State Parks In North Carolina

Carolina Beach State Park
P.O. Box 475
Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Office: (910) 458-8206
Marina: (910) 458-7770
Locator Map
The park provides a marina for quick boating access to the Cape Fear River, Masonboro Inlet and Atlantic Ocean, as well as camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking and a visitors center. It is home to carnivorous butterworts, bladderworts and the Venus’ flytrap, which is unique to this area. The park also has a kayak and paddleboard rental concession that also offers tours and instruction.

Carvers Creek State Park
2200 Long Valley Road
Spring Lake, NC 28390-1645
(910) 436-4681
Locator Map
Carvers Creek partially opened to the public in September 2013, but development of most of the park continues. The open portion is the historic 1,420-acre Long Valley Farm section, which was once the estate of James Stillman Rockefeller. It provides opportunity to hike, fish, picnic and participate in interpretive programs. The master plan calls for the park to eventually offer multi-use trails, camping, fishing, boating, bicycling, horseback riding, picnicking, wildlife observation and a visitors center, and for Long Valley to be a renovated early 20th century research farm. Land for the park encompasses more than 4,000 acres between northern Fayetteville and Fort Bragg. The park’s longleaf pine forest is an important habitat for several endangered and protected plant and animal species, most notably the red-cockaded woodpecker. Click on the photo for more information.

Chimney Rock State Park
P.O. Box 220
Chimney Rock, NC 28720
(828) 625-1823
Locator Map
Chimney Rock State Park includes the signature 315-foot spire overlooking Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure, which requires a fee, and the free Rumbling Bald Climbing Access, which provides opportunity for climbing, bouldering and hiking. The park also offers fishing and picnicking, and has a restaurant, and concessions and gift shops. The state bought the private Chimney Rock Park in 2005 and continues to acquire land. Additional areas of park land – now encompassing more than 6,200 acres – are being developed.

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
345-A Park Entrance Road
Seven Springs, NC 28578
(919) 778-6234
Locator Map
The cliffs on the south bank of the Neuse River extend 600 yards and rise 90 feet above the water. The cliffs are not accessible, but you can easily walk down to the river to fish, and the park offers camping, short hikes, picnicking, swimming in a man-made lake, plus paddleboats and canoes for rent, and various educational events. Its new visitors center was dedicated in June 2011. Click on the photo for more information.

Crowders Mountain State Park
522 Park Office Lane
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 853-5375
Locator Map
Crowders Mountain, the highest point in Gaston County (elev. 1,624 ft.), offers panoramic views that stretch more than 20 miles. Sheer vertical cliffs drop 150 feet. The park offers camping, canoe rentals, education and events, fishing, hiking, picnicking and rock climbing.

Dismal Swamp State Park
2294 U.S. 17 North
South Mills, NC 27976
(252) 771-6593
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The Great Dismal Swamp is one of the largest protected swamp wildernesses in the eastern United States, with 38,000 acres in North Carolina and 82,000 acres in Virginia. The state park has a visitors center, a system of boardwalks, decks and gazebos, 16.7 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, and bird watching and paddling opportunities in more than 14,400 acres. The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, on U.S. 17 North, has a free, 150-foot boat dock, restrooms, picnic tables and grills. The park is adjacent to the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

Elk Knob State Park
5450 Meat Camp Road
Todd, NC 28684
(828) 297-7261
Locator Map
The park established in 2003 encompasses 4,200 acres in Watauga and Ashe counties and offers four trails, including the strenuous 1.8-mile Summit Trail to the top of Elk Knob (elev. 5,520 feet, the second highest in Watauga County). Backcountry camping is also available in group camps, zone camping and three sites that accommodate up to two tents each. During the winter, the park is the only one in the system offering cross-country skiing (skiers must provide their own equipment). The state’s master plan for Elk Knob calls for a tent and RV campground, scenic overlook, day use areas and additional trails. The park contains the headwaters of the North Fork of the New River, and Beech Creek Bog State Natural Area, the first example of a southern Appalachian bog in the parks system, is nearby.

