridge to Marin Country for a little reprieve of a walk in the woods, often wondering what the weather would be like.
I moved back to the South over 20 years ago, and each year, I am pleasantly reminded of how wonderful the Fall season is here. It's short but undoubtedly magical.
I've rounded up a list of places I've tried or want to try: spots I've researched endlessly, along with the best time to go. Below is an excellent list to get you outside, even in the often muggy South.
Cloudland Canyon State Park is in Georgia and sits at the foothills of the Appalachian Trail. There are trails galore to hike, cabins to rent if you want to avoid tent camping, and two beautiful waterfalls to hike down to. If you pick a seasonally warm Fall day, you can swim in the Fall's base.
I was raised in Mississippi and have always been intrigued by the Mississippi River. The misconception is that it's primarily reserved for larger boats, and canoeing on the river seems foreign. But thanks to companies like Quapaw Canoe Company, you can get out on the river and camp with a guide for a few days.
More boat-in camping in Mississippi includes Horn Island in the Gulf of Mexico. Horn Island was of great inspiration to famed painter Walter Anderson, and with a guide, you can discover the flora and fauna that made their way into many of Mr. Anderson's paintings. Note to self: this is very much primitive camping.
If you're heading to Arkansas, Petit Jean State Park is a beautiful spot to spend a longer weekend. There, you can hike, boat, and discover more waterfalls.
Another spot to visit in Arkansas is the Buffalo National River. Camping on the river for a few days is a great spot. The water that flows along the Buffalo River is cool and clear, and lush trees surround you. It's not called the Natural State for nothing. There are also so many great hikes to take.
If you have been wanting to plan a camping trip to Louisiana but want to visit once the heat has passed, hold out for Lake Fausse Pointe State Park. You can rent a cabin or opt for tent camping here.
It wouldn't be a camping in the South list without including Dismals Canyon in Alabama. It's a "national natural landmark." According to the Canyon website, "Past twilight, the canyon lights up with tiny bioluminescent creatures we call Dismalites. These "glowworms" require a select habitat to survive and are unique to only a few places on Earth. They are "close cousins" of the rare glowworms found in Australia and New Zealand."
When hiking and camping in Tennessee, I stick with the West side of the state, although Tennessee is also home to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. I'm not far from Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, and it's the perfect place to escape the city and venture out into the woods for a couple of days.
Head to Edisto Beach in South Carolina to explore trails, islands, and a maritime forest. You can also go saltwater fishing and cook your fresh catch over the campfire.
*I left North Carolina off this list because so much of the state is in the mountains, and there are endless spots to select from.
What are your favorite spots to camp in the Fall? - Erin