This area recently opened. It has a gravel parking area (handicapped spot is paved), with concrete…read moresteps leading down to the Ararat river. Two wooden beams down the middle of the steps for boat access.

Blowing Rock really has a lot going for it, from the busy downtown scene with restaurants, shops,…read moreboutiques, sweets, breweries, fine dining, you name it. And then just a 15min walk (or 2 minute car ride) from downtown, Bass Lake is right there for your hiking pleasure. The lake itself is serene with great views from the circumferential hiking path around it. But it doesn't end there. Miles and miles of trails break off from the main lake for a longer outdoor experience. Plenty of parking with clean bathrooms at the main parking area. This is perfect for a shorter stroll around the lake, or a day's adventure across the many trails leading from here.

Great park to go for a walk. I bet they have hiking trails also but I have never been on those. We…read morejust stick to the path around the lake which is an easy walk and gorgeous everywhere you look. They have signs about the different fish in the lake so I believe you can fish there although I've not seen anyone fishing yet. Definitely worth checking out if you're on the area.

My two boys took fly fishing lessons from Kelly at River Girl Fishing. She is amazing with kids…read more They love all things fishing and she was so great teaching them all things fly fishing. She taught them how to tie flies, where to stand in the river, when to fish, and most importantly how to be a good steward of the land. They supplied waders, boots and rods. It was a great experience and we can't wait to go back.

Pros: The town of Todd is small and easy to find. The staff was super friendly, helpful, kind and…read moreknowledgeable. The scenery on the New River was outstanding. The fishing was fantastic as well. (Trout, Chubb and Bass) Cons: the building is not clearly marked as River Girl Fishing Company. The Transportation vans were old. ( totally fine though) I wish we had been advised to only do the hour and a half trip as the three hour trip took almost 5 hours considering how low the river was, we spent much of our time dragging the kayak down the river rather than having a relaxing ride. That being said, I would DEFINITELY recommend this company and this experience when the river is high. I've tubed with 2 other companies and I loved this one!

Pros: Was able to tube down the New River same day that I called. The young lady who checked us in…read morefor floating was friendly, as well as the guy who drove us to new river state park to get in. (We did the short float trip) The price is fair. The store had a few necessities, good for what you need from them. The river itself was great for floating. The water level was up, no getting stuck on rocks on our day. Cons: The manager looking guy was a little grumpy looking and not approachable in the store. I actually thought about 3 stars because this was so noticeable, but the others working there don't deserve that. It would have been great to have a few picnic tables or a changing area down at the river. Just a little shack with half doors like a dressing room would be great. We had that in Bryson City after a trip down the river there, and it was wonderful to not have to get in the car while still wet. Everyone was making makeshift beach towel dressing rooms for their friends at this spot.

Thankfully we came on a day when a friendly young girl was running the store :)…read more The establishment is no frills- but it's exactly what is needed; a store on the river that offer rentals (canoe, kayak, tubes) and shuttle. I called around and they had the best summer 2016 prices by far. If you just want to give a few dollars to float the river then this is your place. Extra bonus- it's close to Shatley Springs. You can fill up and then work it off paddling :)

In May, Phil and I paddled twice. This trip, we tubed with the grandkids, and it also was GREAT…read more See you in October, we hope. The people, the place -- Riverside is excellent! We are grateful for them.

Last minute tubing trip. Staff were friendly. We had a great time on our 2 hour float trip and will…read morego again.

I have been going to this place since the mid 1980's as a young boy and we've brought the kids here…read moreseveral times over the past few years. They have both a Gem mine and the trout fishing and in the old days had a mini golf course but that is long gone now. The main guy who operates it, Heath, is super nice and helpful. He got us setup and helped my kids learn to cast the poles and get the hook out once the fish were caught. They charge by the pound and the trout are pretty big so plan a big meal ahead. There's a little extra for cleaning the fish but that's worth it. If you are looking for a fun kid activity this is also a kid friendly place as long as they can hold the pole and reel with your help. The poles, bait, and buckets are supplied so you don't have to bring anything with you. They'll pack it in ice for you also when you leave so you'll be able to keep your fresh catch cold. ----TL;DR----- PROS: plenty of parking, friendly folks, usually it's pretty easy to catch a fish, family run, family oriented and kids will likely enjoy it CONS: none, it's lots of fun BOTTOM LINE: if you like fishing and want to spend a fun few hours, check them out. We've been many times and still love to go back!

