Topics Related to Picnicking

Jones Lake State Park

Location: Bladen County, 35 miles southeast of Fayetteville

You can find: two Carolina bay lakes: Jones Lake and Salters Lake; red-cockaded woodpeckers that live in the bay forest

Highlights: full hook-up RV camping; tea-colored waters of the lake; long hikes on easy trails; swim beach; picnic shelter; boat rentals

Jockey's Ridge State Park – Main Access

Location: Dare County, in the Outer BanksAt the park, you can find: the tallest living sand dune on the Atlantic coast, gray fox, American beach grass, and fulguritesHighlights at this access: big dunes; hiking on sand; hang gliding; picnicking; visitor center; exhibits

Haw River State Park – Iron Ore Belt Access

Location: Guilford County, 12 miles north of downtown Greensboro

At the park, you can find: floodplain swamp, great blue heron, and rusty red iron ore

Highlights at this access: hiking through wetlands, old farm field, surface-level iron ore deposits, and remnants of an iron ore mining pit; picnic areas

Haw River State Park – The Summit Environmental Education and Conference Center

Location: Rockingham County, 14 miles north of downtown Greensboro

At the park, you can find: floodplain swamp, great blue heron, and rusty red iron ore

Highlights at this access: conference center and residential environmental education facilities; wetlands boardwalk to the headwaters of the Haw River

Hanging Rock State Park – Main Access

Location: Stokes County, 32 miles north of Winston-Salem

At this park, you can find: rock outcroppings with scenic vistas, Schweinitz's sunflower, and Wehrle's salamander

Highlights at this access: hiking to Hanging Rock, Wolf Rock, Moore's Knob and three waterfalls; CCC structures; park lake; camping; cabins; visitor center

Hammocks Beach State Park

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

Gorges State Park – Frozen Creek Access

Location: Transylvania County, near the NC/SC/GA tripoint

At this park, you can find: 26 remote waterfalls and over 8,000 acres of temperate rainforest that host extraordinary biodiversity

Highlights at this access: free backcountry camping; multiuse trails; access to the Foothills Trail and Lake Jocassee

Gorges State Park – Grassy Ridge Access

Location: Transylvania County, near the NC/SC/GA tripoint

At this park, you can find: 26 remote waterfalls and over 8,000 acres of temperate rainforest that host extraordinary biodiversity

Highlights at this access: Upper Bearwallow Falls; visitor center; modern family campground

Goose Creek State Park

Location: Beaufort County, 34 miles southeast of Greenville

You can find: a large live oak tree with branches hanging over the Pamlico River, great blue herons, and green tree frogs

Highlights: Pamlico River and Goose Creek; full hook-up RV camping; camper cabins; swamp boardwalk; butterfly garden

Fort Macon State Park

Location: Carteret County, 39 miles southeast of New Bern

You can find: a restored 19th century-era fort, diverse barrier island habitat, and birds such as the painted bunting

Highlights: daily tours; cannon and musket demonstrations; exhibits; beach access