GUIDE TO NC STATE PARKS
North Carolina’s first state park, Mount Mitchell, offers the same spectacular views today as it did in 1916.
42 OUR STATE GUIDE to the GREAT OUTDOORS PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF VISITNC.COM everyone, right here at home. pristine shorelines, there’s apark for From our highest to peaks our most leisure, recreation education. and for adventure and with opportunities: Carolina’sNorth state are parks packed state-park ncparks.gov/crowders-mountain- (704) 853-5375 this stateparkwas establishedin1973. residents convened to protect it,and the beloved Crowders Mountain, local excavation innearby areas threatened ncparks.gov/cliffs-of-the-neuse-state-park (919) 778-6234 ceremonial grounds andgatheringplaces. for travel and the surrounding landas and Saponi tribes, whoused the river land was once occupied by Tuscarora that loomabove the Neuse River. This has carved out these 90-foot cliffs chimneyrockpark.com (828) 625-1823 flora and fauna are captivating, too. attraction, waterfalls andawealth of while this granite feature is the main is aptly named for itsgeologic form. And mountainous landscape,Chimney Rock ncparks.gov/carvers-creek-state-park (910) 436-4681 rich withnatural andhistoricalbeauty. landscape spansmore than 4,000acres, longleaf pinesof this park,whose scenic family vacation homeissetamong the ncparks.gov/carolina-beach-state-park (910) 458-8206 nearbydynamic thanthe Atlantic. Fear River, this secludedarea isnoless Carolinas. Located along the Cape of the wetlands unique tothe plant home to the Venus flytrap, acarnivorous CAROLINA BEACH KINGS MOUNTAIN SEVEN SPRINGS CHIMNEY ROCK SPRING LAKE STATE PARK STATE PARK NEUSE STATE PARK CROWDERS MOUNTAIN OF THECLIFFS CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK CARVERS CREEK STATE PARK CAROLINA BEACH
// AhistoricRockefeller // Over time, erosion // Protruding from the // Whendrillingand // This coastal parkis
ncparks.gov/eno-river-state-park (919) 383-1686 gem isalsohome to ahistoricmillsite. nearly 30milesof trails. This Piedmont Orange counties, andcurves along away amid the bustleof Durham and ncparks.gov/elk-knob-state-park (828) 297-7261 beautiful forests andsummitviews. an endurance challengerewarded by Dramatic elevation changescreate country skiingduring the winter. in the state that offers cross- ncparks.gov/dismal-swamp-state-park (252) 771-6593 the Great Dismal Swamp itself. 2,000-foot boardwalk ventures into hauntingly beautifullandscape, anda of trails leadvisitors around this land hasrebounded. Sixteen miles extensive logging, this now-protected recreation-area ncparks.gov/fort-fisher-state- (910) 458-5798 weavemarsh. salt through the oceanfront,orexplore thetrails that protected portionsof the area’s of Loggerhead sea turtles on the recreation-area ncparks.gov/falls-lake-state- (919) 676-1027 attracting hikers andleisurely walkers. Sea Trail weaves inandoutof the area, outdoorfun. Today, Mountains-to-the Lake quickly becameapopular spot for for surrounding communities, Falls control floodingandactasa reservoir KURE BEACH WAKE FOREST DURHAM TODD SOUTH MILLS RECREATION AREA RECREATION AREA FORT FISHER STATE FALLS LAKE STATE ENO RIVER STATE PARK ELK KNOB STATE PARK DISMAL SWAMP STATE PARK // Elk Knob is the only park // The Eno River is tucked // Catchaglimpse // Once asiteof // Initially created to
COASTAL EASTERN CENTRAL WESTERN AMENITIES ACTIVITIES CROWDERS MOUNTAIN CHIMNEY ROCK JOCKEY’S RIDGE HAMMOCKS BEACH FORT MACON FORT FISHER CAROLINA BEACH SINGLETARY LAKE PETTIGREW MERCHANTS MILLPOND MEDOC MOUNTAIN LAKE WACCAMAW JONES LAKE GOOSE CREEK DISMAL SWAMP CLIFFS OF THE NEUSE WILLIAM B. UMSTEAD WEYMOUTH WOODS RAVEN ROCK OCCONEECHEE MOUNTAIN MAYO RIVER LUMBER RIVER KERR LAKE JORDAN LAKE HAW RIVER FALLS LAKE ENO RIVER CREEK CARVERS STONE MOUNTAIN SOUTH MOUNTAIN PILOT MOUNTAIN NEW RIVER MOUNT MITCHELL MOUNT JEFFERSON MORROW MOUNTAIN LAKE NORMAN LAKE JAMES HANGING ROCK GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN GORGES ELK KNOB &
