Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is the twelfth park in our 2025 North Carolina State Park Challenge. We headed over to Jordan Lake on a hot summer day in the hopes to see some Bald Eagles and cool off in the lake. We stopped by the Visitor Center to grab our passport stamp then over to the Ebenezer Access to walk around. We walked around the edge of the lake doing some birdwatching and happened to be lucky enough to see a couple of Bald Eagles hunting. It was a great place to take a dip in the lake to cool off early in the morning while enjoying the scenery. Then we headed to the New Hope Overlook Access to hike and cool off some more.
We took off on the blue trail and hiked until we were hot and needed to dip in the water. The great thing about Jordan Lake is you can step off the trails anywhere along the lake and have your own private space to swim. For someone with a dog, this is a huge plus. We were able to swim and cool down without worrying about anyone else coming into our area- we could really enjoy it. Majority of the access points have their own swim beach and boat ramp- so this is where to most of the people will be. But of you’re looking for a little privacy, just head out on the trails or along the lake’s edge to have your own private spot! There is an entrance fee of $10 per vehicle per day between Memorial and Labor Day. In April, May, and September the $10 per vehicle fee is charged only on weekends and holidays, the rest of the year its free!
Park Details:
ADDRESS: 280 State Park Road, Apex NC 27523
HOURS: November-February: 8am-6pm
March-April & September-October: 8am-8pm
May-August: 8am-9pm
VISITOR CENTER: Open Daily March-October 8am-4:30pm, Weekdays only November-February
PASSPORT STAMP: Located at the Visitor Center
ENTRANCE FEE: $10/Day per vehicle on weekends and holidays in April, May, and September. $10/Day daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
TRAILS: 15 miles of hiking trails over 8 trails in the park
ACTIVITIES: Hiking, Paddling, Swimming, Fishing, Birdwatching, & Boating
DOG RULES: Dogs are allowed on all trail, as long as they are on a leash. Dogs are not allowed in park buildings. Please pick up after your pet.
Check out our videos about this Park on instagram @axel.theadventurepup
