STATE PARK Activities

The park has two islands that are heron rookeries, which are home to The 33-acre over 25 great blue Park Lake, which heron nests. is separated from the larger Lake Norman by a dam, is a great place for canoeing, kayaking GPS: 35.672548, -80.9325 Many people believe and paddleboarding. there is a Loch Ness monster-like creature The park offers a named Normie lurking 125-yard sandy 759 State Park Road in Lake Norman. Troutman, NC 28166 swim beach. 704-528-6350 [email protected] Fun Facts FISHING ■■ The state park was established in 1962, when Duke Power Company donated 1,328 acres of land to the Division of Parks and Recreation. Yellow Perch Crappie ■■ From 1959 to 1964, the company now known as built the Cowans Ford Dam across the to generate 33 Artifacts, such as hydroelectric power. This impoundment TENT AND TRAILER arrowheads, have been resulted in the creation of Lake Norman. CAMPSITES found in the state park area, ■■ Lake Norman was named after Norman Cocke, indicating the presence of a former president of Duke Power. the Catawba Indians, who ■■ The park comprises about 17 miles of Lake made pottery Lake Norman, known as from the Norman shoreline. the “Inland Sea,” is the red clay largest man-made lake ■■ The park was originally named Duke Power prevalent within the state of State Recreational Area, then Duke Power in the . State Park, before finally being named Lake Catawba Norman State Park. River Basin. ■■ The 30.5-mile Itusi Trail system was built in cooperation with the Tarheel Trailblazers, a local mountain biking group. ■■ The park also offers three hiking-only trails: ncparks.gov the Alder Trail, Dragonfly Trail and Lake Shore See the Trail. Park Map MNQPV