Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is a must-see for anyone interested in geology, specifically geology of the eastern United States. Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is a 4,250-acre park, spanning across four counties, and providing visitors a chance to explore the park’s 300-foot gorge. Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is also a destination for outdoor enthusiasts because of its close proximity to ski areas.
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is a spectacular geological landmark in southern Arkansas. There you can see a 500-million-year-old fossil stream bed that has changed drastically over time, showing layers of sediment deposited by flowing water. This fossil stream bed contains over 70 species of fossil fish, including 60 species believed to have lived more than 250 million years ago. More recent species include catfish, carp, and cyprinids.
North Carolina is filled with family-friendly vacation destinations, most of which offer plenty of outdoor activities to keep visitors entertained. Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is no exception. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the park offers more than 250 acres of hiking trails, streams, waterfalls, and rock formations that date back to 500 million years ago.
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park had a 3.2-mile primitive hiking trail. The park is located along State Route 120 east of the city of Winterville in Lenoir County.
The park was donated to North Carolina in 1969 and 70 years of development led to more than 95 percent of the park (1,300 acres) being designated as State Natural Area. The remainder of the park is privately owned, but is open to the public on trail days.
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is, without a doubt, one of the most spectacular parks in Gainesville, FL. The park’s namesake is the mile-deep Devil’s Millhopper gold mine, which was discovered in 1828. The mine was so deep that miners were forced to remove rocks by rolling them out on sleds, and even with today’s technology, these sleds still work.
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is home to several caverns, and it offers several hiking trails for visitors to enjoy. Take a picnic or dinner and camp out in one of the park’s campsites, then venture to one of the park’s eight caves—all of which are accessible by guided tram tour. A few of the caves are illustrated below, but be sure to visit the state park’s website for a full listing of all caves and trails.