State Parks News

Current closures due to winter weather. Last updated Friday, January 30, 2026.

Eric Martinez of Kernersville spent 2025 visiting every North Carolina state park, using a simple New Year’s resolution to push himself outdoors, log hundreds of trail miles, and explore the state’s incredible range of landscapes. As 2026 begins, his story is a reminder that setting a goal to visit every park is not only achievable, it might be the most rewarding resolution you make all year.

Ferry service is closed until April; Bear Island camping is open however the bathhouse is closed and winterized until mid-March. The mainland areas and trails 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.

Beaverdam and Rolling View access areas remain open; all bathrooms are closed due to construction but portable toilets are available. Rolling View campgrounds and community building are closed. Closed facilities will be reopened once construction is completed in that area.

Save the dates! This is the meeting schedule for the Parks and Recreation Authority in 2026.

South Mountains State Park has reopened both accesses after being closed since Hurricane Helene. Some facilities remain closed until further notice. High Shoals Falls Loop, including the waterfall viewing area, is closed.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund, a program under the federal Department of the Interior, has awarded over $26.5 million in matching grants to support outdoor recreation projects across North Carolina.

Mount Mitchell State Park reopened Sept. 15, 2025, for the first time since Hurricane Helene. The reopening coincides with the Blue Ridge Parkway reopening between milepost 382 in Asheville and milepost 355.3, near the entrance to the state park. With this announcement, all North Carolina state parks are now at least partially open.

Zachary Lunn has been promoted to be the new park superintendent at Haw River State Park in Rockingham and Guilford counties.

Maggie Miller has been promoted to a park superintendent at Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County.

Kecia Perkinson has been promoted to be a park superintendent at Kerr Lake State Recreation Area in Vance and Warren counties.

Bryan Cox returns to be a park superintendent at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area in Chatham County.

Today, Governor Josh Stein announced that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has awarded nearly $11 million to trail development and restoration projects in the Piedmont. The General Assembly authorized these funds as part of the Great Trails State Program.

Today, Governor Josh Stein announced that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has awarded more than $2.6 million to trail development and restoration projects in eastern North Carolina. These funds were authorized by the General Assembly as part of the Great Trails State Program.