NATURE PRESERVES AND PARKS IN NORTH CAROLINA

There are plenty of outdoor activities to pursue here, from camping, swimming, paddling and fishing, to hiking, horseback riding, mountain climbing and biking, and many others. The place has over 15 miles of trails for hiking, the Lake Tillery, which is used for all water-related activities, as well as the Pee Dee River. Boat, canoe and rowboat rentals are available, and so are RVs which are equipped with bathhouses. The campground has over a hundred sites for RVs, trailers and tents. The park even features a museum and offer summer-long interpretive programs.

Contact Information:

Address: 49104 Morrow Mountain Road, Albemarle, NC 28001

Phone: 704-982-4402

Website: https://www.ncparks.gov/morrow-mountain-state-park

Besides featuring Lake Norman, the state’s largest man-made lake, Lake Norman State Park has a lot to offer to its visitors. From 30.5 miles of single-track trails that make one of the region’s popular mountain biking areas, hiking trails, and campgrounds for individuals as well as groups, to free interpretive programs offered by park rangers and educational exhibits in the visitor center, Lake Norman State Park surely has no dearth of activities to go for.

And then of course there is Lake Norman, a 34-mile main channel that covers an area of 32,510 acres. The Lake itself offers more activities than one can count, from boating and fishing (which are the major activities), to a 125-yard-wide swimming beach that lies at the lake’s south end. The place is complete with a bathhouse complex and a boat ramp from where boats can be rented.

Contact Information:

Address: 759 State Park Road, Troutman, NC 28166

Phone: 704-528-6350

Website: https://www.ncparks.gov/lake-norman-state-park

A fantastic place for climbing or hiking, or simply sitting back and enjoying being in the midst of nature, Crowders Mountain State Park is located 32 miles west of Charlotte. It takes an average of 40 minutes to get there. Containing a wide variety of terrains – from flat valleys to towering cliffs, Crowders Mountain State Park has a lot to offer to its visitors, no matter what their age, experience or fitness level.

Crowders Mountain State Park has companion peaks, i.e. The Pinnacle and Crowders Mountains, which together offer towering 150-foot cliffs, 25-mile-wide magnificent views, and a rugged terrain that offers challenging hikes and climbs. In fact, the rock-climbing activities bring in people from several different counties and even from other states. The State Park offers 11 different trails, which range from pastoral to very strenuous, and run for miles altogether, as well as a Backcountry camping feature complete with individual sites and rent-able cabins. Boats and canoes are available for rent too, and one can take them on the 9-acre lake either to fish or to canoe.

There are other opportunities too: One can visit the visitor center, which hosts museum-style exhibits and ongoing interactive programs. And if you visit in the summer, you’ll be greeted by the welcome station and get the opportunity to be a part of the rangers’ interpretive programs.

Contact Information:

Address: 522 Park Office Lane, Kings Mountain, NC 28086

Phone: 704-853-5375

Website: https://www.ncparks.gov/crowders-mountain-state-park

If you’re looking for a place that offers the outdoors and has a historical edge to it, then this is just the place for you. One of the most popular parks of North Carolina, Fort Macon State Park is named after Fort Macon – a five-sided fort was originally built in the 1826-1834 period for the purpose of guarding the Beaufort Harbor’s entrance.

The state park, in addition to showcasing some of the best military architecture of the 19th century, also offers sandy beaches, trails and scenic views.

History buffs will definitely not be disappointed here – Civil War reenactments are held during the summer, while guided tours are held throughout the year. There are also several extensive exhibits – both indoors and outdoors, as well as a museum-grade coastal education center.

Outdoor enthusiasts will not be disappointed either – the park offers several outdoor activities such as picnicking, biking, hiking, and fishing. Visitors – especially children – should definitely check out the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

Contact Information:

Address: 2303 East Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512

Phone: 252-726-3775

Website: https://www.ncparks.gov/fort-macon-state-park

If you like something that’s grand yet outdoorsy, you must definitely head to Stone Mountain State Park. Located in the northwestern part of North Carolina, the park lies in the bordering areas of the Wilkes and Alleghany counties. Declared a National Natural Landmark in 1975, Stone Mountain gets its name from a 600-foot magnificent gray-white colored granite dome, which is home to several activities such as picnicking, climbing, hiking, camping, fishing, and horseback riding, among others.

There are over 18 miles of trails, and over 20 miles of waters dominated by the trout. There is also a campsite with over 90 different sites, backpacking facilities and utility hookups. Another major attraction of the place is Hutchinson Homestead, a mountain farm from the mid-19th century that has been restored and made available for visiting.

Contact Information:

Address: 042 Frank Parkway, Roaring Gap, NC 28668

Phone: 336-957-8185, 1-877-722-6762 (for reservations)

Website: https://www.ncparks.gov/stone-mountain-state-park

Popularly called the ‘Central Park of Charlotte,’ Freedom Park is located in the Dilworth/Myers Park/ right in the midst of high-class residential architecture. Spread over 98 acres, Freedom Park is filled with a wide variety of plant life, which makes it ideal for a walk or rest in the sun on a hot summer day.

