NC State Park Summary
Our Top 10 NC State Parks:
Morrow Mountain State Park
2. Grandfather Mountain State Park
3. Mount Mitchell State Park
4. Lake James State Park
5. Stone Mountain State Park
6. Hanging Rock State Park
7. Gorges State Park
8. New River State Park
9. Goose Creek State Park
10. Carolina Beach State Park
Our Top 10 Trails:
Morrow Mountain State Park: Sugarloaf Mountain Trail (3.3 miles. Moderate)
Hanging Rock State Park: Moore’s Wall Loop Trail (4.7 miles. Strenuous)
Mount Mitchell State Park: Black Mountain Crest Trail (11.4 miles. Strenuous (1 mile out to Mount Craig))
Grandfather Mountain State Park: Cragway Trail (1 mile. Strenuous)
South Mountains State Park: Chestnut Knob Overlook Trail (2.6 miles one way. Strenuous)
Goose Creek State Park: Palmetto Boardwalk Trail (0.5 miles. Easy)
Elk Knob State Park: Summit Trail (1 mile. Moderate-Strenuous)
Lake Norman State Park: Lake Shore Trail (6 miles. Moderate)
Carolina Beach State Park: Sugarloaf Trail (3 miles. Easy)
Stone Mountain State Park: Stone Mountain Loop Trail (3.5 miles. Strenuous)
Superlatives:
Best Sunrise:
Mount Mitchell State Park
Best Sunset:
Hanging Rock State Park
Best Waterfall:
Gorges State Park
Most Unique State Park:
Merchants Millpond State Park
Best Winter Park:
Elk Knob State Park
Best Spring Park:
Goose Creek State Park
Best Summer Park:
Morrow Mountain State Park
Best Fall Park:
Grandfather Mountain State Park
Best Picnic Area:
Mount Mitchell State Park
Best State Park Patch
Lake Waccamaw
Best Campsite:
Kerr Lake State Recreation Area
Most Dog Friendly:
Jockey’s Ridge State Park
Must Do at Each Park:
Mountain Region:
Chimney Rock State Park: Hike ALL of the stairs up to Exclamation Point
Elk Knob State Park: Go Snowshoeing up to the Elk Knob Overlook
Gorges State Park: Dip your Toes in the Water at the Bottom of Rainbow Falls
Grandfather Mountain State Park: Catch the Fall Colors from Top Crag View
Lake James State Park: Take the Fonta Flora State Trail and Enjoy the Lake and Mountain Views
Mount Jefferson State Natural Area: See the views from Luther Rock
Mount Mitchell State Park: Catch a Sunrise at the Highest Point East of the Mississippi River
New River State Park: Canoe down the New River
Rendezvous Mountain State Park: Hike the Amadahy Trail- the longest trail in the park
South Mountains State Park: Hike to Chestnut Knob Overlook
Stone Mountain State Park: See Stone Mountain from the Top and Bottom
Piedmont Region:
Crowders Mountain State Park: Enjoy the Piedmont Area Views from the Pinnacle Overlook
Eno River State Park: Check out the Newest Park of the State Park- The Historic Occoneechee Speedway
Falls Lake State Park: Paddle Board at the Beaverdam Access
Hanging Rock State Park: See the 360 Degree Views at the Fire Tower at the Top of Moore’s Wall Loop Trail
Haw River State Park: Hike Lake Loop Trail for Some Amazing Lakeside Views
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area: Go Birdwatching and Try to Spot a Bald Eagle
Kerr Lake State Natural Area: Camp on the Beach
Lake Norman State Park: Hike Lake Shoe Trail to See the Gorgeous Fall Colors
Mayo River State Park: Go Swimming at the Deshazo Mill Access Point
Morrow Mountain State Park: Hike the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail
Occoneechee Mountain State Park: See the Mountain Overlook at the End of the Overlook Trail
Pilot Mountain State Park: Hike All the Way Around the Big Pinnacle
Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve: See the Oldest Living Longleaf Pine Tree on the Round Timber Trail
William B Umstead State Park: Hike Out to See the Carved Log
Coastal Region:
Carolina Beach State Park: Find a Venus Flytrap Along
Carver’s Creek State Park: See the Rockefeller House
Cliffs of the Neuse State Park: See the Fall Colors along the Neuse River
Dismal Swamp State Park: Paddle Down the Canal into Virginia
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area: Enjoy the Beach (with your dog!)
Fort Macon State Park: Take the Fisherman’s Path for Some Gorgeous Beach Views
Goose Creek State Park: Walk the Palemetto Boardwalk and Enjoy the Ecosystem of the Cyprus Swamp
Hammocks Beach State Park: Take one of the Paddle Trails (and maybe see some dolphins!)
Jockey’s Ridge State Park: Go Hang Gliding or Sandboarding
Jones Lake State Park: Hike the Bay Trail all the Way Around the Lake
Lake Waccamaw State Park: Enjoy the Lake View Form the Pier
Lumber River State Park: Paddle down the Black Water River
Medoc Mountain State Park: Hike the Mountain Loop Trail to the Highest Point in the Park
Merchants Millpond State Park: Canoe through the Millpond
Pettigrew State Park: Hike the Lake Shore Trail Boardwalk to see the Lake Views
Raven Rock State Park: Hike the Raven Rock Loop Trail out to the namesake Rock Structure
Singletary Lake State Park: See the HUGE group campsites (and maybe even stay in them!)
