Ferry service operates Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October beginning at 9:30am and the last ferry off Bear Island is at 5pm. The last day of ferry service for the season is 10/25/2026. Mainland and Bear Island camping is open with restrooms, potable water, and showers. Reservations can be made within a 6-month booking window. The mainland areas, trails and the boat ramp is open. There is no public docking on Bear Island and there is no beach access on the mainland. Ferry tickets are sold on the day of departure on a first-come, first-served basis. No online or advance reservations are available.
State Parks News
This page lists all state parks news releases and blogs. Use the dropdown to filter by park or section.
Recreation Grants and Outreach
North Carolina State Parks and its parent agency, the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, announced today that the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a program under the federal Department of the Interior, has awarded nearly $4 million total to nine local parks and recreation projects ac
Coastal Plain Region, Piedmont Region, Mountain Region, Planning, Recreation Grants and Outreach
Parks and Recreation Authority Selects 25 County, Municipality Recipients from Parks and Recreation Trust Fund
Recreation Grants and Outreach
Save the dates! This is the meeting schedule for the Parks and Recreation Authority in 2026.
Hanging Rock State Park, Piedmont Region, Marketing and Communications, Engineering and Construction, Operations, Trails Program
Hanging Rock State Park is making improvements to its campground to provide visitors with updated facilities and more accessible, comfortable campsites.
William B Umstead State Park, Piedmont Region, Marketing and Communications, Engineering and Construction, Operations, Trails Program
Construction on the replacement bridge on the South Turkey Creek Multiuse Trail will commence on June 15, 2026.
Most park facilities at the Jacob Fork Access are open. Clear Creek day-use access remains closed for a previously planned construction project. High Shoals Falls, including the waterfall viewing areas, remain closed.
The Profile parking area, the upper section of the Profile Trail, and the Profile campsite have reopened. The lower section of the Profile Trail remains closed; please do not attempt to access closed areas. We will continue to update this blog post with the latest information.
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
On Thursday, April 23, a contractor working on a wastewater system renovation project at Falls Lake State Recreation Area’s Holly Point Campground damaged a wastewater line and caused an unintentional discharge.
Jockeys Ridge State Park
Steve Rogers has been selected as the new park superintendent at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Dare County
Singletary Lake State Park
Garrett German has been chosen as the new park superintendent at Singletary Lake State Park in Bladen County.
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.
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
Holly Point is currently closed for construction. All other areas are open as normal. Closed facilities will be reopened once construction is completed in that area.
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.