Topics Related to Hiking

Location: Wake County, 20 miles north of downtown RaleighAt the park, you can find: 12,000-acre Falls Lake reservoir and monarch butterflies in the spring and fallHighlights at this access: mountain bike trails; accessible fishing and swim beach; non-gas boating on Beaverdam Lake; easy hiking trails

Location: Washington County, 71 miles northeast of Greenville

At the park, you can find: wintering tundra swans from November to February; Lake Phelps; Somerset Place state historic site; Scuppernong River

Highlights at this access: Pocosin overlook, south shore of Lake Phelps

Location: Washington County, 71 miles northeast of Greenville

At the park, you can find: wintering tundra swans from November to February; Lake Phelps; Somerset Place state historic site; Scuppernong River

Highlights at this access: fishing pier, biking, picnic area, paddling launch

Location: Alleghany County, 39 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: paddle-in access only; hiking trails; use Kings Creek access for parking

Location: Wake County, 9 miles northwest of downtown RaleighAt the park, you can find: the marbled salamander and the Jack-in-the-pulpitHighlights at this access: Reedy Creek Lake; millstone marker for an old grist mill; group campsites; picnic shelter with stone deck

Location: Wake County, 11 miles northwest of downtown RaleighAt the park, you can find: the marbled salamander and the Jack-in-the-pulpitHighlights at this access: Big Lake and Sycamore Lake; campsites; boat rentals; group camps; visitor center; horse trailer parking; Sycamore Bridge over Sycamore Creek

Location: Moore County, 37 miles west of Fayetteville

You can find: the oldest known living longleaf pine tree; red cockaded woodpecker; fox squirrel; Sandhills pyxie-moss

Highlights: easy hiking through longleaf pine forests; Sandhills Discovery Room; access to Boyd and Paint Hill tracts (contact park staff)

Location: Alleghany County, 62 miles northwest of Winston-SalemYou can find: Stone Mountain and rich natural communities as you traverse the summitHighlights: tent, trailer and RV camping; Hutchinson Homestead; waterfalls; bridle trails; trout fishing; backpack camping; Garden Creek Baptist Church

Location: Burke County, 55 miles east of Asheville

You can find: elevations up to 3,000 feet, mountain streams, and the rosebay rhododendron

Highlights: day-use only access for hiking, horseback riding, paddling, and fishing; Clear Creek lake and watershed; stream crossings and small waterfalls

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