From park overlooks on a clear day, visitors may enjoy views extending for more than 80 miles. Among the areas of the southern Appalachians visible are the Nantahala Mountains, the Cowee Range, and, on especially clear days, the Great Smoky Mountains. The park is noted for its many spring wildflowers, including several varieties of trillium, violets, bloodroot, and flame azalea. In early summer, masses of mountain laurel and rhododendron are in bloom. In the fall, leaves of oak, maple, sourwood, and other deciduous trees and shrubs create a spectacular blaze of yellow, orange, and red.
Evergreens present a contrasting note.
Goldenrod and other fall blooms add to the show. The most common natural environment in the park is a deciduous hardwood slope forest with red oaks dominant. Chestnut oaks in drier places and white oaks in certain areas lend diversity. Animals in the park include gray squirrels, chipmunks, opossums, black bears, foxes, woodchucks, bobcats, skunks, and occasional deer. There are wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and, in season, many songbirds.