COVID-19 information for parks (Updated 5/28/2021)
Posted on: Friday, May 28, 2021 - 10:04am |
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Trails
Falls Lake Campground Closures
This fall, Falls Lake SRA will begin the construction phase of our CONNECT NC Bond Project, to upgrade our RV electrical campsites to 50-amp service. During construction, scheduled to begin in September 2021, all Rolling View family campsites will be closed. The Holly Point campground will be closed later in the project.
The following campsites are affected:
ROLLING VIEW: All family campsites currently not accepting reservations from September 7, 2021 through February 28, 2022
HOLLY POINT: Expected campground closure February/March 2022
Persons with affected reservations will be contacted and allowed to transfer to a different campsite or will receive a full refund. Changes to the existing closures or additional closures are expected as the project progresses. We will update this alert throughout the project as dates will change as the project moves forward.
Please contact the Falls Lake park office if you have any questions.
Current status of park facilities
The following Falls Lake areas and facilities are currently open as part of North Carolina's COVID-19 reopening plans:
BEAVERDAM: boat ramp (non-gasoline powered boats only), swim beach, hiking trails, mountain biking trails (weather dependent), picnic shelters, restrooms, playground
SANDLING BEACH: swim beach, hiking trails, picnic shelters, restrooms, playground
HIGHWAY 50: boat ramp, restrooms
ROLLING VIEW: family camping, group camping, boat ramp, swim beach, hiking trails, picnic shelters, restrooms/bathhouses, playground, community building
SHINLEAF: hike-in camping, group camping, hiking trails, restrooms/bathhouses
HOLLY POINT: (all facilities for registered campers only) family camping, boat ramp, swim beach, hiking trail, restrooms/bathhouses, playground
BW WELLS: (all facilities for registered campers only) group camping, boat ramp, hiking trails, restrooms/bathhouses
The visitor center is open daily, but hours vary depending on staff availability. Please call the park to confirm the hours. A properly worn mask or face covering, covering both the nose and the mouth, is required to enter the visitor center.
Day-use entrance fees are charged on Saturdays and Sundays in April and May. Open areas will close if capacity is reached. Cleaning bathrooms will take longer than normal due to disinfecting procedures. Trash cans are not available at family campsites, so campers will have to take their own trash to the dumpsters. Park visitors are not allowed in any areas marked as closed.
Campers must have reservations to camp, but reservations for available campsites may be on the day of arrival up to 9 p.m. Campers may make reservations by calling toll-free 1-877-722-6762 or through our reservations website.
Hikers can hike the entirety of the Falls Lake sections of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail by parking at any of the trailheads where the trail crosses a road. Please ensure that your vehicle does not block a gate or the roadway.
Please note that this alert is updated only when something changes. Generally, state parks are following the state's phased reopening plans statewide.
Please check with our partner agencies about the status of their access areas on Falls Lake:
US Army Corps of Engineers
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Wake County Parks
Raleigh Parks and Recreation
Bike trails:
Contact the park
falls.lake@ncparks.gov
Addresses
GPS: 35.9938, -78.6595
Hours
Operating season
CLOSED TODAY
Contact the park
919-676-1027
falls.lake@ncparks.gov
Addresses
Visitor center
13304 Creedmoor Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
GPS: 36.0116, -78.6888
Beaverdam
14600 Creedmoor Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
GPS: 36.0362, -78.6850
B.W. Wells campground
1630 Bent Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
GPS: 35.9861, -78.6315
Highway 50
13900 Creedmoor Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
GPS: 36.0216, -78.6902
Holly Point campground
14424 New Light Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
GPS: 36.0100, -78.6575
Rolling View
4201 Baptist Road
Durham, NC 27703
GPS: 36.0085, -78.7291
Sandling Beach
14601 Creedmoor Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
GPS: 36.0423, -78.6984
Shinleaf campground
13708 New Light Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
GPS: 35.9938, -78.6595
Hours
►
- November to February:
8:00am to 6:00pm
- March to April:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- May to August:
8:00am to 9:00pm
- September to October:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
- Not all day-use areas are open year-round. Please check the park's operating season schedule for dates.
►
- All campground gates have 24-hour access when the campground is operating.
