Visitor Center and Bookstore hours are Thurs - Sun 10-4. It is .5 mile walk to the historic area from the Hikers Lot. Please keep this in mind. If you have access needs, please call the number posted in the parking lot.

Visitor Center and Bookstore Open Thurs - Sun

The Main Parking Lot, restrooms and front lake trail are closed due to impacts from Hurricane Helene. Access the Hiker's Parking Lot at 1924 Little River Road, limited to 24 spaces. Porta-toilets, trail maps, and park brochures available at this location.

Main Parking Lot and Front Lake Trail Closed

The primary designated First Amendment area is the grassy area directly Infront of the headquarters building at 81 Carl Sandburg Lane. This area is available for small groups of 25 or less on a “first come, first served” basis.

First Amendment Area

Post Helene Status: Main parking lot is closed; use secondary Hikers' lot. Grounds / trails open dawn till dusk 7 days a week. Hikers' lot limited to 24 cars. Barn open 7 days a week 10-4. Bookstore / Visitor Center open Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun 10-4. Interagency passes can be purchased at Visitor Center. Half mile walk from Hikers' parking lot to farm / house area.

A view of the Sandburg Home as visitors enter the park

Carl Sandburg Home NHS

A view of the front lake and Sandburg Home as visitors enter the park

Visitor Entrance to Carl Sandburg Home NHS

Dairy goats graze peacefully near the Sandburg barn

Connemara Farms

A view of Sandburg's study as visitors see it today

Carl Sandburg's Study

Spring-born kid goats greet visitors to the barn

Kid Goats Greet Visitors

Two visitors enjoy a stroll through the trees on a park trail

Hiking Trails in the Park

Carl Sandburg Home

Parking lots, grounds, gardens, and trails are open every day, year-round, sunrise to sunset. Occasional closures arise from weather events, check park alerts for more information.

The Sandburg Home, Visitor Center and Farm Area have seasonal hours that vary. 

House Tours are by reservation only through http://www.recreation.gov

Memorial Day

Juneteenth

Labor Day

Veteran's Day

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day

New Years Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday

Presidents Day

2025 Park Bookstore and House Tours

The park grounds are open 7 days a week sunrise to sunset. The barn and goat area are also open 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm. The Sandburg Home Visitor Center, and Park Store are open Thursday -Sunday (4 days per week) from 10am to 4pm.

Park Grounds

Guided Tours

Adults age 16-61 - $10.00 Adults age 62 and older, and all interagency pass holders - $6.00 Children age 15 and under - $0.00

view of a study with several desks, a chair, and three walls with floor to ceiling bookshelves.

Sandburg Home Tour

Tours of the Sandburg Home start in the first floor of the Sandburg Home. Visit the Park Store and Information area for tickets and tour times.

ALERT: Please call 828 693-4178 to ask about tour availability for same day visits. Limited tours may be available when staffing allows. <h4>Post Helene Status:</h4> <ul> <li>Main parking lot is closed; use secondary Hikers' lot.</li> <li>Grounds and trails open dawn till dusk 7 days a week. Hikers' lot limited to 24 cars.</li> <li>Barn open 7 days a week 10-4.</li> <li>Bookstore / Visitor Center open Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun 10-4.</li> <li>Interagency Passes can be purchased at Visitor Center.</li> <li>Half mile walk from Hikers' parking lot to farm / house area.</li> </ul> Normal operations when tour reservations resume are as follows:  Taking a guided tour of the historic Carl Sandburg Home is an insightful glimpse into the lives of the Sandburg family. Tours of the home are 30-minutes and include access to 11 furnished rooms over the top two floors of the three story house. The interior appears almost exactly how it looked when the Sandburg family lived here. Take a tour inside the home to learn about the story of Carl Sandburg's legacy to America's literary history, Mrs. Sandburg's leadership in agriculture, and the many family memories and moments experienced at home. *When tour reservations resume* Make advance reservations for Sandburg Home tours at <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/300005">recreation.gov</a>! Access to the historically furnished rooms is by guided tour only.    <ul> <li>Tours are available Thursday - Sunday at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm.</li> <li>Advance reservations available at <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/300005">recreation.gov</a>. and are strongly recommended as day-of visit tickets may not be available. Maximum of 10 people per 30-minute tour.</li> <li>House tour fees are $10 for adults; $6 for 62 and older and all interagency pass holders. House tour tickets for children (aged 15 and under) are free of charge except for online reservations which incur a $1 online processing fee. <ul> <li>House tour fees fund interpretive and preservation efforts in the house, including house tours, free school programs, exhibits and curatorial support for the 38,000 museum objects on display in the house.</li> </ul> </li> <li>The only way to see the furnished interior of the Sandburg Home is through a guided tour or by <a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/carl-home-tour.htm">virtual tour</a>.</li> <li>Strollers are not permitted on the house tour, but there is a place to leave them for storage. Infants and small children should be carried through the house while on tour.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Reservations: Reserving in advance at <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/300005">recreation.gov</a> lets you pick your preferred house tour time. Advanced reservations, are strongly recommended as day-of visit tickets may not be available. (The only way to see the furnished interior of the Sandburg Home in-person is through a guided tour.). Please note: Tours can only be purchased with a credit card.</li> </ul>

Service dogs only. No other pets are permitted inside the home.