Eno River State Park
6101 Cole Mill Road
Durham, NC 27705-9275
(919) 383-1686
Locator Map
More than 2,600 acres of natural beauty in the narrow, steep-walled valley of the Eno River make up this park. The park has five access areas and almost 30 miles of hiking trails alongside the river. It also offers camping, canoeing, education and events, fishing and picnicking. Click on the photo for more information.

Falls Lake State Recreation Area
13304 Creedmoor Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 676-1027
Locator Map
The 12,000-acre lake and 26,000 acres of woodlands comprise seven recreation areas – Beaverdam, B.W. Wells, Highway 50, Holly Point, Rolling View, Sandling Beach and Shinleaf. The recreation area offers boating, camping, community building rental (at Rolling View), cycling – including the Beaverdam and New Light mountain bike trails – education and events, fishing, hiking, picnicking and swimming.

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
1000 Loggerhead Road
Kure Beach, NC 28449
(910) 458-5798
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At the southern tip of Pleasure Island lies miles of white sandy beach, salt marsh, tidal creek and mudflats. Adjacent to Fort Fisher State Historic Site, site of a decisive Civil War battle, the recreation area offers a swimming beach with a bathhouse, fishing, hiking, picnicking, off-road vehicle access, nature exhibits and events. Click on the photo for more information.

Fort Macon State Park
2303 E. Fort Macon Road
Atlantic Beach, NC 28512
(252) 726-3775
Locator Map
This five-sided, brick-and-stone fortress featuring 26 casements (vaulted rooms) dates to 1834 and is open for self-guided tours. The fort is surrounded by wide sandy beaches on the Atlantic Ocean, Beaufort Inlet and Bogue Sound. In addition to touring the fort, visitors can enjoy the 3.2-mile Elliott Coues Nature Trail, which connects the fort area with the swim beach area, plus the Yarrow’s Loop quarter-mile nature trail, a coastal education and visitors center, special events, exhibits, fishing, hiking and picnicking. Click on the photo for more information.

Goose Creek State Park
2190 Camp Leach Road
Washington, NC 27889
(252) 923-2191
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This tranquil juncture of the broad, lazy Goose Creek and the Pamlico River is guarded by giant, old oaks draped with Spanish moss. The park offers boating, camping, education and events, exhibits and educational facilities, fishing, hiking, picnicking and swimming. Click on the photo for more information.

Gorges State Park
976 Grassy Ridge Road
Sapphire, NC 28774
(828) 966-9099
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Gorges has plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges, sheer rock walls, a portion of the Foothills Trail and one of the greatest concentrations of rare and unique species in the East. Among park features are a one-mile trail to Rainbow Falls and the Horsepasture River on adjacent Pisgah National Forest land, including wheelchair-accessible overlooks. In addition to hiking and picnicking, the park has a visitors center and offers boating, primitive camping, fishing, horseback riding and mountain biking. A family campground for tents and RVs, plus cabins, was to open in fall 2021.

Grandfather Mountain State Park
2050 Blowing Rock Highway
Linville, NC 28646
(828) 297-7261
Locator Map
The state acquired 2,456 acres along the crest of Grandfather Mountain, the private park’s “backcountry,” in June 2009. The park offers hiking on 12 miles of trails and backpack camping at 13 sites along the trail system and at the Hi-Balsam Shelter. The private Grandfather Mountain Inc. continues to operate the “mile-high swinging bridge,” the park’s nature center, wildlife habitats and other amenities. Popular events, such as the Highland Games and the Singing on the Mountain are still held at the attraction.

