North Carolina State Parks
Explore state parks across North Carolina
Carolina Beach State Park
A coastal park known for Venus flytraps, river views, boating, and salt marsh scenery.
Carvers Creek State Park
A Sandhills park known for longleaf pine forests, wetlands, and historic Rockefeller-era landscapes.
Chimney Rock State Park
A scenic mountain park known for its iconic rock formation, waterfalls, and panoramic views.
Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
A scenic eastern North Carolina park known for river bluffs, swimming, paddling, and forest trails.
Crowders Mountain State Park
A rugged mountain park known for steep hikes, scenic overlooks, and rock climbing near Charlotte.
Dismal Swamp State Park
A wetland park preserving part of the Great Dismal Swamp, known for paddling, wildlife, and boardwalk exploration.
Elk Knob State Park
A high-elevation Blue Ridge park known for summit views, cool forests, and rugged hiking.
Eno River State Park
A scenic river park near Durham known for hiking, paddling, fishing, and historic mill ruins.
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
A large reservoir-based recreation area north of Raleigh with beaches, boating, fishing, camping, and wooded trails.
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
A scenic oceanfront recreation area known for beaches, fishing, and wildlife viewing at the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
Fort Macon State Park
Historic coastal park with a restored Civil War fort, beaches, and excellent birding.
Goose Creek State Park
A scenic coastal plain park with marshes, cypress swamps, paddling, fishing, and abundant wildlife.
Gorges State Park
A rugged mountain park known for waterfalls, gorges, and scenic hiking in the Blue Ridge foothills.
Grandfather Mountain State Park
A rugged Blue Ridge mountain park known for dramatic peaks, rare ecology, and challenging hiking.
Hammocks Beach State Park
A coastal park known for Bear Island’s undeveloped beaches, marshes, and wildlife.
Hanging Rock State Park
A mountain park with cliffs, waterfalls, lake recreation, and panoramic views.
Haw River State Park
A peaceful Piedmont park along the Haw River with river access, wildlife habitat, and quiet outdoor recreation.
Jockey's Ridge State Park
North Carolina's tallest active sand dune system with big views and outdoor recreation.
Jones Lake State Park
A peaceful Carolina bay park known for swimming, boating, fishing, and scenic pine-and-wetland landscapes.
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
A scenic reservoir park near the Triangle with beaches, boating, camping, and abundant wildlife.
Kerr Lake State Recreation Area
A large lake recreation area known for boating, fishing, swimming, and shoreline camping.
Lake James State Park
A mountain lake park known for boating, swimming, fishing, and scenic hiking.
Lake Norman State Park
A lakeside park on Lake Norman offering boating, swimming, fishing, and mountain biking.
Lake Waccamaw State Park
A rare Carolina bay lake park known for clear water, wildlife, and paddling.
Lumber River State Park
A blackwater river park known for paddling, fishing, and wildlife along the Lumber River.
Mayo River State Park
A peaceful Piedmont park centered on the Mayo River, with river access, wildlife habitat, and scenic outdoor recreation.
Medoc Mountain State Park
A quiet northeastern North Carolina park known for forested ridges, creeks, wildlife, and peaceful outdoor recreation.
Merchants Millpond State Park
A scenic coastal plain park known for its cypress swamp, paddling, fishing, and wildlife.
Morrow Mountain State Park
A scenic central North Carolina park known for mountain views, lake recreation, and outdoor adventure.
Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
A high-elevation Blue Ridge park known for summit views, cool temperatures, and scenic overlooks.
Mount Mitchell State Park
North Carolina's highest peak, known for cool mountain air, scenic overlooks, and rare high-elevation forests.
New River State Park
A scenic mountain park centered on the historic New River, offering paddling, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area
A scenic Piedmont preserve with river overlooks, rocky bluffs, and quiet hiking near Hillsborough.
Pettigrew State Park
A quiet northeastern North Carolina park known for Lake Phelps, cypress swamps, paddling, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
Pilot Mountain State Park
A landmark North Carolina park centered on the distinctive Pilot Mountain peak, with scenic views, hiking, camping, and river recreation.
Pungo River State Park
A remote coastal park known for wetlands, paddling, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
Raven Rock State Park
A scenic Cape Fear River park known for its towering rock outcrop, river access, and forested trails.
Rendezvous Mountain State Natural Area
A rugged granite mountain preserve in the Brushy Mountains with scenic views and quiet natural beauty.
Singletary Lake State Park
A serene Carolina bay lake park known for paddling, fishing, and wildlife watching.
South Mountains State Park
A rugged mountain park known for waterfalls, backcountry hiking, and forested ridges.
Stone Mountain State Park
A mountain park known for its granite dome, waterfalls, historic sites, and scenic outdoor recreation.
Theodore Roosevelt State Natural Area
A protected coastal natural area featuring dunes, marshes, and maritime forest near Atlantic Beach.
Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve
A quiet Sandhills preserve known for longleaf pine forests, rare plants, and peaceful nature walks.
William B. Umstead State Park
A large forested park in the Triangle with lakes, trails, paddling, and picnic areas.
Yellow Mountain State Natural Area
A rugged Blue Ridge natural area known for rare plants, steep ridges, and quiet mountain scenery.
Zebulon B. Vance State Historic Site
A preserved 19th-century mountain homestead honoring North Carolina leader Zebulon B. Vance.