Ferry service, campsites, and all facilities at Bear Island are closed, staff plan on a Memorial Day weekend opening or sooner. The mainland areas are open. The boat ramp is open, and the Simmons Mainland Campground is open for reservations. There is no public docking on Bear Island and there is no beach access on the mainland.
State Parks News
This page lists all state parks news releases and blogs. Use the dropdown to filter by park or section.
Grandfather Mountain State Park, Mountain Region, Operations
Joseph Hiatt has been promoted to park superintendent of Yellow Mountain State Natural Area in Avery and Mitchell counties.
Pilot Mountain State Park, Mountain Region
Pilot Mountain State Park’s Bean Shoals Access, located along the north side of the Yadkin River, has reopened following a construction project in 2024.
Eno River State Park, Piedmont Region, Land Protection and Acquisition
A long-awaited acquisition of over 200 acres of land that includes the Historic Occoneechee Speedway to add to Eno River State Park has been finalized.
Bobs Creek State Natural Area, Carvers Creek State Park, Dismal Swamp State Park, Elk Knob State Park, Stone Mountain State Park, William B Umstead State Park, Coastal Plain Region, Piedmont Region, Mountain Region, Engineering and Construction, Land Protection and Acquisition, Planning, Trails Program
The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced that the Parks and Recreation Authority has awarded over $7.6 million from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund for state parks projects for fiscal year 2024-25.
Mayo River State Park
Staff from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation reintroduced the Roanoke logperch to Mayo River State Park in early November, kickstarting a joint effort that helps conserve the endangered darter and other aquatic species in the Dan River Basin
Chimney Rock State Park, Crowders Mountain State Park, Elk Knob State Park, Gorges State Park, Grandfather Mountain State Park, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Mount Mitchell State Park, Rendezvous Mountain, South Mountains State Park, Stone Mountain State Park, Mountain Region
Elk Knob, Lake James, New River, and Stone Mountain state parks will reopen at least partially on Nov. 15; three parks will remain closed until further notice and face long-term closures: Chimney Rock, Mount Mitchell, and South Mountains.
Recreation Grants and Outreach
Save the dates! This is the meeting schedule for the Parks and Recreation Authority in 2025.
Chimney Rock State Park, Crowders Mountain State Park, Elk Knob State Park, Gorges State Park, Grandfather Mountain State Park, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Mount Mitchell State Park, New River State Park, Rendezvous Mountain, South Mountains State Park, Stone Mountain State Park
Crowders Mountain, Gorges, Grandfather Mountain and Lake Norman state parks, as well as Rendezvous Mountain, will reopen at least partially on Nov. 1.
Bobs Creek State Natural Area, Chimney Rock State Park, Crowders Mountain State Park, Elk Knob State Park, Gorges State Park, Grandfather Mountain State Park, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Mount Mitchell State Park, New River State Park, Pisgah View State Park, Rendezvous Mountain, South Mountains State Park, Stone Mountain State Park, Mountain Region, Marketing and Communications, Office of the Director, Operations
State Parks Director Brian Strong provides additional information on post-Helene rescue and recovery efforts and the status of western state parks.
Chimney Rock State Park, Crowders Mountain State Park, Elk Knob State Park, Gorges State Park, Grandfather Mountain State Park, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Mount Mitchell State Park, New River State Park, Rendezvous Mountain, South Mountains State Park, Stone Mountain State Park
All North Carolina state parks west of Interstate 77 are closed through at least Oct. 31.
Gorges State Park, Mount Mitchell State Park, Mountain Region
Due to expected impacts of Hurricane Helene, Gorges State Park and Mount Mitchell State Park will be closed Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26-27. The Mountain Monarch Festival at Gorges, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28, has been cancelled.
Carolina Beach State Park, Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Hammocks Beach State Park, Hanging Rock State Park, Jones Lake State Park, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, Kerr Lake State Recreation Area, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Merchants Millpond State Park, Morrow Mountain State Park, William B Umstead State Park, Marketing and Communications, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Access, Operations
Veterans with service-related disabilities are now eligible to apply to receive a free Annual Pass to North Carolina State Parks.
Carolina Beach State Park, Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Hammocks Beach State Park, Hanging Rock State Park, Jockeys Ridge State Park, Jones Lake State Park, Lake James State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Merchants Millpond State Park, Morrow Mountain State Park, Pilot Mountain State Park, Raleigh Office, Marketing and Communications, Interpretation and Education
Carolina Beach, Hammocks Beach, Hanging Rock, Jockey's Ridge, Jones Lake, Lake James, Lake Norman, Morrow Mountain, and Pilot Mountain state parks; Falls Lake State Recreation Area; and Salmon Creek State Natural Area are hosting the paddling instruction events for National Safe Boating Week 2024.
Eno River State Park, Lake Norman State Park, Raleigh Office, Marketing and Communications, Interpretation and Education
Lake Norman State Park will host an event on Saturday, April 20, and Eno River State Park on Saturday, April 27.