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Alerts and Closures

Bird watching at Hammocks Beach State Park

Alerts and Closures

 

Current alerts for North Carolina state parks:

 

Thursday, September 9, 2021 - 8:29am
Lake James State Park
Mountain Bike and State Park Section of Fonta Flora Trails CLOSED Today

The mountain bike trails and the State Park sections of the Fonta Flora State Trail are CLOSED today, September 9.

Be advised that the direction of Tindo and Wimba trails has changed. The Tindo trail is going in a clockwise direction, and the Wimba trail is going in a counterclockwise direction. 

This closure does NOT cover sections of the Fonta Flora State Trail located off State Park Property. For Burke County Fonta Flora State Trail status please visit: www.burkenc.org/1258/Fonta-Flora-State-Trail.
***MORE IMPORTANT INFO BELOW***
This includes the section of Fonta Flora State Trail that starts at the Linville River and ventures out onto the Long Arm Peninsula. 
When trailhead parking lots are closed it means the associated trail is closed to ALL use (hikers and bikers) due to wet trail conditions or other hazards.
Ignoring such closures will cause permanent damage to the trail system and could lead to a citation and fine. Your cooperation ensures we can keep the trail system healthy and functioning for YOUR benefit and safety.

If the time stamp on this alert is more than 24 hours old, please feel free to call the park office at 828-584-7728 for the most up-to-date information.

Thursday, September 9, 2021 - 7:43am
Lake Norman State Park
Itusi Bike Trails are CLOSED.

The Itusi Bike Trails are CLOSED, due to wet conditions.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021 - 5:09pm
Morrow Mountain State Park
Updated Boathouse Hours

The Boathouse operating hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 10a.m. - 5:30p.m. Boat rentals END at 4:30p.m. Boat rentals are at $10 per hour, $25 for half-day, or $45 for full-day. It is encouraged to bring your own life-jackets as long as they are US Coast Guard approved, in good condition, properly fitting and worn at all times while on the rental boats. The risk of contracting COVID from exposed surfaces is greatly reduced after 72 hours. When renting life jackets, boats, and paddles within 72 hours of previous use, you are at a greater risk of contracting COVID.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021 - 9:34am
Hammocks Beach State Park
Status of Park Facilities as of September 8, 2021

The September ferry schedule is Wednesday through Sunday hourly beginning at 9:30 am and the last ferry departs from Bear Island at 5:00 pm.  Masks are optional on board the ferry. Please see the ferry schedule for complete information.

Please Note:  ferry tickets are sold in person on a first come first served basis.  There are no reservations for the ferry.

Bear Island bathhouse restroom facilities are open daily with potable (drinkable) water.  The concession stand is CLOSED for the season and there are NO LIFEGUARDS on duty.  Please swim at your own risk and use extreme caution as rip currents and strong currents can occur at any time.

Visitor center, exhibit hall, trails, mainland restrooms, and the boat ramp are open daily.  The boat ramp will be closed from 9–10am and 2-3pm for ferry re-fueling as well as Mondays and Tuesdays from 9am – 11am for ferry vessel maintenance.  Masks are required in all park buildings. 

Bear Island is open for day use and the Bear Island beachfront and sound side campsites are open for campers.  Sound side campsites are not accessible by ferry and have no access to the bathhouse.  Sound-side campers must have transportation to the island by canoe, kayak, or private boat and must bring all necessities with them. See the Reservations page to make a reservation.  Please note open fires are not permitted anywhere on Bear Island.

Beachside campsites will be CLOSED during “King Tide Events”, June 22 – 26, 2021; July 21 – 25, 2021; October 6 – 12, 2021; November 3 – 9, 2021, and December 2 – 7, 2021. A king tide occurs when the sun, earth, and moon align, resulting in exceptionally high tides.  Beach erosion from hurricanes and winter storms, reduced the Bear Island primary dune and during king tides, ocean waves will be at the dunes, restricting access to campsites 1-11 for extended periods of time.

Visitor center hours:  8am – 5pm, Gate Hours 8am – 6pm. 

Tuesday, September 7, 2021 - 7:38am
Raven Rock State Park
Current Status of Park Facilities As of Tuesday September 7th, 2021

**Parking areas fill up to capacity each weekend day.  Please plan your trip accordingly or come on a weekday.**

Reservations are required for all camping; no walk-ups permitted. You can make a reservation online or by calling Aspira at 1-877-722-6762. Primitive backback campers must arrive before 7 p.m. on the day of your reservation. You must check in with a park ranger prior to going to your site. Information regarding camping will be given to registered campers upon reservation.

A properly worn mask or face covering, covering both the nose and the mouth, is required to enter the visitor center.

Please continue to follow social distancing guidelines throughout the park, regardless of the behavior of others. Bring a mask or face covering even if you are planning to only be outside; they are required to be worn when you cannot stay 6 feet away from park staff or other visitors. Wash or sanitize your hands before, during, and after your visit. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home.

Sunday, September 5, 2021 - 4:10pm
Mount Mitchell State Park
TRAIL CONDITIONS & PARK STATUS

Use extra caution on all trails!
Hiking trails eroded due to storm damage.

Concession Stand is operating Friday - Sunday from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm until further notice.

Given the continued threat of COVID-19 and variants of the virus, face masks are REQUIRED for indoor areas of Mount Mitchell State Park.
 
The following facilities are CLOSED for the year: 
     Restaurant
     Restrooms at the Summit (Port-a-lets only)   
 
Overnight parking is permitted for people backcountry camping in the surrounding National Forest. Please fill out a parking pass and leave it on the dashboard of your car. Passes are located in the boxes where the overnight parking signs are at the summit parking lot. There is no overnight parking permitted at the park office.
 
Please check the weather forecast and prepare accordingly.
 
To check Blue Ridge Parkway road closures, please visit their website at https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm#13/35.5826/-82.4749
(Mount Mitchell is located at Mile Marker 355.)

 
Please note that this alert is updated only when something changes.
 

Friday, September 3, 2021 - 7:12pm
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
Falls Lake Park Office Phone Issues

Currently, the Falls Lake park office phone is not functioning - there is a break in the line outside the park.  If you are not able to reach staff at the park office phone number during normal business hours, please email us at falls.lake@ncparks.gov

Friday, September 3, 2021 - 3:41pm
Hanging Rock State Park
Climbing Access Parking Lot Closed Weekdays until Sept 17

The parking lot at the Moore's Wall Rock Climbing Access on Hooker Farm Rd. will be closed on weekdays until September 17 for a parking lot expansion project.  Please contact the park for more information.

Friday, September 3, 2021 - 1:45pm
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
Current status of park facilities

All Falls Lake facilities are open and following our 2021 operating season schedule.

The visitor center is open daily, but hours vary depending on staff availability. Please call the park to confirm the hours.  Masks are required to be worn inside the visitor center.

Day-use entrance fees are charged daily. 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.

Campers must have reservations to camp, but reservations for available family 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 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

Wednesday, September 1, 2021 - 11:55am
New River State Park
Elk Shoals Access CLOSED

Elk Shoals Access will be closed after Labor Day (Sept 6th) for the month of September 2021. We will be conducting a river restoration project in partnership with New River Conservancy.

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