Location: Orange County, 11 miles northwest of downtown Durham
At the park, you can find: a shallow, rocky river corridor combined with upland forests; the endangered Carolina madtom
Highlights at this access: the Cascades; swinging bridge; Piper-Cox House; backpack and group camping; park office
Location: Durham County, 8 miles northwest of downtown Durham
At the park, you can find: a shallow, rocky river corridor combined with upland forests; the endangered Carolina madtom
Highlights at this access: Bobbitt Hole; Pea Creek; backpack camping; picnic areas; paddling access
Location: Orange County, 8 miles northwest of downtown Durham
At the park, you can find: a shallow, rocky river corridor combined with upland forests; the endangered Carolina madtom
Highlights at this access: remnants of the old Cabe Mill, quarry, rocky area of the river
Location: Camden County, at North Carolina's northeast border with Virginia
You can find: the Great Dismal Swamp and Canal, Atlantic white cedar trees, Hessel's hairstreak
Highlights: flat, easy trails for hiking and biking; unique swamp environment
Location: Cumberland County, 10 miles north of Fayetteville
At the park, you can find: longleaf pine trees, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and Pine Barrens tree frogs
Highlights at this access: hiking, biking or horseback riding through longleaf pine forests; fishing at Carvers Creek and ponds
Location: Gaston County, 32 miles west of Charlotte
At the park, you can find: a wide variety of bird species from small songbirds to red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures
Highlights at this access: the Pinnacle overlook; easy to strenuous hikes; lake; visitor center; backpack camping
Location: Wayne County, 15 miles southeast of Goldsboro
You can find: the 90-foot bluffs rising above the Neuse River and eastern fox squirrels
Highlights: hiking through longleaf restoration areas and along creeks; swimming lake with boat rentals; full hook-up RV camping; paddling on the Neuse River
Location: Rutherford County, 25 miles southeast of Asheville
At the park, you can find: peregrine falcons, rock gnome lichen, green salamanders, lampshade spiders, and white irisette
Highlights at this access: the Chimney; elevator inside a mountain; Hickory Nut Falls; scenic views along strenuous trails; paid admission
Location: Cumberland County, 13 miles northwest of Fayetteville
At the park, you can find: longleaf pine trees, red-cockaded woodpeckers and Pine Barrens tree frogs
Highlights at this access: the Rockefeller House; serene trails; fishing at the millpond; historic structures
Location: New Hanover County, 12 miles south of Wilmington
You can find: Sugarloaf Dune, Venus flytraps, brown pelicans, and river otters
Highlights: full-service marina; full-hookup RV camping; easy trails; boating and fishing on Intracoastal Waterway and Cape Fear River