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
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
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
Location: Avery County, 13 miles southwest of Boone
You can find: over 70 species of rare, threatened and endangered plants and animals
Highlights: Grandfather Profile; backcountry camping; free hiking access to more than 13 miles of trail
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
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
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
Location: Wake County, 17 miles north of downtown Raleigh
At the park, you can find: 12,000-acre Falls Lake reservoir and monarch butterflies in the spring and fall
Highlights at this access: backpack camping with access to Falls Lake Trail (Mountains-to-Sea State Trail); drive-in group camping
Location: Wake County, 18 miles north of Raleigh
At the park, you can find: 12,000-acre Falls Lake reservoir and monarch butterflies in the spring and fall
Highlights at this access: tent, trailer and RV camping; campers-only boat ramp, swim beach and hiking trail
Location: Durham County, 12 miles east of downtown Durham
At the park, you can find: 12,000-acre Falls Lake reservoir and monarch butterflies in the spring and fall
Highlights at this access: tent, trailer, and RV camping; community building; accessible swim beach and fishing pier; nearby privately owned Rolling View Marina