Rendezvous Mountain

Rumored to have been an assembly point for the Overmountain Men during the Revolutionary War, Rendezvous Mountain was originally established as North Carolina’s third state park in 1926.  Although the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed roads, trails, and cabins near the peak in the 1930’s, the site was managed by the Forestry Service for years and didn’t open to the public until 1984 - when it was designated an Educational State Forest. Just recently, in 2022, it has finally been re-established as a state park.

Located north of Wilksboro and Route 421, the park is relatively small.  An old gravel road leads to the visitor center. There are just 4 trails.  The longest is a 4 mile loop called the Amadahy Trail, which descends quickly from the parking area, follows a creek back up the side of the mountain, and concludes with a long walk back along the gravel road.

Although the view from the Fire Tower is not accessible to park visitors, the Amadahy Trail makes for a beautiful, shaded hike. There are many sourwood trees lining the path. “Amadahy” is Cherokee and means “forest water.”