Nature reserve · North Carolina
Smitheys Creek Public Use Area
Smitheys Creek Public Use Area is a nature reserve in North Carolina, at a modelled elevation of 322 m. The Lump stands 1,074 m to the north-northwest, 12 miles off. Upper Yadkin Way passes 3.4 miles off.
What to expect
- Operated by
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
How to reach it
Coordinates36.12716, -81.26611
- 3.4 mi off the Upper Yadkin Way
- 12.1 mi off the Blue Ridge Parkway, National
- 14.8 mi off the US 421 Scenic Byway
- 18.6 mi off the New River Valley Byway
Overlooks nearby
- The Lump Overlook · 12 mi
- Lewis Fork Overlook · 13 mi
- Betsy's Rock Falls · 13 mi
- Mount Jefferson View · 14 mi
Named places within 25 miles
Parks
- Smitheys Creek Public Use Area: 0.1 mi
- Bandits Roost Park: 1.0 mi
- Boomer Road Access Area: 2.3 mi
- Boomer Park: 2.3 mi
- Becky's Park: 3.7 mi
Peaks
- Gill Mountain: 1.4 mi
- Berry Mountain: 2.2 mi
- Hamby Mountain: 2.5 mi
- Mars Mountain: 3.4 mi
- Owens Knob: 3.6 mi
Artworks: 35
- Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center's Educational Complex: 18.4 mi
- Spiderback Chair: 19.3 mi
- Aluminum DNA: 19.4 mi
- Daedalus: 19.5 mi
- Aquamarine: 19.5 mi
Waterfalls: 27
- Moravian Falls: 5.1 mi
- Moravian Falls: 5.1 mi
- Amadehy Falls: 6.7 mi
- The Cascades: 13.5 mi
- Betsy's Rock Falls: 13.5 mi
Attractions: 22
- Cool Springs Baptist Church: 13.6 mi
- Jesse Brown Cabin: 13.7 mi
- Spring House: 13.7 mi
- Home of General William Lenoir: 14.9 mi
- Mystery House: 21.2 mi
Museums: 17
- Wilkes Heritage Museum: 6.6 mi
- Forestry Center: 6.7 mi
- Turtle Island Preserve: 16.3 mi
- Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center: 18.1 mi
- Native American Artifacts: 21.3 mi
Gardens: 10
- Beall Street Community Gardens: 21.4 mi
- Community Gardens: 22.0 mi
- Elizabeth Young Community Garden: 22.6 mi
- Daniel Boone Native Gardens: 23.3 mi
- Appalachian Roots Garden: 23.7 mi
Historic sites: 7
- Laura Foster Memorial: 11.5 mi
- Historic Dam Site: 21.9 mi
- Old Blowing Rock Sewage Pump Station: 23.2 mi
- Earth Day 2011: 23.8 mi
- Watauga County Veterans Memorial: 24.1 mi
Picnic sites: 4
- Cascades Picnic Area: 13.4 mi
- Stone Mountain Picnic Area: 21.9 mi
- Mount Jefferson Picnic Area: 22.1 mi
- Winston-Salem Foundation Picnic Area: 24.1 mi
Nature reserves: 4
- Hibriten Mountain: 19.8 mi
- Annie Cannon Gardens: 23.1 mi
- Paddy Mountain Plant Conservation Preserve: 24.2 mi
- Appalachian State University Nature Preserve: 24.3 mi
Cliffs: 3
- Alligator Back: 20.6 mi
- Wildcat Rock: 21.5 mi
- Devils Garden: 22.5 mi
Beaches: 1
- Elk Shoals: 19.0 mi
Rest areas: 1
- Watauga County US 221 Rest Area: 24.4 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 13.0 miles of Smitheys Creek Public Use Area. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Lump | NNW 328° | 1,074 m | 12.0 mi |
| Pores Knob | SE 132° | 812 m | 8.3 mi |
| Flint Knob | WNW 293° | 809 m | 10.4 mi |
| Wolf Knob | WNW 299° | 795 m | 12.7 mi |
| Hickory Knob | SSW 201° | 769 m | 9.7 mi |
| Chestnut Mountain | WNW 296° | 766 m | 12.1 mi |
| Walnut Knob | SSW 197° | 759 m | 8.8 mi |
| Miller Mountain | WNW 291° | 758 m | 9.2 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:30 | 19:03 | 19:37 |
| June solstice | 06:09 | 20:08 | 20:46 |
| September equinox | 07:14 | 18:50 | 19:24 |
| December solstice | 07:33 | 16:35 | 17:15 |
Local time (America/New_York).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: Apr–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 38 | 41 | 48 | 57 | 66 | 73 | 77 | 76 | 70 | 59 | 48 | 41 |
| Precip in | 4.4 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 4.6 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — W Kerr Scott Resv, 2 mi away.
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap element way/753736642
Day trips start here
- Hickory · 27 mi
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