Topics Related to Piedmont

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Parkers Creek Access

Location: Chatham County, 26 miles west of downtown Raleigh

At the park, you can find: 14,000-acre Jordan Lake reservoir and the bald eagle

Highlights at this access: tent, trailer, and RV camping, some with water and electric hookups; walk-up only loops; group camping; swim beach; picnic shelters

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Crosswinds Campground

Location: Chatham County, 24 miles west of downtown Raleigh

At the park, you can find: 14,000-acre Jordan Lake reservoir and the bald eagle

Highlights at this access: tent, trailer, and RV camping, some with electric and water hookups; campers-only boat ramp and swim beach; nearby privately owned Crosswinds marina 

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Seaforth Access

Location: Chatham County, 26 miles west of downtown Raleigh

At the park, you can find: 14,000-acre Jordan Lake reservoir and the bald eagle

Highlights at this access: wide view of the lake; accessible swim beach; picnic areas; boat ramp

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – New Hope Overlook Access

Location: Chatham County, 29 miles southwest of downtown Raleigh

At the park, you can find: 14,000-acre Jordan Lake reservoir and the bald eagle

Highlights at this access: moderately difficult hiking loops; short hike-in backpack camping; day-use boat ramps

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Ebenezer Church Access

Location: Chatham County, 26 miles west of downtown Raleigh

At the park, you can find: 14,000-acre Jordan Lake reservoir and the bald eagle

Highlights at this access: 24-hour boat ramp; accessible swim beach; easy trails; picnic areas and shelters; best access for windsurfing

Haw River State Park – Iron Ore Belt Access

Location: Guilford County, 12 miles north of downtown Greensboro

At the park, you can find: floodplain swamp, great blue heron, and rusty red iron ore

Highlights at this access: hiking through wetlands, old farm field, surface-level iron ore deposits, and remnants of an iron ore mining pit; picnic areas

Haw River State Park – The Summit Environmental Education and Conference Center

Location: Rockingham County, 14 miles north of downtown Greensboro

At the park, you can find: floodplain swamp, great blue heron, and rusty red iron ore

Highlights at this access: conference center and residential environmental education facilities; wetlands boardwalk to the headwaters of the Haw River

Hanging Rock State Park – Mountain Biking Access

Location: Stokes County, 30 miles north of Winston-Salem

At this park, you can find: rock outcroppings with scenic vistas, Schweinitz's sunflower, and Wehrle's salamander

Highlights at this access: single-track mountain biking with rock ledges, fast flow, stream crossings and views of Sauratown Mountains

Hanging Rock State Park – Moore's Wall Rock Climbing Access

Location: Stokes County, 27 miles north of Winston-Salem

At this park, you can find: rock outcroppings with scenic vistas, Schweinitz's sunflower, and Wehrle's salamander

Highlights at this access: rock climbing on Moore's Wall; half a mile from Tory's Den parking area

Hanging Rock State Park – Tory's Den Parking Area

Location: Stokes County, 27 miles north of Winston-Salem

At this park, you can find: rock outcroppings with scenic vistas, Schweinitz's sunflower, and Wehrle's salamander

Highlights at this access: Tory's Den Cave and Tory's Falls; access to hiking and horseback riding trails; connects to main access via Tory's Den Trail