North Carolina State Parks

Carolina Beach State Park – Located on Pleasure Island near Wilmington, this coastal park is famous for its rare Venus flytraps, scenic hiking trails, and excellent fishing along the Cape Fear River.

Carvers Creek State Park – Situated near Fayetteville, this park features the historic Long Valley Farm, once owned by a Rockefeller, and offers scenic trails through pine forests and wetlands.

Chimney Rock State Park – Home to the iconic 315-foot Chimney Rock, this park in western North Carolina offers breathtaking views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure, along with stunning hiking trails and waterfalls.

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park – Located in eastern North Carolina near Goldsboro, this park showcases dramatic 90-foot cliffs overlooking the Neuse River, offering hiking, paddling, and picnicking opportunities.

Crowders Mountain State Park – Just west of Charlotte, this park features rugged peaks and panoramic views of the Piedmont, making it a favorite spot for rock climbing, hiking, and birdwatching.

Dismal Swamp State Park – Straddling the North Carolina-Virginia border, this park protects part of the Great Dismal Swamp, offering unique paddling, hiking, and wildlife-watching experiences in a vast wetland ecosystem.

Elk Knob State Park – Located in the Appalachian Mountains near Boone, this park is known for its high-elevation forests and scenic summit trail, which provides sweeping views of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Eno River State Park – A natural retreat near Durham, this park follows the Eno River through rolling hills and rocky bluffs, offering excellent hiking, fishing, and opportunities to explore historic mill sites.

Fort Macon State Park – Found along the Crystal Coast near Atlantic Beach, this park features a well-preserved Civil War-era fort, beautiful beaches, and scenic marshland trails.

Goose Creek State Park – Situated along the Pamlico Sound near Washington, this park offers a mix of coastal wetlands, cypress swamps, and sandy shores, perfect for kayaking and nature walks.

Gorges State Park – Located in the rugged mountains of western North Carolina, this park is known for its dramatic waterfalls, deep gorges, and some of the state’s most challenging hiking trails.

Grandfather Mountain State Park – This high-altitude park near Linville offers some of the most strenuous and scenic hiking in North Carolina, including trails with ladders and cables leading to breathtaking summit views.

Hammocks Beach State Park – A hidden gem on the coast near Swansboro, this park features pristine, undeveloped beaches on Bear Island, accessible only by ferry, kayak, or canoe.

Hanging Rock State Park – Located in the Sauratown Mountains north of Winston-Salem, this park is known for its dramatic quartzite cliffs, waterfalls, and stunning panoramic views.

Haw River State Park – A developing park near Greensboro, this site protects a vital section of the Haw River and offers tranquil hiking trails and environmental education programs.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park – Home to the tallest sand dunes on the East Coast, this park in the Outer Banks near Nags Head is famous for hang gliding, sandboarding, and stunning sunset views.

Jones Lake State Park – One of North Carolina’s unique Carolina bay lakes, this park near Elizabethtown features a mysterious, circular lake perfect for swimming, paddling, and fishing.

Lake James State Park – Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Morganton, this park offers sandy beaches, clear mountain waters, and miles of hiking and biking trails.

Lake Norman State Park – Situated on North Carolina’s largest man-made lake, near Charlotte, this park is popular for boating, fishing, and its extensive mountain biking trails.

Lake Waccamaw State Park – Protecting one of the state’s largest and most unique freshwater lakes, this park near Wilmington is home to rare endemic species and offers boardwalk trails through lush cypress swamps.

Lumber River State Park – Spanning 115 miles of the scenic Lumber River in southeastern North Carolina, this park is a haven for paddlers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Mayo River State Park – Located near the Virginia border, this quiet park features scenic waterfalls, peaceful hiking trails, and access to the Mayo River for canoeing and fishing.

Medoc Mountain State Park – A hidden gem in northeastern North Carolina, this park offers rolling hills, hardwood forests, and excellent trails for hiking, horseback riding, and biking.

Merchants Millpond State Park – Situated in the coastal plain near Gatesville, this park features a hauntingly beautiful millpond filled with cypress trees draped in Spanish moss, ideal for paddling and wildlife viewing.

Morrow Mountain State Park – Located in the Uwharrie Mountains near Albemarle, this park offers scenic mountain views, rich Native American history, and opportunities for hiking, camping, and paddling.

Mount Mitchell State Park – Home to the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, this park in western North Carolina offers breathtaking mountain views, alpine forests, and scenic hiking trails.

New River State Park – Protecting one of the world’s oldest rivers, this park near West Jefferson is a top destination for paddling, tubing, and camping along the gentle waters of the New River.

Pettigrew State Park – Located near Lake Phelps, one of North Carolina’s largest natural lakes, this park is known for its ancient cypress trees, rich Native American history, and excellent fishing.

Pilot Mountain State Park – Recognizable by its iconic rounded peak, this park near Winston-Salem offers some of the best rock climbing, hiking, and scenic views in the Piedmont region.

Pisgah View State Park – A new addition to North Carolina’s park system, this park near Asheville will offer stunning mountain scenery and outdoor recreation in the heart of the Pisgah National Forest.

Raven Rock State Park – Located along the Cape Fear River near Lillington, this park is named for its towering rock cliffs and features hiking trails, a scenic river overlook, and backcountry camping.

Rendezvous Mountain State Park – Nestled in the Brushy Mountains near Wilkesboro, this park is known for its rich Revolutionary War history and offers hiking trails through remote, forested landscapes.

Singletary Lake State Park – A quiet retreat in southeastern North Carolina, this park is home to a rare Carolina bay lake and serves primarily as a group camping and environmental education facility.

South Mountains State Park – The largest state park in North Carolina, located near Morganton, this rugged wilderness offers dramatic waterfalls, challenging hiking trails, and backcountry camping.

Stone Mountain State Park – Home to the massive granite dome of Stone Mountain, this park in northwestern North Carolina features spectacular hiking trails, waterfalls, and historic homesteads.

William B. Umstead State Park – A green oasis in the heart of the Triangle near Raleigh, this park offers miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, along with serene lakes for paddling and fishing.