Topics Related to Mountain Region

Join us at Gorges State Park for a guided hike to the Bearwallow Valley Overlook as we discuss the history of Gorges State Park.
Come and Learn all about the nocturnal animals in Gorges State Park! We will be exploring the trail after dark with flashlights to look for animal eye-shine and to listen for sounds in the night. Stay at the Park Visitor Center after the hike for a small campfire and smores.
Spring is here and animals are on the move, come and help identify the wildlife around the park using only their tracks to find them! Meet in the Visitor's Center.
Join a ranger on a hike on Raymond Fisher Pond Trail to find and identify spring ephemeral wildflowers of Gorges State Park. Be prepared for a 1.6 mile hike and dress for the weather. Meet at Rainbow Falls Trailhead. 
Join a ranger to learn about one of North Carolina's newest residents: The Nine-banded Armadillo! We will discuss how the armadillo found its way to the region as well as its adaptations and characteristics. Meet at the Visitor Center Classroom.
The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced today that six division sites are celebrating their 50th anniversary as National Natural Landmarks (NNL) as designated by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation announced a new partnership with Waypoint Adventure, based in Black Mountain, N.C., to provide adaptive recreation programs for visitors with disabilities.
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.
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.
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.