- Please check the park's operating season schedule for dates.
- Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
►
- Open Monday to Friday:
8:00am to 5:00pm
closed on state holidays
Operating season
List of trails
Mountain Biking
Enjoy riding your mountain bike through Falls Lake State Recreation Area! A total of 14.3 miles of trails through a variety of terrain are open for single-track mountain biking. Located in the Beaverdam area, the park offers three loop trails totaling a distance of 6.5 miles of easy/intermediate riding, as well as a 6.5-mile trail for advanced riding.
The trails close for wet weather. Call the park office or visit Triangle Mountain Biking to check on the trail's status.
Hiking
The Falls Lake Trail follows the entire south shore of the lake, traveling over 50 miles and following the white blazes from the shore of the Neuse River below the Falls Lake Dam all the way to the Eno River and beyond. A portion of the North Carolina Mountains-to-Sea State Trail, the trail connects many recreational areas and provides camping stops for backpackers at Shinleaf and Rolling View. Portions of the trail travel through state parkland, where all state park regulations apply. The remainder of the trail travels through the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission game lands. For your safety, wear blaze orange while hiking this trail during hunting season. The Falls Lake Trail can be easily accessed at the Falls Lake Dam information center, Blue Jay Point County Park, Shinleaf access, the Falls Lake park office and Rolling View access. Learn more about the MST at the North Carolina Trails website.
Other hiking opportunities are available in Beaverdam, Sandling Beach, Rolling View and Shinleaf recreation areas. There are also trails available for campers only at Holly Point and B.W. Wells campgrounds.
B.W. Wells Long Loop Trail (campers only)
Location: B.W. Wells access
Description:
This trail is an extension of the B.W. Wells Short Loop Trail for those desiring a longer hike. Notice the foundations of old home sites that are still visible.
Surface: natural surface
Length:
1.40 miles
loop
1.40 miles
loop
Difficulty:
moderate hike
moderate hike
Blaze:
red diamonds
red diamonds
B.W. Wells Short Loop Trail (campers only)
Location: B.W. Wells access
Description:
This loop trail connects group campsites from one end of the campground to the other. Enjoy lake views as this trail winds along parts of the shoreline – watch for osprey or bald eagles!
Surface: natural surface
Length:
0.80 miles
loop
0.80 miles
loop
Difficulty:
moderate hike
moderate hike
Blaze:
blue diamonds
blue diamonds
Beaverdam Kids TRACK Trail – Duck Cove Trail
Location: Beaverdam access
Description:
The Beaverdam Kids TRACK Trail is a 0.6-mile hike one way (1.2 miles round trip). Enjoy a hike through a mixed pine forest along the edge of Beaverdam Lake that leads to a wildlife observation platform overlooking Duck Cove.
Kids in Parks is a nationwide network of family-friendly outdoor adventures called TRACK Trails. Each TRACK Trail features self-guided brochures and signs that turn your visit into a fun and exciting outdoors experience. Learn more about TRACK Trails on the Kids in Parks website »
Surface: natural surface
Length:
0.60 miles
one way
0.60 miles
one way
Difficulty:
easy hike
easy hike
Blaze:
orange circles
orange circles
Fox Trot Trail
Location: Beaverdam access
Description:
Hike through pine and upland oak-hickory forests that have been periodically burned with prescribed fire. If you hike quietly, you may see a white-tailed deer or grey fox!
Surface: natural surface
Length:
1.50 miles
loop
1.50 miles
loop
Difficulty:
easy hike
easy hike
Blaze:
yellow diamonds
yellow diamonds
Holly Point Trail (campers only)
Location: Holly Point access
Description:
This trail runs between the Holly Point boat ramp and campground loop 2, but parking is only available at the boat ramp. This trail is for registered overnight campers and their guests only. This trail travels from the campsites in loop 2 through pine and upland hardwood forests; goes past loops 3, 4, and 5; and the amphitheater to the boat ramp parking lot.
Surface: natural surface
Length:
1.10 miles
one way
1.10 miles
one way
Difficulty:
moderate hike
moderate hike
Blaze:
red circles
red circles
Upcoming Events:
Thursday, June 24, 2021 - 5:00pm