South Mountains State Park

Most of South Mountains State Park is rugged backcountry blazed with about 40 miles of trials for hiking, horse riding and mountain biking, as well as primitive camping. But the central sight to see at the park is the 80-foot High Shoals Falls, which is a one-mile hike from the parking lot at the far end of the park's main road.
A spur from the High Shoals Falls Loop Trail/Headquarters Trail connects to the .74-mile Hemlock Nature Trail, which is also accessed from the parking lot. A map on an informational kiosk shows the trails around the picnic grounds.
The paved, wheelchair-friendly path runs alongside the Jacob Fork River, and presents overlooks and educational displays, such as this one below and at right that identifies animal tracks. There are additional informational displays adjacent to the picnic area.

The hike to the falls becomes strenuous as you get closer to the waterfall, where steep stairways lead to the base of the falls at left and, as you'd expect, the climb to the top of the falls is even steeper.

The change from easy to more challenging occurs at the halfway point, where the trial's loop reconnects with the leg coming from the parking lot.

Just below the falls, a boulder field presents another route for working your way up-river.

The pool above the waterfall is serene and pretty, and incredibly, the trail leading from the falls back down ascends at first.
On the hind leg of the loop (following it clockwise) a portion of the High Shoals Trail is shared with a 18-mile mountain biking loop.
The visitors center, about a mile and a half inside the park entrance, has several exhibits about the flora and fauna of the area, including a darkroom that plays recordings of various animal sounds for the visitor to try to identify, and a 3D topographical map of the South Mountains that identifies several peaks.
We visited on September 25, 2010, which happened to be the park's 8th annual Nature Day. Park rangers led hikes, a string band entertained, and exhibitors included Grover Barfield of the Carolinas Reptile Rescue and Education Center and representatives of the Friends of South Mountains State Park (the Friends don't have a website yet; phone 828-433-4772 for information or to contribute.).

South Mountains State Park is in Burke County, about 18 miles south of Morganton.