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CAMPING • • CABINS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • HIKING,MORE THAN 5 MILES • • • • • • • • •
ourstate.com HORSEBACK RIDING • • • • • • • • • • BICYCLING • • • • • ROCK CLIMBING • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • FISHING • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • SWIMMING • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
PICNIC SHELTER • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
43 VISITOR CENTER • • • • • • • • • • • • HISTORIC SITE NC STATE PARKS GUIDE 44 ncparks.gov/gorges-state-park (828) 966-9099 which isnow ahaven for many rare species. protection led to the creation of the park, Subsequent years of landdonationand conservation efforts beganin thelate1970s. long used for industrial purposes,until ncparks.gov/goose-creek-state-park (252) 923-2191 governors, and,later, subsistence farmers. area once home to the Tuscarora Indians, royal moss frame the trails of this park,located inan ncparks.gov/fort-macon-state-park (252) 726-3775 turbed shoreline for apeaceful swim. history. Or venture over to the undis casemates andimmerseyourself inCivil War the East Coast. on eagles bald of largest concentration the to home —it’s Area Recreation State Lake Jordan at sky and trees the scan to sure Make SAPPHIRE WASHINGTON ATLANTIC BEACH GORGES STATE PARK GOOSE CREEK STATE PARK FORT MACON STATE PARK
OUR STATE // This ruggedlandscapewas
// Live oaksdraped withSpanish
// Step into Fort Macon’s
GUIDE - toth e GREAT OUTDOORS ncparks.gov/hammocks-beach-state-park (910) 326-4881 trails andenjoy nature, undisturbed. Nowadays, visitors canstillexplore paddling prowled the surrounding shallow waters. and World War IICoast Guardsmen have all Americans. Dugout canoes,pirate ships, recognized as avaluable spot by Native this undeveloped barrier islandwas first grandfather.com (828) 963-9522 make for auniquely challengingexperience. cliff-climbing ladders,andintense terrain and physical grandeur. Severe weather, attention for itsdistinctive ecology Mountain haslongattracted global rare andendangered species,Grandfather BANNER ELK SWANSBORO MOUNTAIN STATE PARK GRANDFATHER HAMMOCKS BEACH STATE PARK // 70 moreHome than to // Accessible only by boat,
along the Haw River withmilesof trails serene getaway for the Triad region, set ncparks.gov/hanging-rock-state-park (336) 593-8480 for their distance from the Blue Ridge. as the “mountains away from the mountains” is setamong the Sauratown Mountains, known overlooking the wooded landsbelow. The park out from the earthlike the bow of alarge ship, ncparks.gov/kerr-lake-state-recreation-area (252) 438-7791 after anearly settler of the area. known to Virginians asBuggs Island Lake, located along the Virginia stateline,is ncparks.gov/jordan-lake-state-recreation-area (919) 362-0586 of fun activities onandoff the water. reservoir for itswater supply andahost communities rely on this 14,000-acre practical andrecreational use.Surrounding itself to beagenerous resource for both ncparks.gov/jones-lake-state-park (910) 588-4550 and vegetation to settleinpermanently. open water, whichinvites reptiles, birds, these features that stillcontain shallow in the Coastal Plains. Jones Lake isoneof described asslight topographical depressions States ishome to around 500,000bays, best ncparks.gov/jockeys-ridge-state-park (252) 441-7132 shoreline trails encourage visitors to relax. where paddling,sunbathing,andsandy Sound meets the