COVID-19 information for parks (Updated 2/26/2021)
Posted on: Friday, February 26, 2021 - 2:37pm |
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Trails
High Water Closures
Currently, Falls Lake is experiencing high lake levels due to the significant rainfall over the last few weeks. All Rolling View picnic shelters are closed. Some sections of trails, including parts of the NC Mountains to Sea trail and the Beaverdam mountain bike trails, are underwater. The Beaverdam Mountain Bike trail status is updated daily on our website and trianglemtb.com.
All park visitors should use caution when water levels are high as unexpected drop-offs and unseen hazards may exist.
Contact the NC Wildlife Resources Commission for information or the status of their boat ramps on Falls Lake.
Current status of park facilities
The following Falls Lake areas and facilities are currently open as part of the state's reopening plans for modified Phase 3:
BEAVERDAM: boat ramp (non-gasoline powered boats only), swim beach, hiking trails, mountain biking trails (weather dependent), picnic shelters (reservations available for groups of 50 or less), restrooms, playground
HIGHWAY 50: boat ramp, restrooms
ROLLING VIEW: family camping, group camping, boat ramp, swim beach, hiking trails, picnic shelters (reservations available for groups of 50 or less), restrooms/bathhouses, playground, community building (reservations must be made in advance at the park office only for groups of 25 or less)
SHINLEAF: hike-in camping, group camping, hiking trails, restrooms/bathhouses
HOLLY POINT: closed for the winter
BW WELLS: closed for the winter
SANDLING BEACH: closed for the winter
The visitor center is open on weekdays, 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 not charged from October through March. Open areas may be operating with limited capacity and will close once capacity is reached. Cleaning bathrooms will take longer than normal due to disinfecting procedures. Trash cans will not be 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 phased reopening statewide. As of October 23, we are following the new guidelines under modified Phase 3.
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
Falls Lake Campground Closures
This summer, 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 June/July 2021, all Rolling View family campsites and later the Holly Point campground will be closed.
The following campsites are affected:
ROLLING VIEW: All family campsites currently not accepting reservations from June 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021
HOLLY POINT: Expected campground closure late 2021
Persons with affected reservations will be contacted and allowed to transfer to a different campsite or will receive a full refund. 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.
Bike trails:
Contact the park
falls.lake@ncparks.gov
Addresses
GPS: 35.9938, -78.6595
Hours
Operating season
OPEN 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
►
- September 3, 2019
to April 11, 2020:
Open Monday to Friday:
8:00am to 5:00pm
closed on state holidays
- April 12, 2020 to
September 7, 2020:
Open daily:
8:00am to 5:00pm
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
