Park closures

Due to declared state of emergency in various counties, beach closures and continued crowding that does not adhere to social distancing guidelines, the following parks are closed (underlined parks are newly closed as of Thursday, April 2):

• Carvers Creek State Park
• Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park (Eagle Rock and Rumbling Bald accesses are open)
• Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
• Crowders Mountain State Park
• Dismal Swamp State Park
• Elk Knob State Park
• Eno River State Park
• Falls Lake State Recreation Area
• Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
• Fort Macon State Park
• Gorges State Park
• Grandfather Mountain State Park
• Hanging Rock State Park
• Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
• Lake James State Park
• Lake Norman State Park
• Lake Waccamaw State Park
• Lumber River State Park
• Mayo Mountain access at Mayo River State Park (all other accesses remain open)
• Morrow Mountain State Park
• Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
• Mount Mitchell State Park
• New River State Park
• Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area
• Pilot Mountain State Park
• Raven Rock State Park
• South Mountains State Park
• Stone Mountain State Park
• William B. Umstead State Park
   

Day-use

Most trails at the parks not listed above are open. All restrooms are CLOSED. Most boat ramps and fishing are open, at the discretion of park staff. Visitor centers, park offices, picnic shelters, and community buildings are closed. Some parks may also limit parking areas and access to typically crowded areas. All state parks will close at sunset every day.

Please check the individual park pages or call the park prior to your visit to confirm the status of park facilities.
 

Events and programs

All events and programs at state parks have been canceled until further notice.
 

Camping

All campgrounds are closed until at least April 30. Reservation system staff will contact campers with existing reservations to issue full refunds in the order of their reservation date. Please be patient; campers are advised not to call the reservations number at this time, as staff are currently inundated with phone calls.

 

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A message from the Director of State Parks
 

North Carolina State Parks are part of the fabric of North Carolina, preserving some of the most iconic features of our state. We have made the closures listed above with the safety and well-being of our visitors and staff in mind.

If you are sick or experiencing symptoms consistent with the COVID-19 virus, please postpone your visit to North Carolina state parks.

We will continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19 in North Carolina and worldwide to ensure we are following the best protocols for the safety of those who visit our parks. We will update our website when new information becomes available. If you visit a park, please follow social distancing guidelines by keeping a distance of 6 feet or more between you and other visitors.
 

Tips for visiting parks:

• Use the restroom prior to coming to the park. All restrooms at parks are closed.
• Do not take group pictures that violate social distancing guidelines.
• Do not share your camera with others to take pictures.
• Dogs MUST be kept on a leash — violators will be cited.
• Do not touch other visitors' pets or allow yours to be touched.
• Employ social distancing when enjoying scenic venues.
• Come to the park early or in the middle of the week to avoid the largest crowds.
• Do not enter areas or parks that have been closed.
   

What you can do:

• Avoid touching your face and putting your hands near your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• If you're sick, stay home. If you feel well, avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• When visiting state parks and everywhere else, maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw it away. If you don't have a tissue, use your elbow.
• Thoroughly clean surfaces you touch regularly, especially your phone and/or tablet.
   

Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web page on COVID-19
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services web page on COVID-19
   

The parks are free and yours to enjoy. Please come out and enjoy a healthy walk while maintaining a safe social distance.

 

 Posted on: Thursday, April 2, 2020 - 10:02am