North Carolina State Parks

1. Carolina Beach State Park

Carolina Beach State Park is one of Pleasure Island's loveliest natural getaways, offering a respite from the nearby hustle and bustle of the attractions of the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. The 761-acre park, which is located 10 miles north of the city of Wilmington, is located along the Intracoastal Waterway and the Cape Fear River and is jointly operated by the State of North Carolina and the Department of the Army. It is designated to protect the island's pocosin wetland habitats, which support a plethora of rare carnivorous plant species, including famed Venus flytraps, butterworts, bladderworts, and pitcher plants. Park visitors can explore more than six miles of hiking trails or peruse the park's visitor center, which showcases natural history exhibits on the region's unique ecosystems. A marina is also available for visitor use, along with overnight campgrounds and day-use picnic sites.

1010 State Park Road, Carolina Beach, NC 28428, Phone: 910-458-8206

2. Chimney Rock State Park

Chimney Rock State Park is a striking state park in Rutherford County, conveniently located less than half an hour southeast of the city of Asheville. The 6,807-acre park is renowned for its dramatic scenery, including sites such as its namesake 315-foot spire granite formation that overlooks Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge. Park visitors can ride an elevator to the top of the spire for stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside or observe the unique Devil's Head balancing rock. Six hiking trails are offered throughout the park, including family-friendly nature walks and a moderately strenuous route to the impressive 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls waterfall. Trout anglers can also enjoy excellent fishing conditions on the Rocky Broad River, which is bordered by family attractions such as miniature golf courses and a public riverwalk on its banks across from the park.

743 Chimney Rock Park Road, Chimney Rock, NC 28720, Phone: 828-625-1823

3. Cliffs of the Neuse State Park

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park is a 1,094-acre state park overlooking the beautiful natural landmark Neuse River, North Carolina's longest river, which extends for 275 throughout the Piedmont and empties into the Pamlico Sound. The park was originally established in 1945 by Lionel Weil and the Wayne Foundation and serves as an important preserved habitat for more than 420 species of native plants and trees, along with animals such as river otters, northern parulas, prothonotary warblers, and a variety of nonvenomous snake species. Park visitors can enjoy a designated 11-acre swimming lake during the summer season or peruse the park's museum, which features exhibits on the region's significant geological and ecological history. Five hiking trails traverse mature forest habitats, leading to excellent fishing areas along the river. Visitors can also stay overnight at the park's campground facility, which offers a large family campground and three rental cabins.

240 Park Entrance Road, Seven Springs, NC 28578, Phone: 919-778-6234

4. Crowders Mountain State Park

Crowders Mountain State Park is a popular rock climbing destination in North Carolina's south-central region, located in Gaston County near the city of Gastonia. The park is best known as the home of the twin Pinnacle and Crowders Mountain peaks, which are technically classed as monadnocks and are believed to be the eroded remnants of historic mountains that once towered in the area 500 million years ago. Visitors can enjoy challenging hikes throughout the park on 11 public trails, including the strenuous Ridgeline Trail, which connects to nearby Kings Mountain State and National Military Parks and offers access to the Pinnacle. The Crowders and Backside Trails lead to the peak of Crowders Mountain, which offers stunning 25-mile panoramic views of the surrounding Piedmont area and the nearby skyline of Charlotte. A nine-acre lake offers excellent fishing opportunities, with canoe and boat rentals available. Backcountry campsites are also available with permit.

522 Park Office Lane, Kings Mountain, NC 28086, Phone: 704-853-5375

5. Elk Knob State Park

Elk Knob State Park is one of North Carolina's newest state parks, opened to the public in 2003 after efforts by citizen groups and the Nature Conservancy to preserve the Elk Knob region from commercial development. The park, which surrounds Watauga County's highest mountain peak, spans 3,680 acres within the Blue Ridge Mountains, approximately 10 miles from the city of Boone. Though the park's facilities are currently in the process of development, year-round activities are already available, including one of North Carolina's only opportunities for cross-country skiing during the winter months. A hiking trail offers views of nearby peaks in Tennessee and Virginia, and a backcountry camping area is accessible via permit. Visitors can also view exhibits or attend community days related to the region's mountain communities, developed by faculty and students at nearby Appalachian State University.

