Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, Seven Springs, N.C.

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Cliffs of the Neuse State Park

Cliffs of the Neuse is a relatively small park (892 acres) offering short, easy hikes, camping, fishing, picnicking and a lake for summertime swimming on the banks of the Neuse River near Goldsboro.

The park sits atop and alongside its namesake cliffs, which rise 90 feet and can only be seen from the river itself. Overlooks at the top of the cliffs provide a view of the river, which was running very high and flooding some areas of the park when we were there during Memorial Day weekend 2014.

Downriver …

Upriver …

At the park’s overlook area, the 350 Yard Trail connects three half-mile loops – the Spanish Moss Trail to the left if you’re looking toward the river, and the Bird and Galax trails to the right.

Below, the 350 Yard Trail heads toward the river and the Bird and Galax loops.

Spanish Moss gets a moderate rating because of the steep elevation changes taking the hiker from the top of the cliffs to the edge of the river and back up. Below, the trail heads downward traveling clockwise via steps and a switchback, and then up with two sets of steps.

Note over Pam’s left shoulder how far down the trail goes.

The Spanish Moss Trail is behind the park’s former museum, which was replaced with a new visitors center near the entrance to the park in 2011. It connects to the group camping area via a trail at its bottom and to the family campground’s 35-site loop with a short walk through the woods from the trailhead at its top.

Group camping used to only be accessible from this trail, but today there’s an unpaved entrance road separate from but near the main park entrance, and parking. See the map here.

You can get to the river for fishing (but no swimming) at several points at Cliffs of the Neuse, including where the 350 Yard Trail turns to connect to the Bird and Galax loops, below, just before crossing Mill Creek.

Unfortunately for us, the Neuse had backed up into Mill Creek, and access to the trails was cut off for this visit.

The photo below provides a closer look at direction and informational signs across the water.

In summer, Cliffs of the Neuse offers a place to swim, sun and hang out at its 11-acre lake.

You can also rent paddle boats and canoes. The lake is served by a bathhouse and concessions stand.

Note the movie screen on the far end of the lawn seen just above the canoe.

The park’s picnic ares, served by this large shelter and many additional tables and grills, is off of the entrance road and short trails connecting to the bathhouse/concessions area.

When we were there, the 1.9-mile Lake Trail, which starts at the visitors center and circles the back of the lake, and is the park’s longest, was under construction.

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park is in southeast Wayne County, off of N.C. 111.