Hammocks Beach State Park
1572 Hammocks Beach Road
Swansboro, NC 28584
(910) 326-4881
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Bear Island, an 892-acre barrier island, has one of the most unspoiled beaches on the Atlantic coast and is accessible only by passenger ferry or private boat. Huggins Island, located just east of Bear Island in the mouth of Bogue Inlet, is a 225-acre island with a maritime swamp forest that is, according to the Division of Parks and Recreation, “listed as a Globally Rare and Significant Area.” The 17-acre Jones Island is managed as a state natural area. A visitors center and ferry dock are on 33 acres on the mainland in Onslow County and, in 2015, the state acquired an additional 300 acres on the mainland. The park offers boating, camping, education and events, fishing, picnicking and swimming. The park has a kayak, canoe and paddleboard rental concession that also offers tours and instruction.

Hanging Rock State Park
1790 Hanging Rock Park Road
Danbury, NC 27016
(336) 593-8480
Locator Map
Hanging Rock features sheer cliffs and peaks of bare rock, quiet forests, cascading waterfalls and views of the Piedmont plateau that stretch for miles. The park offers cabins, camping, canoe and rowboat rental, education and events, exhibit hall, fishing, hiking, picnicking, rock climbing, swimming and a wheelchair-accessible pier. In 2014, the state transferred the Camp Sertoma 4-H Education Center property to Hanging Rock, which includes a campground, lodge, recreation hall, swimming pool, 13 cabins, equestrian barn and trails, mountain biking trails, chapel and athletic fields. Click on the photo for more information.

Haw River State Park
339 Conference Center Drive
Browns Summit, NC 27214
(336) 342-6163
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Haw River State Park and the Summit Environmental Education Center are situated among Piedmont forest, fields, wetlands and uplands on 1,379 acres in Guilford and Rockingham counties. The Summit is a retreat and conference center located on 210 acres in the park. The state continues to develop a 692-acre tract west of the conference center with traditional park amenities, such as hiking trails and picnic grounds. The 692-acre Ore Belt Access area, featuring the 3.2-mile Great Blue Heron Trail, opened in 2016. The Summit is used as a training center for the state parks system and other agencies, and is open to the public for school and civic groups, family reunions and others. The Environmental Education program provides a variety of courses and innovative activities for youth and adult groups of all sizes. The Summit Center can accommodate up to 180 overnight guests and 300 day-use visitors. The conference center includes eight meeting spaces, motel and dormitory-style sleeping facilities, indoor and outdoor common areas, a six-acre lake, trails and a buffet-style dining room.

Hemlock Bluffs State Natural Area
2616 Kildaire Farm Road
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 387-5980
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The Town of Cary leases this unique 140-acre property from the state and operates it as Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. The protective nature of the park’s north-facing bluffs along Swift Creek provide a relatively cool, moist environment that has allowed a unique community of Eastern Hemlock trees and other mountain plant species to thrive. Approximately 3 miles of easy nature trails and scenic overlooks provide bird and wildlife watching opportunities. The Stevens Nature Center provides interactive, educational nature historical exhibits from North Carolina’s Piedmont, as well as nature interpretation and environmental education programs.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park
P.O. Box 592
Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 441-7132
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Jockey’s Ridge is the tallest sand dune on the East Coast, and tidal waters of Roanoke Sound, the park’s western boundary, are a rich habitat for variety of plant and animal life. The park’s 420 acres offer accessible facilities (including a ride to the top of dune via ATV), education and events, exhibit hall, hang gliding, hiking, picnicking, sailboarding and sandboarding. Click on the photo for more information.

Jones Lake State Park
113 Jones Lake Drive
Elizabethtown, NC 28337
(910) 588-4550
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Adjacent to the Bladen Lakes State Forest and home of two natural lakes, Jones and Salters lakes, the 2,208-acre park is a nature lover’s delight. The lakes are part of one of the greatest geological mysteries of the eastern U.S. – the Carolina bays. The park offers boating, camping, canoe and paddleboat rental, education and events, fishing, hiking, picnicking and swimming. A 6,273-square-foot visitor center, new bathhouse, renovated 206-foot pier and boathouse, and new sidewalks and parking area were dedicated in September 2005.

