Out of the 45 state parks and recreation areas in North Carolina, here are the top 10

From mountain hikes to river paddling and horseback riding, state parks in North Carolina offer a range of opportunities for adventure.

For fans of getting lost in pristine, natural beauty, no corner of North Carolina disappoints.

The state park system is your ticket to adventure. Who’s in to scale some of the oldest mountains on Earth? 35 miles of trail connect Pilot Mountain State Park to Hanging Rock State Park, just one opportunity that awaits when you escape the metropolitan bustle of the Triad.

Before we dive in and explore the Tar Heel State’s top 10 state parks for wilderness lovers, check out this complete list of every state park and state recreation area within North Carolina:

North Carolina’s 45 state parks and state recreation areas

Outer Banks and coastal region:

1. Carolina Beach State Park
2. Dismal Swamp State Park
3. Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
4. Fort Macon State Park
5. Goose Creek State Park
6. Hammocks Beach State Park
7. Merchants Millpond State Park
8. Pettigrew State Park
9. Jockey’s Ridge State Park

Eastern region:

1.  Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
2.  Jones Lake State Park
3. Kerr Lake State Recreation Area
4. Lake Waccamaw State Park
5.  Lumber River State Park
6.  Medoc Mountain State Park
7. Singletary Lake State Park

Metrolina region:

1. Crowders Mountain State Park
2. Lake Norman State Park
3. Morrow Mountain State Park
4. South Mountains State Park

Triad Region:

1.  Hanging Rock State Park
2. Haw River State Park
3.  Mayo River State Park
4. Pilot Mountain State Park

Triangle Region:

1. Carvers Creek State Park
2. Eno River State Park
3. Falls Lake State Recreation Area
4.  Jordan lake State Recreation Area
5. Occoneechee Mountain Natural Area
6. Raven Rock State Park
7. Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve
8. William B. Umstead State Park
9. Haw River State Park

Mountain region:

1. Chimney Rock State Park
2. Elk Knob State Park
3. Gorges State Park
4. Grandfather Mountain State Park
5. Lake James State Park
6. Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
7. Mount Mitchell State Park
8. New River State Park
9. Stone Mountain State Park
10. Rendezvous Mountain
11. Bob’s Creek State Natural Area
12. Pisgah View State Park

Best state parks in North Carolina

1. Grandfather Mountain State Park 

Tucked away in the northwestern area of the Tar Heel state, Grandfather Mountain State Park derives its name from a jaw-dropping, fear-inducing mountain notorious for severe storms and difficult terrain.

Not in the mood to risk your life to scramble among the cliffs? No sweat. This United Nations International Biosphere Reserve is also home to impressive biodiversity: take a beginner-friendly hike among Frasier fir forest, Northern hardwood forest, Heath bald, and Canada hemlock forest to capture Instagram-worthy panoramas of land and sky.

Grandfather Mountain State Park has been named a United Nations International Biosphere Reserve for its impressive ecological diversity. (VisitNC)

2. Gorges State Park 

Sitting at the spot where North Carolina meets South Carolina and Georgia, Gorges State Park in Sapphire is a paradise for lovers of backcountry-style recreational activities like backpacking, hiking, and horseback riding. View the stunning features of the Blue Ridge Escarpment over this state park’s 8,000 acres, spanning temperate rainforest, rock precipices, Lake Jocassee, 70 miles of foothill trail, and no less than 26 waterfalls.

For visitors who want to spend extra time experiencing all the magic that Gorges State Park has to offer, its campground provides sites for both RVs and tents, a bathhouse equipped with showers, as well as camper cabins featuring power, heat, and air conditioning.

3. Raven Rock State Park

Who knew that complete peace and quiet existed just outside of The Triangle? Located about 40 miles southwest of Raleigh in Harnett County, Raven Rock State Park is home to Raven Rock, a breathtaking crystalline structure overlooking the Cape Fear River. Hike to the rock along the wildflower-covered trails lining the bluffs.

Visitors may also opt for a trek to the Cape Fear River, the only river in the state that has been engineered to optimize inland navigation. The journey includes views of Lanier Rapids, Fish Traps Rapids, and what remains of the Northington Lock and Dam.

Drink in views of the crystalline Raven Rock after hiking wildflower-lined trails at this park located 40 miles southwest of Raleigh. (North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation)

4. Hanging Rock State Park 

What began as a Civilian Conservation Corps project in the 1930s is today a state park offering adventure for all.