They supply everything. Three ponds. The man who works there was very friendly and informative…read more Very nice guy. You don't pay if you don't catch. They even have collapsible chairs. Clean spot. Great time!

We took the most beautiful kayak from Zaloos yesterday and the staff was incredible in every way…read more Highly recommend. They gave us so much support. The river was crystal clear and the tiny shouls were easy enough to navigate. The amount and quality of work done on both Zaloos infrastructure and on the river is amazing. I commend them all for the courage, tenacity and hospitality. Today would br an equally great day for afloat!

PROS: Pleasant and efficient staff at check-in, good quality and quantity of equipment (we were…read moretubing), short wait time for van and friendly driver. CONS: We were not given an estimate as to approximately how long the route would take. The website said 2-2.5 hours (ended up over 3 hours). My entire party were newbies, and we were disappointed there was no assistance or guidance when first entering the water. GIANT CON: Really shallow water. At least 3/4 of the time was spent trying to get off the rocks and kicking to try to get momentum to get over obstacles. By the end of this arduous journey I was exhausted, injured from falling on rocks and close to tears. I know Zaloo's cannot control water levels, but I would have greatly appreciated a "heads up" regarding the conditions, thereby allowing the chance to reschedule or receive a partial refund. Sorry to say our expectations were not met.

Josh is awesome! Got me into fishing when we deployed together. Extremely knowledgeable when it…read morecomes to fresh water fishing. Expect good conversation and some bass action!! Highly recommend to relax and enjoy the sport

Been out a few times with Josh. His fishing knowledge of the local and surrounding area is second…read moreto none. Always good fishing, always good conversation. A must if you are in the area.

The park is pretty remote, with only occasional cell service (a good thing or a bad thing depending…read moreon one's needs). The parking really close to the mountain is handicap only, so the intention is for most people to walk a 4.5 mile loop that goes around the mountain and then up it on the way back. It is a substantial climb, both down into a gully with an impressive waterfall and up the mountain itself. The rock does offer wide-spanning views. The infrastructure was not in ideal shape at the time of my visit, with some water fountains down and other limitations in amenities. I also found the trail setup a bit confusing as following marks led me once to a dead end and in another case, I had to hike on a gravel road a bit to get back to the trail and that wasn't marked clearly as the right way to go. While these things could be improved, the park is an excellent resource and as is standard practice in NC (but not in SC or VA), is free to enter.

Great place to come hike. Lots to see & do. Downside is that kids are allowed to come here & make…read morenonstop noise.

Couldn't find much info about the campground online anywhere so figured I'd post a review to help…read morethose looking! We wanted to spend time hiking in Grayson Highlands & were late to the game on Labor Day weekend & all the camping was booked. After some digging we found this place & it was about 25 mins from the park & an easy drive. If you have ATT there is no service. We lost it about 30 mins before arrival. Our GPS still worked & it was nice to unplug but just a heads up. The important highlights: -Bathrooms are clean & well maintained. -Showers are hot & we never had to wait. -Must pay in cash -Dog friendly. My dog could be offleash & run around. No major roads around & very laidback. -The sights are right by the water so you can hear the creek & the views are nice -each site has a picnic table & firepit. The campsites are pretty close which was hard when 3 carloads with about 15 people showed up & made camp at the site next door. They weren't particularly cognizant of their noise levels & we couldn't sleep until around 11 when I finally went out to ask them to please keep it down. They only stayed one night & that's just par for the course sometimes with camping. The next night was much quieter & we slept great. All in all a great campground. An hourish from Boone & Blowing Rock. Bring supplies in as there aren't any major grocery stores around. Would stay there again if we were in the area.