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
280 State Park Road
Apex, NC 27523
(919) 362-0586
Locator Map
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area comprises nine recreation sites on a 46,768-acre reservoir: Crosswinds Campground, Ebenezer Church, Parker’s Creek, Poplar Point, Seaforth, Vista Point, Robeson Creek, New Hope Overlook and White Oak Recreation Area. The park offers bald eagle watching, boating, camping, education and events, fishing, hiking, picnicking, swimming. Many areas and activities are accessible to those with disabilities. The state dedicated an expanded and remodeled 9,949-square-foot visitor center in November 2008.

Kerr Lake State Recreation Area
6254 Satterwhite Point Road
Henderson, NC 27537
(252) 438-7791
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This 50,000-acre man-made lake has more than 800 miles of wooded shoreline. The eight recreation areas – Bullocksville, County Line, Henderson Point, Hibernia, Kimball Point, Nutbush Bridge, Satterwhite Point and J.C. Cooper Campground – offer boating (two commercial marinas), camping, community buildings, education and events, fishing, hiking, picnicking and swimming. Many areas and activities are accessible to those with disabilities.

Lake James State Park
7321 N.C. 126
Nebo, NC 28761
(828) 652-5047
Locator Map
The centerpiece of the park is a 6,510-acre lake with more than 150 miles of shoreline at the base of Linville Gorge. The park offers boating (state boat ramps 2 miles east of the park), camping, education and events, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking and swimming. Fifteen miles of mountain biking trail opened in 2014 as part of the park’s master plan for 2,915 acres acquired in 2005, which calls for tent, RV and group camping, and multi-use trails.

Lake Norman State Park
759 State Park Road
Troutman, NC 28166
(704) 528-6350
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The park consists of 13 miles of shore on Lake Norman, the state’s largest man-made lake, plus its own 33-acre lake. A park centerpiece is its 125-yard-long swimming beach, with a 3,084-square-foot bathhouse and concessions building, a 50-foot accessible fishing pier, picnic shelters and parking. Visitors also enjoy boating, camping, canoe and pedal-boat rental, community building, education and events, fishing, hiking and mountain biking.

Lake Waccamaw State Park
1866 State Park Drive
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450
(910) 646-4748
Locator Map
One of the Carolina bays, Lake Waccamaw has species of animals found nowhere else on the planet, rare plants and endangered animals. Visitors explore the park on more than seven miles of trails and a 700-foot boardwalk reaching into the shallow, tea-colored waters. The park allows boating, camping, education and events, fishing, hiking, picnicking.

Lower Haw River State Natural Area
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
280 State Park Road
Apex, NC 27523
(919) 362-0586
The 1,000-plus acres along both sides of the Haw River just north of Jordan Lake State Recreation Area (which administers the site) has steep slopes and rock outcrops, and has long been popular with hikers and canoeists. The area is not developed, but has parking on U.S. 15-501 South, trails and places to put in. The property runs from just south of the old Bynum bridge to just beyond the U.S. 64 bridge, where trail access is available.

Lumber River State Park
2819 Princess Ann Road
Orrum, NC 28369
(910) 628-9844
Locator Map
Lumber River State Park encompasses 11,259 acres at various locations along a 100-mile stretch of the river, offering 24 campsites and several boat and canoe launch points. Eighty-one miles of the river are also designated national wild and scenic waters. The park also offers education and events, fishing, hiking and picnicking.

Mayo River State Park
P.O. Box 100
Mayodan, NC 27027
(336) 427-2530
Locator Map
Mayo River was designated in 2003, and is still being developed. As of January 2017, the park’s 2,244 acres offer picnic grounds, small fishing ponds and a couple of short, easy loop trails. The picnic grounds feature a restored pavilion-style picnic shelter designed by renowned architect Antonin Raymond. Local outfitters can set visitors up for paddling opportunities on the mild whitewater Mayo River.