Situated about 30 miles north of Winston-Salem, Hanging Rock State Park boasts panoramic mountain views, plunging waterfalls, a mountain cave, a lake perfect for summer swimming, and the paddle-ready Dan River. Hike, horseback ride, or mountain bike along the trails traversing the Sauratown Mountains, estimated by geologists to be between 500 million and 1 billion years old, before cooling off with a refreshing dip, paddle, or boat ride.

Choose your own adventure at Hanging Rock State Park, where visitors can hike, camp, rock climb, paddle, swim, bike, and ride horseback. (VisitNC)

5. Pilot Mountain State Park 

Visitors regularly make the pilgrimage to the 1,400-foot-tall geologic knob that gives Pilot Mountain State Park its name at this natural site located about 20 miles northwest of Winston-Salem. According to the North Carolina History Project, the native Saura tribe called this landmass Jomeokee, which translates to the “great guide” or “pilot.” Its distinctive pinnacles still steer visitors today: Climb to the top of the Little Pinnacle for a bird’s eye view of neighboring mountains and forest.

Pilot Mountain State Park also boasts a particularly charming section of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail.

Choose your own adventure at Hanging Rock State Park, where visitors can hike, camp, rock climb, paddle, swim, bike, and ride horseback. (VisitNC)

6. Morrow Mountain State Park 

Home to the North Carolina state parks system’s only swimming pool for daily public use, Morrow Mountain State Park is a fitting escape on warm summer days. Enjoy a refreshing dip after traversing the park’s 37 miles of hiking trails, which skirt around the peaks and valleys of Morrow Mountain, the banks of the Yadkin River, and the shores of Lake Tillery.

Located about 50 miles northeast of Charlotte in Stanly County, this state park also features an amphitheater for arts and cultural programming, as well as vacation cabins, group tent sites, and RV camping sites.

7. Cliffs of the Neuse State Park 

At Cliffs of the Neuse State Park in eastern North Carolina’s Wayne County, an easy hike through pine forest rewards visitors with awe-inspiring views of ancient cliffs overlooking the Neuse River. Brightly colored layers of sand, clay, seashells, gravel, and shale give the 90-foot-tall cliffs their distinctive look, while the bright green of the surrounding foliage lends splendor to the scene.

Fans of water recreation will also enjoy the 11-acre lake within this park, which promises swimming, paddling, fishing, and boating all summer long.

Fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities abound at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, located 15 miles southeast of Goldsboro on the banks of the Neuse River. (VisitNC)

8. Kerr Lake State Recreation Area 

A true camping enthusiast’s dream, Kerr Lake State Recreation Area comprises seven campgrounds and hundreds of campsites surrounding the gentle shores of Kerr Lake, a 50,000-acre reservoir located near North Carolina’s north-central border with Virginia. Activities at this state recreation area include boating, fishing, swimming, paddling, picnicking, and hiking along three miles of trails.

Also of note, the privately owned Steele Creek Marina on Kerr Lake offers rentals of wet slips, kayaks, pontoon boats, and floating cabins, which come complete with three beds, a kitchen, a bathroom, two porches, and a sun deck.

Kerr Lake State Recreation Area’s 50,000-acre reservoir makes this site a dream for fans of fishing, boating, and camping. (North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation)

9. Dismal Swamp State Park 

Traverse one of the nation’s largest swamps at Dismal Swamp State Park, located in Camden County near North Carolina’s northeastern border with Virginia.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, today’s Dismal Swamp covers nearly 113,000 acres—a huge swath of land by any calculations, but only a fraction of the swamp’s original, 1-million-acre expanse. Marvel at the swamp’s rich plant and wildlife diversity during a hike, bike, or boat ride. The Dismal Swamp Canal is a popular destination for canoe and kayak enthusiasts, and the site hosts the annual Paddle for the Border event in May.

Explore the unique flora and fauna of the American Southeast’s largest remaining swamp at Dismal Swamp State Park, near the Virginia border. (VisitNC)

10. Hammocks Beach State Park 

All it takes is one passenger ferry ride to transport visitors to a pristine, seaside environment. Hammocks Beach State Park, which comprises a mainland recreation area and three barrier islands, offers numerous opportunities for guests to camp along the ocean’s edge or rent kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes to explore the nearby marshlands and maritime swamp forests.

Situated in Swansboro in Onslow County, Hammocks Beach State Park is the perfect destination for enjoying tranquility, peace, and unspoiled coastal beauty. 

Pristine, sandy beaches and mysterious, maritime swamp forests await at Hammocks Beach State Park in Onslow County. (VisitNC)

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Related: The 10 best North Carolina state parks to enjoy in the winter