These are some of the most breathtaking views in the South. Take in our top picks

USA Today

19 hours ago

These are some of the most breathtaking views in the South. Take in our top picks These are the Most Treasured Views in the South
From mountains to bayous, the southern United States offers a generous variety of features that make for stunning photography and delightful scenery.
This is part of a new USA TODAY network project showcasing breathtaking – and perhaps, underappreciated – views throughout the United States. These are some of the most beautiful landmarks, scenic vistas and hidden gems you can truly treasure throughout the nation.
Here are a few of our favorites from the South:
Little River Canyon, Alabama
Little River Canyon National Preserve, located in the Southern Appalachians near Fort Payne in northeast Alabama, has long been a favorite of hikers and photographers. Nearly the full length of Little River flows in a deep canyon along the top of Lookout Mountain. Little River is one of the most pristine waterways in the southeast. — Mickey Welsh, Montgomery Advertiser
Whitaker Point, Arkansas
A favorite vantage for photographers, Whitaker Point — often called Hawksbill Crag — looms above the Buffalo National River near Ponca and Jasper, Arkansas. The rocky outcropping is on the Whitaker Point Trail, a three-mile roundtrip hike. It is viewed as one of the most scenic and iconic spots along the river, standing more than 100 feet above the forest. The spot is busy in the spring, summer and fall. — Claudette Riley, Springfield News-Leader
Blowing Rocks Preserve, Florida
Blowing Rocks Preserve is the largest stretch of exposed Anastasia limestone, or coquina rock, along the Atlantic coast. Its backdrop is teal ocean water carried here from the Caribbean, thanks to the Gulf Stream. The preserve got its name from the way water bursts upward through holes in the rocks during a combination of rough surf, strong wind and high tide. On extreme days, it can cause plumes of water to shoot up to 50 feet in the air — but that's only 3 percent of the time. — Kristina Webb, Palm Beach Daily News
Jekyll Island's Driftwood Beach, Georgia
A short hike through scrubby marsh and undulating dunes leads to one of Georgia's most breathtaking sites: a sculpture garden handcrafted over centuries by wind, salt and water. Jekyll Island's Driftwood Beach is the final resting place of live oaks and other trees that were around when Gilded Age families with names like Vanderbilt and Rockefeller 'wintered' at the exclusive Jekyll Island Club.
Once tethered to the uplands, beach erosion and storms have liberated them from their sentinels, tossing them in gnarled heaps along the north end of the island where tides both soften and harden their resolve. — Savannah Morning News
Buy reprints: Purchase select prints of Jekyll Island and other Most Treasured Views
Churchill Downs, Kentucky
This place might host the most beautiful and beloved two minutes of the year during the Kentucky Derby, but Churchill Downs is a sight to see beyond the first Saturday in May. Along with Spring Meet live racing in June, including Downs After Dark races on June 21, the summer is a great time to schedule a tour of the iconic racetrack via the Kentucky Derby Museum. And you'll likely learn something new even if you're a lifelong Kentucky resident. — Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal
Lake Martin, Louisiana
Lake Martin sits just outside Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, and offers one of the best places in the state to experience swamp life up close. Part of the Cypress Island Nature Preserve, the lake is known for its thriving rookery and towering cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. During nesting season in spring and early summer, the area is filled with birds like great egrets, roseate spoonbills and herons, drawing birdwatchers and photographers from across the region. — Aaron Gonsoulin, Lafayette Daily Advertiser
Horn Island, Mississippi
Horn Island is located roughly seven miles from the Mississippi mainland in the Mississippi Sound and is one of the few places in the state that is a true wilderness. It's popular due to its natural state, uninhabited solitude, and green water.
In the 1950s, it was a favorite place for renowned artist Walter Anderson. There, his models were birds, turtles, alligators and other wildlife, all abundant on the island. Those same animals, along with the dunes, ponds, beaches and sunsets, make for some of the most beautiful views found anywhere in the country. — Brian Broom, Jackson Clarion Ledger
Old Baldy Lighthouse, North Carolina
The Old Baldy Lighthouse is the oldest surviving lighthouse in North Carolina. Visitors willing to climb to the top can experience the breathtaking panoramic view of the island, Cape Fear River, and nearby shoals. Paired with the Smith Island Museum of History, the two structures preserve the rich cultural and historical narrative of Bald Head Island, from island history and maritime traditions to local lore. — Savanna Tenenoff, Wilmington StarNews
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
Standing tall above the southwest Oklahoma prairie are the Wichita Mountains, a treasure among Oklahomans and visitors alike. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is home to nearly 60,000 acres of mixed grass prairie, ancient granite mountains, freshwater lakes and streams and an abundance of wildlife species.
The most commonly sought-out view of the refuge is from the top of Mount Scott, which can be reached on foot or by car. From 2,464 feet up, you can see panoramic views of the surrounding plains. It's not hard to spot roaming bison, longhorn cattle and elk throughout the refuge. — Jana Hayes, The Oklahoman
Sassafras Mountain, South Carolina
Sassafras Mountain in Pickens County is the highest point in South Carolina at 3,554 feet above sea level. It is a long-time popular destination to experience the area's unspoiled wilderness. An observation tower at the overlook offers 360-degree views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and three states, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. — Terry Benjamin II, Greenville News
Savage Gulf and the Great Stone Door, Tennessee
Located about 30 miles south of McMinnville in Beersheba Springs, Tennessee, Savage Gulf State Park and Natural Area provides some of the state's most breathtaking views that are easily accessible and undisturbed. The Great Stone Door trail is an easy-to-moderate trail that winds about a mile out to a rock bluff exposing panoramic views overlooking the gulf hundreds of feet below. Take those views in and then do a trek up and down the Great Stone Door steps. There is no fee to access the trails that are pet-friendly (dogs must remain leashed). Make it a weekend away and either camp in the park or find some fun treehouses nearby, like the Tree Lofts or Bolt Farm Treehouse. For more information, visit https://tnstateparks.com/parks/savage-gulf or call 931-692-3887. — Melonee Hurt, The Tennessean
Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas
Palo Duro Canyon State Park, featuring the "Grand Canyon of Texas" with its iconic views and vivid colors, is a "don't miss" experience not far off the iconic Route 66. The second-largest canyon in the United States, it slices through the flat plains near Amarillo, revealing 120 miles of colorful rock layers that tell a 250-million-year geological story. The park offers more than 30 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, including the popular Lighthouse Trail leading to the park's well-known 310-foot rock formation. — Adam Young, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal staff
Natural Bridge, Virginia
Once owned by Thomas Jefferson, rumored to have been surveyed by George Washington and referenced by Herman Melville in 'Moby-Dick,' Natural Bridge is a 215-foot-tall limestone gorge in Virginia's Rockbridge County. Dedicated as Virginia's 37th state park in 2016, Natural Bridge is surrounded by forests, meadows and more than 10 miles of hiking trails. — Staunton News Leader staff
Elakala Falls, West Virginia
Elakala Falls, tucked inside Blackwater Falls State Park, is a hidden gem of the Appalachian Mountains. Cascading gently over mossy rocks into shaded gorges, the falls offer a peaceful escape surrounded by ancient hemlocks and rhododendrons. A short hike from the Blackwater Lodge brings you to the first of four waterfalls, with rustic bridges and winding trails adding to the fairytale feel. The park, located in Davis, West Virginia, is about a three-hour drive from Pittsburgh or Washington, D.C., making it an ideal weekend getaway. — USA TODAY staff