Topics Related to Swimming

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Vista Point Access

Location: Chatham County, 30 miles west of downtown Raleigh

At the park, you can find: 14,000-acre Jordan Lake reservoir and the bald eagle

Highlights at this access: group RV camping with electric and water hookups; group tent camping; hiking through seasonal flora; sailboat launch; swim beach; picnic shelters

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Poplar Point Campground

Location: Chatham County, 24 miles west of downtown Raleigh

At the park, you can find: 14,000-acre Jordan Lake reservoir and the bald eagle

Highlights at this access: tent, trailer, and RV camping, some with water and electric hookups; walk-up only loops; campers-only boat ramp and docks

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Parkers Creek Access

Location: Chatham County, 26 miles west of downtown Raleigh

At the park, you can find: 14,000-acre Jordan Lake reservoir and the bald eagle

Highlights at this access: tent, trailer, and RV camping, some with water and electric hookups; walk-up only loops; group camping; swim beach; picnic shelters

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Crosswinds Campground

Location: Chatham County, 24 miles west of downtown Raleigh

At the park, you can find: 14,000-acre Jordan Lake reservoir and the bald eagle

Highlights at this access: tent, trailer, and RV camping, some with electric and water hookups; campers-only boat ramp and swim beach; nearby privately owned Crosswinds marina 

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Seaforth Access

Location: Chatham County, 26 miles west of downtown Raleigh

At the park, you can find: 14,000-acre Jordan Lake reservoir and the bald eagle

Highlights at this access: wide view of the lake; accessible swim beach; picnic areas; boat ramp

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Ebenezer Church Access

Location: Chatham County, 26 miles west of downtown Raleigh

At the park, you can find: 14,000-acre Jordan Lake reservoir and the bald eagle

Highlights at this access: 24-hour boat ramp; accessible swim beach; easy trails; picnic areas and shelters; best access for windsurfing

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 – Soundside 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: wetlands, grassy dunes, maritime thickets; swim beach on Roanoke Sound; kiteboarding; windsurfing; paddling access

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