Location: Alleghany County, 62 miles northwest of Winston-Salem
You can find: Stone Mountain and rich natural communities as you traverse the summit
Highlights: tent, trailer and RV camping; Hutchinson Homestead; waterfalls; bridle trails; trout fishing; backpack camping; Garden Creek Baptist Church
Location: Burke County, 70 miles east of Asheville
You can find: elevations up to 3,000 feet, mountain streams, and the rosebay rhododendron
Highlights: more than 40 miles of hiking, biking and bridle trails; backpack camping in the rugged backcountry; equestrian camping; High Shoals Falls; Jacob Fork River; visitor center
Location: Harnett County, 40 miles southwest of Raleigh
At the park, you can find: Raven Rock; rapids on the Cape Fear River; Northington Lock and Dam remains; creek tributaries; mountain laurel
Highlights at this access: hiking; mountain biking; full hook-up RV camping; backpack camping; cabins
Location: Ashe County, 31 miles northeast of Boone
At the park, you can find: 26.5 miles of the New River; the hellbender salamander; 14 rare and threatened species of flora
Highlights at this access: backpack or paddle-in camping to Riverbend/Peaks area; also has walk-in or paddle-in campsites at the access
Location: Ashe County, 36 miles northeast of Boone
At the park, you can find: 26.5 miles of the New River; the hellbender salamander; 14 rare and threatened species of flora
Highlights at this access: full hook-up RV camping; walk-in or paddle-in backpack camping; visitor center; easy to moderate hiking; community building
Location: Stanly County, 51 miles north of Charlotte
You can find: Morrow Mountain, one of the highest peak in the Uwharries, and bald eagles spotted from Lake Tillery
Highlights: hiking and bridle trails; Lake Tillery and the Yadkin River; Kron House; CCC structures, including the poolhouse; boat rentals
Location: Gates County, 10 miles south of the northeast border with Virginia
You can find: millpond more than 200 years old and the American alligator at the northernmost point of its range
Highlights: many types of camping; Lassiter Swamp; boat rentals; paddling trails
Location: McDowell County, 50 miles east of Asheville
At the park, you can find: Lake James and its resident bald eagles
Highlights at this access: Sandy Cliff and Lake Channel overlooks; walk-in backpack camping; large group rental that includes picnic shelter and swimming area
Location: Chatham County, 29 miles southwest of downtown Raleigh
At the park, you can find: 14,000-acre Jordan Lake reservoir and the bald eagle
Highlights at this access: moderately difficult hiking loops; short hike-in backpack camping; day-use boat ramps
Location: Onslow County, 19 miles east of Jacksonville
You can find: Bear Island, a 4-mile-long, undeveloped barrier island, and sea turtle nests, including loggerhead turtles, who nest above the high tide line at the island
Highlights: Beach camping (backpack via ferry or paddle-in); seasonal ferry; paddle trails