State Parks News

Most facilities at Jacob Fork access have reopened. High Shoals Falls Loop, including the waterfall viewing area, is closed. Clear Creek access is closed for construction.

Steve Rogers has been selected as the new park superintendent at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Dare County

Garrett German has been chosen as the new park superintendent at Singletary Lake State Park in Bladen County.

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.

Ferry service is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in April; Bear Island camping is open with restrooms, potable water, and showers. The mainland areas and trails are open. The boat ramp is open, and the camping at Simmons mainland is open for reservations. Bear Island is open for reservations, but you must have your own way to get to the island when the ferry is not running. There is no public docking on Bear Island and there is no beach access on the mainland.

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.

Sandling, Beaverdam, and Rolling View access areas remain open; all bathrooms are closed in those areas due to construction but portable toilets are available. Rolling View campgrounds and community building are closed. Closed bathrooms and 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.

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.