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.
State Parks News
This page lists all state parks news releases and blogs. Use the dropdown to filter by park or section.
William B Umstead State Park, Piedmont Region, Land Protection and Acquisition
A unique land exchange agreement between the State of North Carolina and Anderson Automotive Group is set to bring much needed improvements to William B. Umstead State Park.
William B Umstead State Park, Piedmont Region, Marketing and Communications, Engineering and Construction, Operations, Trails Program
The bridge over Crabtree Creek at William B. Umstead State Park has been removed and will need to be replaced. Hikers, mountain bicyclists, and equestrians should not utilize Ebenezer Church Road bridge due to motor vehicle traffic.
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.
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
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.
Recreation Grants and Outreach
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.
Recreation Grants and Outreach
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.
North Carolina State Parks, part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, announced that Mount Mitchell State Park has reopened as of Sept. 15, 2025, for the first time since Hurricane Helene.
Mount Mitchell State Park
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.
Haw River State Park
Zachary Lunn has been promoted to be the new park superintendent at Haw River State Park in Rockingham and Guilford counties.
Hanging Rock State Park
Maggie Miller has been promoted to a park superintendent at Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County.
Kerr Lake State Recreation Area
Kecia Perkinson has been promoted to be a park superintendent at Kerr Lake State Recreation Area in Vance and Warren counties.
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
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.