parkonitsinlandside, the EastCoast’s tallest sanddune.Roanoke hang glide,amore graceful approach to the way down. Many dojust that, or opt to this dunemay inspire anurge to tumble all ncparks.gov/haw-river-state-park (336) 342-6163 a scenic andshorthike through the park. stretches from the Piedmont Loop Trail, for exploring.Aboardwalk to the river BROWNS SUMMIT DANBURY HENDERSON APEX ELIZABETHTOWN NAGS HEAD RECREATION AREA RECREATION AREA HAW RIVER STATE PARK HANGING ROCK STATE PARK KERR LAKE STATE JORDAN LAKE STATE JONES LAKE STATE PARK JOCKEY’S RIDGE STATE PARK // B.Everett Jordan Lake proves // This park’s namesake rock juts // The steep,sandy slopeof // This 50,000-acre reservoir,
// The SoutheasternUnited // This parkisa
PHOTOGRAPH BY ALAN GARVICK NC STATE PARKS GUIDE 46 ncparks.gov/lumber-river-state-park (910) 628-4564 natural, allvarying inpublicaccessibility. into three parts: scenic, recreational, and are stillaround. The parkisnow sectioned along the riverbanks asaresult, someof which and transport. Many communities cropped up an 18th-century hotspot for timber harvest ncparks.gov/lake-waccamaw-state-park (910) 646-4748 perfect for taking in the natural surroundings. boardwalk trail extends375 feet into the lake, you won’t findanywhere elsein the world. A rare plant list,alongwithsomeaquaticspecies home to atleastfive specieson thestate’s ncparks.gov/lake-norman-state-park (704) 528-6350 most popular mountain bikingnetworks. state parkalsoboastsoneof the region’s Carolina’s largest man-madelake, this ncparks.gov/lake-james-state-park (828) 584-7728 the company’s cofounder, James B.Duke. the early 1900s.Fittingly, itwas namedafter electric power source for Duke Energy since Mountains, Lake James hasbeenahydro ORRUM LAKE WACCAMAW TROUTMAN NEBO LUMBER RIVER STATE PARK LAKE WACCAMAW STATE PARK LAKE NORMAN STATE PARK LAKE JAMES STATE PARK
// Setat the baseof the Blue Ridge OUR STATE // True to itsname,Lumber River was // In addition to North
// This Carolina bay is GUIDE toth - e GREAT OUTDOORS ncparks.gov/morrow-mountain-state-park (704) 982-4402 elevation within the park,rising936 feet. tall. Morrow Mountain has the highest and Fall —are allless than 1,000 feet this park—Morrow, Sugarloaf, Hattaway, ncparks.gov/merchants-millpond-state-park (252) 357-1191 species: the longnosegar and the bowfin. flora and fauna, including two primitive fish environment ishome to many speciesof both turtles andkayaks. The primarily aquatic bald cypress trees create windingpaths for upon this swamp-like environment, where ncparks.gov/medoc-mountain-state-park (252) 586-6588 still-rugged terrain andsteepslopes. its peak,butup-closeexploration reveals withstanding the elements hassoftened formed during the Paleozoic Era. Years of remains of amighty mountain range above sealevel, Medoc Mountain iswhat ncparks.gov/mayo-river-state-park (336) 427-2530 well asleftover relics from local textile mills. well-preserved Native Americanfish traps, as rounded the river’s edgesover time. Look for River, where falls andflowing waters have HOLLISTER MAYODAN ALBEMARLE GATESVILLE STATE PARK MEDOC MOUNTAIN STATE PARK MAYO RIVER STATE PARK MORROW MOUNTAIN STATE PARK MERCHANTS MILLPOND // Smooth rocks pepper the Mayo // Standing just325 feet // Acertain eeriebeauty iscast // The four major peakswithin
