Exploring North Carolina's State Parks

By connecting to the natural world around us, we can become healthier both physically and mentally. North Carolina's 41 state parks provide a bounty of scenic beauty, opportunities for adventure and sanctuaries for your wellness. Explore ten of our state parks with us to plan your next outdoor adventure!

Mount Mitchell State Park

Just 30 miles northeast of Asheville is Mount Mitchell State Park, established as North Carolina’s first state park in 1915 and home to the highest peak east of the Mississippi. The observation deck at the top of 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell offers spectacular mountain views and is accessible via the parking area at the summit or by hiking from the state park office. The park features more than 40 miles of trails, many of them challenging. Hiking is a fantastic way to enjoy the unique plant and animal life at the park.

Pilot Mountain State Park

Big Pinnacle, a rock peak rising 1,400 feet above the surrounding landscape, is the defining feature of Pilot Mountain State Park. There is a wide range of activities available to fully experience the park and its unique natural features. The 2 miles of the Yadkin River that flow through the park provide the perfect setting for fishing or paddling, while the 14 miles of hiking trails and 9 miles of horseback riding trails showcase the magnificent views. For those feeling more adventurous, the park’s quartzite climbing walls range from 30' to 100' and are popular spots for beginner rock climbers and those looking to hone their skills.

Lake Norman State Park

Located 40 miles north of Charlotte, this park offers a variety of both land and water activities. Paddling, swimming and fishing can be enjoyed on the state’s largest artificial lake. For those who enjoy camping, the park includes sites for tents and RVs as well as camper cabins. There are over 38 miles of hiking trails to explore. The park’s Itusi Trail offers over 30 miles of bike trails, making it one of the area’s most popular places for mountain biking.

Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve

Located near Southern Pines, this 915-acre park is home to a vast forest of longleaf pines, some of which are hundreds of years old. Seven miles of hiking trails and 2.5 miles of horseback trails provide a serene way to view some of the rare species of wildlife inhabiting the park. The ecosystem is an ideal setting for birdwatching—you may even be lucky enough to see a red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species found in this park.

Stone Mountain State Park

Approximately 60 miles northwest of Winston-Salem lies the 14,000+ acres that make up Stone Mountain State Park. Although the park boasts waterfalls, creeks and trout streams, the most notable aspect of the park is the 600-foot granite dome, which is designated as a National Natural Landmark. Some ways to enjoy the park include hiking the 20 miles of trails, horseback riding, camping, rock climbing or fishing. In fact, more than 10 miles of the park’s streams are designated as trout waters.

Raven Rock State Park

Looking up at Raven Rock State Park’s 150-foot crystalline structure, it’s hard to believe you are in the foothills of the Piedmont and only 40 miles southwest of Raleigh. Running alongside the Cape Fear River, the park covers almost 5,000 acres and includes 26 miles of hiking trails and 13 miles of bike trails. Camping cabins are available as well as sites for tents and RVs. Other activities include paddling and fishing. The north side of the park hosts 7 miles of trails for horseback riding.

Merchants Millpond State Park

In the coastal plain of eastern North Carolina lies Merchants Millpond State Park. Centered around a 200-year-old millpond, this park offers plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing. Although biking and hiking are available, kayaking and canoeing on the 760-acre millpond are the top ways to explore the old-growth cypress trees, wide variety of wildlife and surrounding wetland ecosystem. The park offers both backpacking and paddle-in-sites for camping as well as on-site boat rentals.

Hammocks Beach State Park

Covering 1,611 acres, Hammocks Beach State Park is located approximately 19 miles southeast of Jacksonville. Bear Island comprises much of the park and is only accessible by private boat or ferry. This 4-mile long island allows camping and is one of the most untouched North Carolina beaches. Other enjoyable park activities include hiking the 2-mile mainland trail, paddling along and within the marshes, fishing and swimming or surfing in the ocean waters.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park

Found along North Carolina’s beautiful coast in Nags Head, Jockey’s Ridge State Park covers 427 acres and includes the tallest active sand dune system in the eastern United States. The park’s two access areas offer varying activities. At the soundside area, beach access allows for water adventures such as paddling, swimming, windsurfing and kiteboarding in addition to hiking. The sand dunes and prevailing winds create the perfect environment for sandboarding, kiting and the park’s hallmark activity of hang gliding, all found at the main access area.

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

With 7 access areas, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area has plentiful camping, boating and swimming opportunities. Campers can choose from more than 1,000 tent, RV and backpacking sites throughout the park. There are approximately 15 miles of hiking trails within the park, with the longest being a 5.4 mile moderately rated loop. The lake, an almost 14,000-acre reservoir in Wake and Chatham counties, is ideal for a variety of water activities with 11 boat ramp locations and 3 sandy beaches for swimming.