~ 14:579 2005 North Carolina State Parks www.ncsparks.net ~ \~L01 I Our mission The mission of the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation is: • to protect North Carolina's natural diversity~ · • to provzde andpromote outdoor recreation opportunities throughout North Carolina~ · anrt • to exemplify and encourage good stewardship of North Carolina's natural resources for all citizens and visitors in North Carolina. Need more info? The North Carolina parks system's website at www.ncsparks.net gives complete information on each of our parks as well as programs of the NC Division of Parks and Recreation. You'll find maps that can be downloaded plus details on park facilities, fees, reservations and special outdoor activities such as cycling, kayaking and rock climbing. Contact information for each park is provided as well as an up-to-date calendar of educational programs and special events. Check it out before your visit. We also offer specialized brochures for many of our parks. These brochures include park maps and describe facilities in detail as well as the unique natural and historic aspects of the park. Just con­ tact the park office or our Raleigh office at 919-733- p ARK, or email us at [email protected]. www.ncsparks.net I About our parks ... In North Carolina, we like to call our state parks "Naturally Wonderful." For us, this is more than a catch phrase. It indicates how we develop and manage our 33 state parks and recreation areas. It has to do with our mission statement on the facing page, which, in turn, evolved from our state's constitution. Our principal mission is to preserve and protect the stunning natural resources in North Carolina. While it's impossible to keep pristine the more than 170,000 acres of parkland in our system, we've developed these parks cautiously with this idea of stewardship in mind. While there are myriad recreational opportunities, our mission demands relatively low-impact activities. We've been careful to arrange campgrounds and park amenities to complement- rather than compete with- the natural features that attract so many visitors. While visiting our state parks, you'll find that- with the exception of two lakeside recreation areas- there are no admission fees. Early on, the people of North Carolina decided that the state's array of natural treasures should be enjoyed by as many as possible. Enjoy your exploration of North Carolina's state parks. www.ncsparks.net Enrich the experience Environmental education and interpretation are priorities at our state parks. Many now offer excit­ ing exhibit halls that give visitors a deeper under­ standing of the cultural and natural resources they encounter. And, our park rangers are environmen­ tal educators who possess a keen knowledge of the natural world and share it freely through one-on­ one encounters and interpretive programs. Scheduled hikes, illustrated talks and explorations of one-to-two hours cover topics as varied as the interests of our rangers, such as birding, animal lore, geology, astronomy, water quality and history. Check at a park office or our website for a schedule. The core of our formal education program is the Environmental Education Learning Experience, or EELE. An EELE at each park brings classrooms into the natural world with approved curriculum guides that focus on the park's significant natural resources. There are hands-on activities, student information pages, worksheets, fact sheets and reference materials. Our website offers samples of EELE guides and a calendar of EELE workshops. You can schedule an interpretive program or EELE for your group just by contacting a state park or recreation area. www.ncsparks.net Access The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation is committed to making more areas of our state parks accessible for persons with disabilities. All of our new visitor centers and exhibit halls are fully accessible. In addition, many of our older facilities are being upgraded with accessibility in mind. You'll find that many parks have accessible camping areas, trails, picnicking and fishing sites, swim beaches and other facilities. Contact our park offices or our division's central office at 919-733-4181 to find out which facilities are best suited to your needs. Or, check out our website at www.ncsparks.net. The parks system also offers discounts to senior citizens. With proof of age, adults 62 and over receive reduced rates on camping throughout the system, as well as reduced entrance fees at Falls Lake and Jordan Lake and the ferry ride at Hammocks Beach State Park. If you're camping ... Reservations are available at only select camp­ grounds, primarily those at lakeside recreation areas. Most of our campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For those camp­ grounds offering reservations, there are require­ ments for advance notice and minimum and maxi­ mum stays. It's best to call the park office when planning your trip to learn details of available facilities and the reservations policy. PARK GATES ARE LOCKED EACH NIGHT WHEN THE PARK CLOSES. So, plan accordingly when arranging your arrival time and when making daytime excursions outside the park. www.ncsparks.net Mountain Parks Gorges State Park liDr:alll!!fi Newest state park; development is under way. Wa­ terfalls, gorges, elevations over 3000 feet, rising 2000 feet in only three miles, one of the greatest concen­ trations of rare and unique plant and animal species in eastern United States. Extensive hiking trails. Picnicking, backpack camping, river and lake fishing. Hanging Rock State Park mniiDDr:alll!!ri~D rill II~ Rock outcrops at elevations up to 2,500 feet, five waterfalls and cascades, mountain lake, access to scenic river. 