Raven Rock State Park » History
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Serious plant pests can be introduced into our parks by campers who bring in firewood. To prevent this, many of our parks sell firewood. For campers who choose to bring in their own firewood, please use wood harvested from a source local to the park. Campers should
not bring firewood from outside of North Carolina.
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Bridle Trail Status- trails NOT suitable for riding due to heavy rains; Raven Rock Rumble Saturday, November 21, 2009; Temporary Trailhead Change for Campbell Creek Loop Trail; Construction of Visitors Center in Progress
... details ±Wet Bridle Trails – Not Suitable for Riding:
Bridle trails West Loop and East Loop are currently too wet for riding and are expected to remain too wet through the weekend of November 22nd.
Remember that horses are allowed only on designated bridle trails. Riding on the power line easement, closed sections of the old West Loop, or areas other than designated bridle trails is unlawful. Hikers are allowed to walk on bridle trails, but should yield the trail when riders approach.
The new parking area is now complete. The parking area has been expanded and includes a new entrance and new exit for easier parking and turning. As a reminder - if you bring dogs they must be on a leash and under control at all times.
Raven Rock Rumble:
The Raven Rock Rumble will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2009. Please use caution when approaching the park. For additional information on the race please visit www.ravenrockrumble.com
Campbell Creek Loop Trail Detour:
Campbell Creek Loop Trail head has been temporarily rerouted to begin behind the park office. Please park by the park office to access the trail head.
New Visitor's Center Construction:
Construction on the new Visitor's Center and new picnic shelter for Raven Rock State Park has begun. Completion is anticipated for January 2010.
Updated 11/16/09
Updated: 2009-11-16 08:11:52
Raven Rock State Park sits along the fall zone, an area where the hard, resistant rocks of the foothills
give way to the softer rocks and sediments of the coastal plain. The underlying rocks of the area were
formed more than 400 million years ago by intense heat and pressure.
Through the ages, flowing waters and swirling winds gradually eroded the land, carving and sculpting Raven
Rock. This immense crystalline structure rises to 150 feet and stretches for more than a mile along the
Cape Fear River. The rock was originally called Patterson's Rock for an early settler who found refuge
there when his canoe capsized nearby. In 1854, its name was changed to Raven Rock, inspired by the sight of
ravens that formerly roosted on rock ledges.
The Siouan and Tuscarora Indians hunted the area until European settlers arrived in the mid-1700s. The
first settlers were primarily hunters and trappers who were searching for high country similar to their
native country, Scotland. Later, stores, mills and quarries were built. Many of the woodlands were farmed,
and as the forests returned, much of the land was harvested for timber.
A road that stretched from Raleigh to Fayetteville crossed the Cape Fear River via the Northington Ferry
and served as the area's major transportation route. Locks and dams were built along the river to
facilitate navigation by boat, and Raven Rock became an important landmark for river pilots. After a
hurricane destroyed the locks and dams in 1859, the structures were not replaced; railroad transportation
eliminated the need for river travel. As new roads were built, the ferry was closed and Raven Rock became a
popular recreation spot. The remnants of the Northington lock and dam can still be seen in the park.
In 1965, interest grew in preserving the area as a state park, and local citizens organized support for the
project. In 1969, a bill establishing the park was passed in the General Assembly. More than 220 acres of
land were purchased and another 170 acres were donated by Burlington Industries. Additional tracts have
since been purchased, bringing the park to its present size of 4,667 acres.