Whitney State Forest

About Whitney State Forest

The 147-acre Whitney State Forest is part of the Whitney National Forest, a national forest in the US Forest Service. The forest includes hiking trails that wind back and forth along the central fire road, as well as a number of trails in and around the main fire line.

The forest is predominantly foliage, which is a beautiful spectacle when the leaves change color, and is home to many familiar inhabitants. Spring is the most exciting time of the year, when many neotropic songbirds come to visit. Jay are regularly heard, as are cursing of round yellows, which intensify with the onset of the cold season.

In addition to a variety of warblers and viruses, visitors should watch out for birds of prey such as black-legged, blue-headed birds and blackbirds. Dragonflies are often found in creek beds with silver and ebony decorations. Summer is also a good time to look for butterflies, with red-purple trees and tiny crowned pearls.

Return to the US-15 (Lee Highway) and turn left onto Lees Ridge Road, follow it to the west side of the park and turn left southwest onto Lee Ridge Road. Follow the road until you turn right, then left onto Lee Road, right onto the intersection of Lee Parkway and left again at the entrance to Whiteney State Forest. Turn right onto Lee Boulevard, follow this road to a junction - at the intersection with Blue Ridge Parkway and then back onto Highway.