Construction on the replacement bridge on the South Turkey Creek Multiuse Trail will commence on June 15, 2026.
Tree ID Hike Canceled - 6/10/26
Tree ID Hike for June 10, 2026 cancelled due to weather.
State Parks News
This page lists all state parks news releases and blogs. Use the dropdown to filter by park or section.
William B Umstead State Park, Piedmont Region, Marketing and Communications, Engineering and Construction, Operations, Trails Program
Most park facilities at the Jacob Fork Access are open. Clear Creek day-use access remains closed for a previously planned construction project. High Shoals Falls, including the waterfall viewing areas, remain closed.
The Profile parking area, the upper section of the Profile Trail, and the Profile campsite have reopened. The lower section of the Profile Trail remains closed; please do not attempt to access closed areas. We will continue to update this blog post with the latest information.
Hammocks Beach State Park
Ferry service is open Wednesdays through Sundays hourly in May; Mainland and Bear Island camping is open with restrooms, potable water, and showers. Reservations can be made within a 6-month booking window. The mainland areas, trails and the boat ramp is open. There is no public docking on Bear Island and there is no beach access on the mainland.
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
On Thursday, April 23, a contractor working on a wastewater system renovation project at Falls Lake State Recreation Area’s Holly Point Campground damaged a wastewater line and caused an unintentional discharge.
Jockeys Ridge State Park
Steve Rogers has been selected as the new park superintendent at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Dare County
Singletary Lake State Park
Garrett German has been chosen as the new park superintendent at Singletary Lake State Park in Bladen County.
William B Umstead State Park, Piedmont Region, Land Protection and Acquisition
A unique land exchange agreement between the State of North Carolina and Anderson Automotive Group is set to bring much needed improvements to William B. Umstead State Park.
Eric Martinez of Kernersville spent 2025 visiting every North Carolina state park, using a simple New Year’s resolution to push himself outdoors, log hundreds of trail miles, and explore the state’s incredible range of landscapes. As 2026 begins, his story is a reminder that setting a goal to visit every park is not only achievable, it might be the most rewarding resolution you make all year.
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
Holly Point, Shinleaf, and BW Wells are currently closed for construction. All other areas are open. Some bathrooms and facilities are closed in some areas. Portable toilets are available where restrooms are closed. Closed bathrooms and facilities will be reopened once construction is completed in that area.
Recreation Grants and Outreach
Save the dates! This is the meeting schedule for the Parks and Recreation Authority in 2026.
Recreation Grants and Outreach
The Land and Water Conservation Fund, a program under the federal Department of the Interior, has awarded over $26.5 million in matching grants to support outdoor recreation projects across North Carolina.
North Carolina State Parks, part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, announced that Mount Mitchell State Park has reopened as of Sept. 15, 2025, for the first time since Hurricane Helene.
Mount Mitchell State Park
Mount Mitchell State Park reopened Sept. 15, 2025, for the first time since Hurricane Helene. The reopening coincides with the Blue Ridge Parkway reopening between milepost 382 in Asheville and milepost 355.3, near the entrance to the state park. With this announcement, all North Carolina state parks are now at least partially open.
Haw River State Park
Zachary Lunn has been promoted to be the new park superintendent at Haw River State Park in Rockingham and Guilford counties.