The park offers activities too, from several paved trails which originate from the 7 acre lake located in the center of the park, which is very popular with cyclists and joggers, to playgrounds, baseball grounds, tennis courts and even a bandshell for open-air concerts. The park, which connects to the Little Sugar Greenway is both dog and child (or family) friendly.

Contact Information:

Address: 1900 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC

Phone: (704) 432-4280

Website: https://www.mecknc.gov/parkandrec/parks/parksbyregion/centralregion/pages/freedom.aspx?redirect=charmeck

Known for offering some of the most scenic views of the mountains, Chimney Rock is located 95 miles from Charlotte. The park gets its name from a 300-feet high spire, which is present on the park’s southern side. There is a small stairway to the summit of the spire, which was built in 1885. There was an elevator to the summit, which is currently closed down for repairs.

In addition to scenic views, Chimney Rock several trails for hiking and mountain biking, and the Rocky Broad River, which is a major attraction for catching trout. Don’t forget your fishing license, though, since that’s a requirement here. One can access the fishing waters from the front gate of the park. The Rumbling Bald Mountain has a facility for rock climbing, though it is not available to beginners and cannot be availed without a permit and registration.

Unlike other parks, Chimney Rock has several other attractions besides its outdoor ones. There are two gift shops and a restaurant, as well as grills and picnic tables which are located at various spots. The gift shops, which are located on the bottom and top of the elevator, offer various souvenirs, books, clothing and decorative items, among others. The Old Rock Cafe, which is the resident restaurant offers several traditional and contemporary dishes to visitors, and even has a patio dining feature.

Contact Information:

Address: 431 Main St, Chimney Rock, NC 28720

Phone: 800-277-9611

Website: http://www.chimneyrockpark.com

If you’re an out-and-out outdoor person, and loves nothing less than trying new things, this place is truly ideal for your getaway. The over a hundred feet Jockey’s Ridge, aside from being a very popular park, is also the tallest sand dune on the East Coast, and offers a wide variety of activities that only few other can parallel.

A very popular location for sightseeing and kite-flying, Jockey’s Ridge offers a spectacular view of that arches between the ocean and the Roanoke Sound. It has a state-of-the-art visitor center that houses a museum, along with a 360-foot boardwalk that regularly features exhibits on the ecology of the dune and acts as a gradual entry to the gigantic dune field.

Apart from sightseeing and kite-flying, one can go sand-boarding (albeit with a permit) and hang-gliding (via vendors only). One can also go to the park’s soundside and do activities such as wading, sunbathing, and paddling, or going on the one-mile nature trail which leads to grassy dunes, maritime thickets and wetlands. Other aerial activities, such as wind-surfing are also available. And if you’re a flying enthusiast, you can even visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial located nearby and see the exact site where brothers Orville and Wilbur’s made their iconic first flight. Although there is no way for staying overnight here, the day’s trip will more than make up for the deficit.

Contact Information:

Address: 300 W. Carolista Drive, Nags Head, NC 27959

Phone: 252-441-7132

Website: https://www.ncparks.gov/jockeys-ridge-state-park

One of the largest state parks in North Carolina, Lake James is spread over an area of 6,800 acres and has an impressive 150 miles of shoreline. The park is about 95 miles away from Charlotte, and is well-known for the various unique features that has.

In addition to the lake itself, Lake James State Park has over 25 miles of hiking trails, and 15 miles of biking trails, and offers some of the most breathtaking views of the Appalachian Mountains. It also offers stunning waterfront campsites and remote camping spots where you can only go by paddling – a feature that is unique to the park. Apart from three large picnic grounds, there over twenty walk-in campsites, which offer stunning views of the lake. One should definitely visit the Paddy’s Creek area, which should be seen to be believed.

With such a large area and so many features, there is something for every taste at Lake James. Those looking for peace and quiet can take advantage of the large and quite seaside or take a walk on the shore or near the nearby forests, while those who would love to go for a splash in the water can go for a number of activities such as fishing, boating and water skiing. One can also go kayaking or canoes using the rentals that are available at various times during the year. And then of course, there’s the hiking and biking.

Contact Information:

Address: 7321 NC Hwy 126, Nebo, NC 28761

Phone: 828-584-7728

Website: https://www.ncparks.gov/lake-james-state-park

One of the most rugged state parks in the state, South Mountains State Park is the ideal place to go if you’re looking for some adventure as you escape the busy-bee city life. Located 65 miles from Charlotte, South Mountains State Park features a wide variety of terrains and features, from an 80 foot waterfall to 3,000 feet-high elevations and over 40 miles of hiking and biking trails.

There is no dearth of activities here for sure. Besides the hiking and biking trails, there is a separate 17-mile-long mountain biking loop. It is, however, not recommended for beginners and amateurs. For those who simply wish to camp, there are over twenty different backpacking campsites at six different locations, as well as several drive-to campsites near the Jacob Fork River. While the park has no lake, the river’s tributaries have enough room to go fishing, albeit with a license. The park also has a museum-like visitor center which shows beautiful as well as informative exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the state park.