Location: Rutherford County, 27 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: hiking through large boulder fields; bouldering and rock climbing; Rumbling Bald Mountain; free access
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, 30 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: Crowders Mountain overlook; steep, challenging hikes; scenic views; rock climbing
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