Join us on New Years Day, for our annual First Day Hike! We will be meeting at the Mount Jefferson Picnic Shelter for 1.4 mile hike to the Luther Rock Overlook. Please dress for cold weather and wear proper shoes. Snow/ice will cancel this program.
Topics Related to Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
2026 First Day Hike
January 1, 2026, 10:30am - 11:30am
Bradford Pear Removal
October 25, 2025, 9am - 1pm
Naked Creek Bradford Pear Removal
Saturday, October 25th, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced today that six division sites are celebrating their 50th anniversary as National Natural Landmarks (NNL) as designated by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
All North Carolina state parks west of Interstate 77 are closed through at least Oct. 31.
Crowders Mountain, Gorges, Grandfather Mountain and Lake Norman state parks, as well as Rendezvous Mountain, will reopen at least partially on Nov. 1.
Elk Knob, Lake James, New River, and Stone Mountain state parks will reopen at least partially on Nov. 15; three parks will remain closed until further notice and face long-term closures: Chimney Rock, Mount Mitchell, and South Mountains.
State Parks Director Brian Strong provides additional information on post-Helene rescue and recovery efforts and the status of western state parks.
Tracy Minton, the longtime superintendent at Elk Knob State Park, has been named superintendent of New River State Park in neighboring Alleghany and Ashe counties, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.
Minton succeeds Joe Shimel, who was promoted to east district superintendent last year. Ranger Scott Robinson served as acting superintendent during the interim.
The $13.7 million will fund capital improvements projects at 11 state parks.