73 tent and trailer campsites with showers; eight group tent campsites; six cabins. More than 18 miles of hiking trails, including nearly four miles of bridle trails, rock climbing. Lake swimming and fishing, rowboat and canoe rentals; boat access to nearby river. Visitor center with exhibits, interpretive programs, three picnic shelters, historic bath house. Lake James State Park Vistas of surrounding Black Mountains overlooking manmade 6,510-acre lake. Two boat ramp areas, canoe rentals, lake fishing and swimming. Twenty backpack campsites 150 to 300 yards from parking lot; showers. Picnic shelter, three miles of hiking trails, interpretive programs. Gmupcamping (eaencf II II!! Nonmotorized boat access ~ Tent camping !j! Groupcabins !! Rental boats mTent, trailer, RV camping D Hiking ID Swimming ~ Dumpstation !:; Horsebackriding £:3 Hanggliding n sho~ mBi cy:fulg mPicni ctables ~~ Bacl<packcamping U Rockclimbing ml Picnic shelter ~ Canoecamping ~ FJS!ling CD VJSitor center 5 Equestrian camping l3 Po~t ramp 11 Exhibit hall 5! Vamtioncabins ~~ Marinaa<ll'SS ~ Historicsite Mount Jefferson State Natural Area 1111 Panoramic views from scenic Blue Ridge mountaintop at 4,683-foot elevation. National natural landmark, unique plant communities. Picnic area with shelter, 1.3 miles of hiking trails, interpretive programs. Mount Mitchell State Park Highest peak east of the Mississippi at 6,684 feet, views up to 100 miles, North Carolina's first state park. Nine tent campsites, 11 miles of hiking trails. Trailheads for backpackers and hikers using trail system on adjacent U.S. Forest Service lands. Exhibit hall, gift shop, interpretive programs, environmental education classroom. Two picnic shelters, restaurant. New River State Park anrtJII~IIII Believed to be one of the oldest rivers in North America; canoeing past scenic rock outcrops, farmlands, woodlands; 26.5-mile segment designated National Wild and Scenic River. More than 30 canoe-in tent campsites, many within 250 to 300 yards of parking lots. Canoe access, river fishing, picnic shelter, community building. Nearly five miles of hiking trails, interpretive programs. Pilot Mountain State Park One of the state's signature landmarks, premier raven habitat, scenic river access. Nearly so tent, trailer and recreational vehicle campsites, showers; two backpack or canoe-in campsites; one group tent campsite. Ten miles of hiking trails, including seven miles of bridle trails, rock climbing. River fishing, canoe access, interpretive programs, picnic shelter. Mountains/Heartland . · South Mountains State Park Rock outcroppings up to 3,000 feet, So-foot waterfall. More than 40 miles of hiking trails, including 29 miles of bridle trails and 18-mile bicycling trail. Eleven tent campsites, 20 backpack campsites, four group backpack campsites, 15 equestrian campsites with 37-stall barn. Stream fishing, picnic shelter, interpretive programs. Stone Mountain State Park Rock dome rising 700 feet above the valley floor, waterfalls, Blue Ridge Mountain overlooks. Historic homestead, exhibits, interpretive programs. 87 tent and trailer campsites with showers and dump station. Six backpack campsites and four group campsites. Three picnic shelters, 70 picnic sites, over 20 miles of hiking trails, rock climbing and 17 miles of trout streams. Heartland Parks Crowders Mountain State Park Hiking on the two highest peaks in Kings Mountain Range, views of more than 20 miles, streams and lake environments. Ten backpack campsites, six group backpack campsites. Nearly 12 miles of hiking trails, rock climbing, two picnic shelters, interpretive programs. Canoe rentals, lake fishing. fegend" IJ Groupcamping II Nonmotorized boataa::ess ~ Tentcamping !'i! Groupcabins 19 Rental boats (!) Tent, trailei~ RV camping U Hiking D Swimming ~ Dumpstation ~ Horsebackriding ,_, Hanggliding n s~ m sicyding mPimictables £1 Baclqro<camping U Rockclimbing [!I Pimicshelter ~ Canoecamping I!!!J Flshing m:J Vlsitorcenter l!j Equestriancamping 15!!1 PCMelbootrnmp g Exhibit hall 5a Vacationcabins 01 Malina aw:ss ~ Historicsite II Heartland Eno River State Park Scenic wilderness corridor encompasses river, historic homestead and mill sites, extensive trail system. More than 23 miles of hiking trails, five backpack campsites, one backpack group campsite. Interpretive programs, picnic shelters. Canoe access, river fishing. Falls Lake State Recreation Area Expansive reservoir and woodlands, habitat for diversity of animals, including American bald eagles.