Medoc Mountain State Park
1541 Medoc State Park Road
Hollister, NC 27844
(252) 586-6588
Locator Map
Hiking trails cover diverse terrain through hardwood forest down to Little Fishing Creek and up Medoc Mountain (elev. 325 ft.) to the site of a 1920s Boy Scout camp. The park offers bridle trails, camping, canoeing, education and events, fishing, hiking and picnicking.

Merchants Millpond State Park
71 U.S. 158 East
Gatesville, NC 27938
(252) 357-1191
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Coastal pond and Southern swamp forest mingle to create one of North Carolina’s rarest ecological communities – an “enchanted forest,” with primitive species of fish, towering bald cypress trees with massive trunks and luxuriant growths of Spanish moss. The park offers camping, canoeing and canoe rentals, education and events, fishing (including small craft with trolling motors), hiking and picnicking. Many areas and activities are accessible to those with disabilities.

Morrow Mountain State Park
49104 Morrow Mountain Road
Albemarle, NC 28001
(704) 982-4402
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Morrow Mountain and other steep, rugged Uwharrie Mountains form a stark contrast with the rolling countryside of the Piedmont plateau on the waters of Lake Tillery and the Pee Dee River. The park offers boating, cabins, camping, education and events, a museum and historic site, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, a rental hall and a swimming pool. Click on the photo for more information.

Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
1481 Mt Jefferson State Park Road
West Jefferson, NC 28640
(336) 246-9653
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Fields, farms and forests spread out below overlooks available at Mount Jefferson (elev. 4,683 ft.) as the Blue Ridge Mountains form a striking backdrop. The park offers hiking, education and events and picnicking. Five hiking trails include a strenuous scramble along the mountain’s ridgeline.

Mount Mitchell State Park
2388 N.C. 128
Burnsville, NC 28714
(828) 675-4611
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Mount Mitchell (elev. 6,684) is the highest point east of the Mississippi. Park visitors enjoy camping, education and events, exhibit hall, hiking, picnicking, a restaurant, visitor center and an interactive weather station well-known for depicting extreme temperatures and wind speeds on the mountaintop.

Museum Park
North Carolina Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge Road
Raleigh, NC 27607-6494
(919) 839-6262
Locator Map
The 164-acre Museum Park, while not technically a state park, is operated by the state art museum in partnership with the College of Natural Resources at N.C. State University. It features permanent and temporary sculpture amid woods, meadows, creeks and a pond. The park’s main trail, which is paved, is part of the City of Raleigh’s Capital Area Greenway Trail System. It leads to a landmark pedestrian bridge, North Carolina’s longest, that crosses Raleigh’s I440 beltline. (Paved trails are open to bicycles.) The museum offers guided park tours to school and community groups, and loans backpacks with educational games at no charge to families. The park’s amphitheater is arguably the best place in the Triangle to see live music.

New River State Park
358 New River State Park Road
Laurel Springs, NC 28644
(336) 982-2587
Locator Map
The New, a National Scenic River believed to be one of the oldest in North America, lies at the heart of 1,500 acres of parkland that includes three access areas. The park offers canoeing, camping, education and events, fishing, hiking, picnicking, visitor center with exhibit hall, and a community building.

Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area
500 Virginia Cates Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 383-1686
Locator Map
Various habitats in the 190 acres of land surrounding the highest point in Orange County (elev. 867 feet) support species that are rare and significant in the region. More than three miles of hiking trails take you to the Eno River, an abandoned quarry and an overlook, and there are two fishing ponds at the front of the park. The natural area offers education and events, fishing, hiking and picnicking. Click on the photo for more information.

Pettigrew State Park
2252 Lake Shore Road
Creswell, NC 27928
(252) 797-4475
Locator Map
More than 1,200 acres of land and 16,600 acres of water on Lake Phelps blend nature, history and recreation. The park offers bird watching, boating, camping, education and events, fishing, hiking and picnicking. Native American dugout canoes found locally and on display are among the longest and oldest known. More than 2,500 acres along the Scuppernong River, including about four miles of river-front land, allow access to the river. Its potential future use includes camping, canoeing, hiking, fishing, picnicking and wildlife viewing.