5564 Meat Camp Road, Todd, NC 28684, Phone: 828-297-7261

6. Fort Macon State Park

Fort Macon State Park preserves the restored Civil War-era fort of the same name, which is most noted as the site of the seminal 1862 Battle of Fort Macon. The park, which is located along Bogue Banks near Atlantic Beach, was originally opened to the public in 1936 and is North Carolina's second most-visited park today, despite clocking in as one of its smallest at a mere 424 acres.

Visitors can explore the fully resorted fort as part of self-guided tours, with a variety of exhibits on display and cannon and musket demonstrations showcased throughout the day. A coastal education center is also offered at the site, along with a protected swimming area during the summer months and opportunities for surf and soundside fishing.

2303 East Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512, Phone: 252-726-3775

7. Goose Creek State Park

Goose Creek State Park is a charming 1.672-acre park near the Pamlico Sound, located approximately two miles south of U.S. Route 264 near the city of Beaufort. The park area, which was historically the home of the Secota and Pamlico indigenous tribes, was preserved during the 1970s as part of citizen efforts to revitalize the Goose Creek ecosystem following the prevalence of the timber industry in the region in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, the park offers eight miles of public hiking trails, which meander through gorgeous wetland and swamp environments and provide habitats for species such as white-tailed deer, black bears, bobcats, and a variety of wading and migratory birds. Other year-round activities at the park include boating, fishing, and swimming at Goose Creek, with a designated boat ramp available for use at Dinah's Landing. Overnight camping is offered at the park's primitive campground site, while nature and history exhibits are showcased at its visitor center.

2190 Camp Leach Road, Washington, NC 27889, Phone: 252-923-2191

8. Gorges State Park

Gorges State Park is an immense state park in Transylvania County, spanning nearly 8,000 acres near the Jocassee Gorges. The park is one of North Carolina's newest-developed state parks, purchased in 1999 by the state from the Duke Energy Corporation for environmental protection of the gorges' sensitive second-growth forest habitat. Year-round recreation opportunities are available for visitors, including opportunities for hiking, biking, and horseback riding along the park's many nature trails. At the South Carolina border, the manmade Lake Jocassee reservoir serves as a prime area for trout and bass fishing. Museum-quality exhibits are offered at the park's visitor center, while opportunities for primitive camping are available at several sites throughout the park. Nearby in bordering Pisgah National Forest, connector trails provide access to landmarks such as Rainbow and Turtleback Falls.

976 Grassy Ridge Road, Sapphire, NC 28774, Phone: 828-966-9099

9. Hanging Rock State Park

Hanging Rock State Park was originally created during the late 1930s as a state project park of the Civilian Conservation Corps, meant to protect the region from potential mountain resort development. Today, the park spans 7,869 acres throughout Stokes County, located approximately half an hour north of Winston-Salem within the gorgeous ancient Sauratown Mountain Range. A number of original CCC-constructed structures at the park remain and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the park's 12-acre manmade lake and bathhouse, which are accessible for swimming and boating during the summer months. Over 20 miles of hiking trails traverse the park, providing opportunities to hike past waterfalls and up to peak summits for unparalleled views of the surrounding region. Rock climbing is offered at Moore's and Cook's Walls, while overnight accommodations are offered at the park's 73-site campground and 10 rental cabins.

1790 Hanging Rock Park Road, Danbury, NC 27016, Phone: 336-593-8480

10. Jockey's Ridge State Park

Jockey's Ridge State Park is North Carolina's most-visited state park, preserving the eastern United States' tallest living sand dune system. The park, which is located in the city of Nags Head, is open to the public year-round and also preserves gorgeous maritime forests near the Roanoke Sound. Visitors can stroll along the park's 360-foot boardwalk or explore its family-friendly museum exhibits, which detail the unique ecology of its sand dune habitats. Sandboarding is popular along the park's Atlantic Ocean coastline, with hang-gliding lessons offered via vendors during the summer months. On the park's soundside, visitors can swim, sunbathe, kayak, or explore a mile-long nature trail. The park also offers unique opportunities for visitors with mobility concerns to reserve all-terrain vehicle rides to the top of the sand dunes.

300 W. Carolista Drive, Nags Head, NC 27959, Phone: 252-441-7132