state-natural-area ncparks.gov/occoneechee-mountain- (919) 383-1686 largely unchangedsince the lastIce Age. Occoneechee Mountain have remained researchers believe that the habitatsof Due to this species’seasonalpresence, fly, whilestrolling thisarea’s wooded trail. the Brown Elfin,a rare species of butter ncparks.gov/new-river-state-park (336) 982-2587 mountains itnow winds through. rivers inNorth America,predating the River is thought to beoneof the oldest River in1976. Despite itsname, the New was namedaNational WildandScenic a scenic portionof the New River, which ncparks.gov/mount-mitchell-state-park (828) 675-4611 those whobrave itwithspectacular views. point eastof the Mississippi River, rewards to the summitof Mount Mitchell, the highest ncparks.gov/mount-jefferson-state-natural-area (336) 246-9653 Peter, whoowned andsurveyed nearby lands. honor of Thomas Jefferson andhis father, by alocallegend.Later, itwas renamed in was once namedPanther Mountain, inspired in avariety of wildflowers, trees, andshrubs, HILLSBOROUGH LAUREL SPRINGS BURNSVILLE WEST JEFFERSON STATE NATURAL AREA STATE NATURAL AREA OCCONEECHEE MOUNTAIN NEW RIVER STATE PARK MOUNT MITCHELL STATE PARK MOUNT JEFFERSON // The strenuous six-mile hike
Mountain was used for for used was Mountain Medoc 1800s, the In for its vineyards. its for France that is famous of aregion after named grape cultivation. It was
// Keep aneye out for // This parkencompasses // This mountain, covered -
PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDREW KORNYLAK NC STATE PARKS GUIDE
PETTIGREW STATE PARK SINGLETARY LAKE STATE PARK WEYMOUTH WOODS CRESWELL // This park encompasses Lake KELLY // Carolina bays are known to SANDHILLS NATURE PRESERVE Phelps, an ecologically and archaeologically be shallow, and at just 11.8 feet deep, SOUTHERN PINES // The longleaf pine forests fascinating site that has witnessed thousands Singletary Lake, surrounded by old cypress of this area once spanned across the South- of years of human history. Artifacts like trees, currently holds the title for the east. Although the longleaf population has dugout canoes, found sunken in the lake’s deepest bay lake in North Carolina. dwindled, this preserve provides a window into shallow water, provide insight into the past. (910) 669-2928 the landscape and ecology of the past. (252) 797-4475 ncparks.gov/singletary-lake-state-park (910) 692-2167 ncparks.gov/pettigrew-state-park ncparks.gov/weymouth-woods-sandhills- nature-preserve SOUTH MOUNTAINS STATE PARK PILOT MOUNTAIN STATE PARK CONNELLY SPRINGS // This area was once the PINNACLE // The protruding form of Pilot site of a gold rush when the mineral was found WILLIAM B. UMSTEAD STATE PARK Mountain has long been a landmark for travel- at Brindle Creek in 1828. Today, there are RALEIGH // Established in the wake of poor ers. When the Saura Indians lived in the region, hikers instead of miners. The park’s beautiful farming practices and the onset of the Great they used it as the “Great Guide” or “Pilot.” landscape includes elevations up to 3,000 feet, Depression, this land was purchased by the (336) 325-2355 as well as an impressive 80-foot waterfall. Resettlement Administration to create a ncparks.gov/pilot-mountain-state-park (828) 433-4772 public recreational area. Now bordered by ncparks.gov/south-mountains-state-park Raleigh’s bustling highways, this surprisingly serene land is a perfect way for city RAVEN ROCK STATE PARK dwellers to get outside without going far. LILLINGTON // Rising 150 feet above the STONE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK (919) 571-4170 Cape Fear River, the impressive Raven Rock ROARING GAP // The center of this 14,000- ncparks.gov/william-b-umstead-state-park was named for the, yes, ravens that once acre park is Stone Mountain, a bald-faced roosted atop it. Many other unique rocky dome. A restored mountain farm stands on features are seen throughout the park, too. the land below, welcoming visitors to delve (910) 893-4888 into the lives of the area’s early settlers. ncparks.gov/raven-rock-state-park (336) 957-8185 ncparks.gov/stone-mountain-state-park
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48 OUR STATE GUIDE to the GREAT OUTDOORS