Online house tour reservations available at https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/300005. Child reservations online will incur $1.00 processing fee. Day-of-tour walk up child tickets are free.

*Please call 828 693-4178 to ask about tour availability for same day visits. Limited tours may be available when staffing allows.* Each tour is 30-minutes, with a capacity of 10 people. (The only way to see the furnished interior of the Sandburg Home in person is through a guided tour.)

First tour begins at 11:00 am, last tour begins at 3:00 pm. Tours are offered hourly during the day dependent on staffing.

Tour the Sandburg Home

Poetry and Literature

Arts and Culture

several actors are on stage wearing overalls and colorful shirts

Summer Plays at the amphitheater

Each season brings a variety of unique program and special event opportunities. <h4> Year-round</h4> <ul> <li>Monthly <a href="https://www.nps.gov/carl/learn/news/wir.htm">Virtual Writing Workshops</a></li> </ul> <h4>Spring</h4> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.nps.gov/carl/learn/news/student-poetry-contest.htm">Student Poetry Contest</a></li> </ul> <h4>Summer</h4> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.nps.gov/carl/planyourvisit/musicfest.htm">Sandburg Music Festival</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.nps.gov/carl/planyourvisit/summer-performances.htm">Summer Rootabaga Story plays at the amphitheater</a></li> <li>Sandburg Sing-a-longs</li> <li>Hands-on History weekends</li> </ul> Fall <ul> <li>Dairy Goat Show at the Western North Carolina Mountain State Fair</li> <li>Park Anniversary on October 17</li> </ul> Winter <ul> <li><a href="https://www.nps.gov/carl/planyourvisit/christmasatconnemara.htm">Christmas at Connemara</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.nps.gov/carl/planyourvisit/slam.htm">Sandburg Story Slam</a></li> </ul>

1. Clean up after your pet. 2. Restrain pets on a leash not to exceed six feet. 3. Pets may not be left unattended while pet owner is on a tour of the house. 4. Ensure pets urinate on a natural surface and not on buildings. Please do not stray off developed trails. 5. Only assistance animals allowed in buildings.

Each season brings a variety of unique program and special event opportunities. Find out what opportunities are available during your visit!

Seasonal Programs and Special Events

Music

Front-Country Hiking

The park offers 5 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to moderately strenuous. Make sure to follow these tips before you plan your hiking adventure:   <ul> <li>Download a <a href="https://www.nps.gov/carl/planyourvisit/upload/Trail-Map-2022-3.pdf">trail map</a><a href="https://www.nps.gov/carl/planyourvisit/upload/Trail-Map-2022.pdf">.</a></li> <li>Check the weather.</li> <li>Dress for the conditions.</li> <li>Recreate Responsibly and follow Leave No Trace practices.</li> </ul>

Outdoor Pursuits

"It is necessary now and then for a man to go away by himself and experience loneliness; to sit on a rock in the forest and to ask of himself, 'Who am I, and where have I been, and where am I going?'...If one is not careful, one allows diversions to take up one's time-the stuff of life" - Carl Sandburg as quoted from a letter to his friend, Ralph McGill. Enjoy the solitude of Connemara. Hike its many trails and take from it the energy to avoid diversions. The park offers 5 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to moderately strenuous. Make sure to follow these tips before you plan your hiking adventure:   <ul> <li>Download a <a href="https://www.nps.gov/carl/planyourvisit/upload/Trail-Map-2022-3.pdf">trail map</a><a href="https://www.nps.gov/carl/planyourvisit/upload/Trail-Map-2022.pdf">.</a></li> <li>Young visitors can use <a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/track-trail.htm">TRACK Trail </a>maps!</li> <li>Bringing a pet? Find information <a href="https://www.nps.gov/carl/planyourvisit/pets.htm">here</a>.</li> <li>Check the weather.</li> <li>Dress for the conditions.</li> <li>Recreate Responsibly and follow <a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles.htm">Leave No Trace</a> practices.</li> </ul>

Enjoy the solitude of Connemara. Hike its many trails and take from it the energy to avoid diversions. The park offers 5 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to moderately strenuous.

Park trails and parking lots are open sunrise to sunset.

Outdoor Pursuits and Trail Map

Trails

Self-Guided Tours - Walking

Explore the park through a self-guided tour, or take a virtual tour of the interior of the Sandburg Home!

Alert: Visitor Center and Bookstore Open Thurs - Sun: Visitor Center and Bookstore hours are Thurs - Sun 10-4. It is .5 mile walk to the historic area from the Hikers Lot. Please keep this in mind. If you have access needs, please call the number posted in the parking lot.

Carl Sandburg Home

Overview

Hours

Fees & Passes

Map

Things To Do

Category

Tour the Sandburg Home

Description

Fees

Seasonal Programs and Special Events

Description

Outdoor Pursuits and Trail Map

Description

Self-Guided Tours

Description

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