Pilot Mountain State Park
1792 Pilot Knob Park Road
Pinnacle, NC 27043
(336) 325-2355
Locator Map
Pilot Mountain, a National Natural Landmark, rises as a solitary peak 1,400 feet above the rolling countryside of the upper Piedmont plateau. The park offers camping, canoeing, education and events, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and rock climbing and rappelling. An extensive trail network, which stretches from the summit to the Yadkin River, is augmented by a bridle trail and a canoe trail on the river.

Raven Rock State Park
3009 Raven Rock Road
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-4888
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The stone bluffs of Raven Rock rise 150 feet and stretch for more than a mile along the Cape Fear River. The 4,667-acre park offers camping, canoeing, education and events, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, picnicking and a visitors center. Bridle trails are north of the river, accessible from River Road (SR 1418) off of U.S. 401 north of Lillington. Click on the photo for more information.

Rendezvous Mountain State Park
1956 Rendevous Mountain Road
Purlear, NC 28655
(336) 667-5072
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The former educational state forest offers more than five miles of hiking trails that are well-marked and offer multiple exhibits and displays along the way, as well as a picnic shelter.  The park’s Blue Ridge Mountain hardwoood forest makes the park one of North Carolina’s most scenic settings. Several well-known North Carolina mountains can be seen from the forest, including Grandfather, Table Rock and Hawksbill.

Singletary Lake State Park
6707 N.C. 53 East
Kelly, NC 28448
(910) 669-2928
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A portion of the unique Carolina bay ecosystem, 572-acre Singletary Lake lies within Bladen Lakes State Forest and encompasses the Bay Tree Lake State Natural Area. The park was primarily developed as a camp for nonprofit groups, but has recently opened to the general public. Two separate camps for certified groups offer dormitory-style cabins, modern restrooms and mess hall. The Canebrake Family Cabin is available to the public and may be reserved in advance for entire weeks Sunday to Saturday year-round. Public access is limited to hiking, fishing and use of private watercraft. Swimming and canoe rentals are available for group campers only.

South Mountains State Park
3001 South Mountains State Park Avenue
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 433-4772
Locator Map
One of the state’s most rugged state parks includes elevations of 3,000 feet, an 80-foot waterfall and 40 miles of trails in its 18,000-plus acres. The park offers camping, equestrian camping, education and events, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking (strenuous 18-mile loop) and picnicking. Click on the photo for more information.

Stone Mountain State Park
3042 Frank Parkway
Roaring Gap, NC 28668
(336) 957-8185
Locator Map
The 600-foot granite dome for which the park is named is among 13,747 acres that include more than 20 miles of designated trout waters and more than 18 miles of trails. The park offers camping, rock climbing, education and events, exhibits, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and picnicking on a large picnic grounds (75 sites, three shelters). Hutchinson Homestead, a restored mid-19th century mountain farm, is also part of the park.

Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve
1024 Fort Bragg Road
Southern Pines, NC 28387
(910) 692-2167
Locator Map
This 898-acre protected longleaf pine forest serves to preserve and portray the natural features unique to its region, including the rare and endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, the pine barrens tree frog and bog spicebush. The preserve offers education and events, an exhibit hall and more than 4 miles of easy hiking trails.

William B. Umstead State Park
8801 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 571-4170
Locator Map
Trees, flowers, birds, lakes and streams form a natural community in 5,439-acres at the center of the Triangle. The park – a Depression-era works project designed to convert exhausted farmland for recreational use and originally known as Crabtree Creek Recreational Demonstration Area – offers camping, canoe and rowboat rentals, bicycling, education and events, exhibit hall, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, non-profit-group lodge and cabin rentals, mountain biking and picnicking. The main Crabtree Creek entrance is off of U.S. 70 (Glenwood Avenue); enter the Reedy Creek section off I-40 at Harrison Avenue.

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