Dupont State Forest boasts 10,000 acres for visitors to explore via foot, bike or horse. It is a virtual playground for outdoor lovers near Hendersonville and Brevard, North Carolina, and less than an hour from both Greenville, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina. Check it out mid-summer to feast on fresh picked wild blueberries.

Fawn Lake
Park at the Reasonover Parking area and head left on foot via Fawn Lake Road. To gain elevation and get your heart pumping, take a left on Mine Mountain Trail, which will snake up before heading back down roughly 1.5 miles towards Fawn Lake. If you simply want to find the swimming hole, stay on Fawn Lake Road and stay right when you hit Fawn Lake Loop. The lake is a simple walk on a wide, gravel road.

Lake Julia
The shortest access to Lake Julia is to take a right on foot from the Reasonover Parking area and follow Conservation Road. Turn right on Camp Summit Road after the airstrip. This large lake has a lovely grassy area with picnic tables and a small dock. For a longer day hike and a more serene trail, stay straight across Conservation Road shortly after leaving the parking area onto Reasonover Creek Trail to reach the lake.

Cedar Rock
To access the rocky outcroppings and incredible views of Cedar Rock, park at the Corn Mill Shoals Parking area off of Cascade Lake Road. Cross the road and follow the gravel road, turning left on Big Rock Trail. This trail has plenty of delicious blueberries later in the summer. For a longer loop, link up with the Cedar Rock Trail.

Hooker Falls
Even if time is tight, you can take in three stunning waterfalls relatively quickly by parking at the Hooker Falls Parking Area off of Staton Road. On the parking side, follow signs to peak at Hooker Falls before crossing the road and heading up Triple Falls Trail. From this trail, you can link up with the Covered Bridge Trail and take in the gorgeous bridge and High Falls.

For bathroom facilities, the Buck Forest Parking area on Staton Road is best. Leave the park the way you found it and generations will continue to enjoy this tranquil spot!