Seven Islands State Birding Park
HIGHLIGHTS:
A beautiful 416-acre wildlife refuge nestled along the French Broad River; 8+ miles of natural trails along rolling hills with views of the Smoky Mountains from the crest trail; excellent birdwatching with over 190 species including songbirds, hawks and waterfowl – songbirds, hawks and waterfowl can be seen along the meadow trails and several old barns are a favorite refuge for Barn Owls; a 1.2-mile paved greenway bisects the park as it winds from the parking area to the ADA pedestrian bridge that gives access to the island loop trail; the landscape ranges from upland hardwoods to river-bottom fields sown in native warm-season grasses; paddlers and anglers can utilize the small canoe/kayak launch for access to the French Broad River; a favorite 1/2 day paddling trip is an approximate 5-mile float from Seven Islands to Cruze Landing – contact River Sports Outfitters for boat rentals and shuttle services
Park Map