Hanging Rock State Park Adds 900 Acres For New Access, Camping

Raleigh, N.C. —The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation will celebrate the addition of 900 acres to Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County on Sept. 19.  

The newly acquired property is situated adjacent to the eastern portion of the park and will provide new recreational opportunities and conveniences including camping, a new trailhead, parking, a day use area, a proposed extension of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail, and parking. 

“This is truly a day for celebration,” said Secretary Susi H. Hamilton. “Future visitors to Hanging Rock State Park will have more trails to hike, more campgrounds and picnic areas for their families to enjoy, and incredible mountain views to behold.”

“We are so grateful to have this addition to Hanging Rock State Park,” said Superintendent Robin Riddlebarger. “We look forward to the opportunities these lands will provide for not only visitors to our park, but for water quality protection and conservation.” 

Funding for the new property was provided by the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The lands feature wide open grasslands with sweeping views of “Three Sisters,” “Sheeprock,” and Flat Shoals Mountain.

“Hanging Rock has become a major tourism draw for Stokes County, and visitation to the park keeps rising,” said Division of Parks and Recreation Director Dwayne Patterson. “This new land is critical to ensure our visitors continue to have the high-quality, educational, and memorable experience they have come to expect from North Carolina’s state parks.” 

The park will host a dedication of the new property at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 1000 Orrell Road in Walnut Cove. In event of rain, the dedication will take place in Picnic Shelter 4, adjacent to the lake parking lot. The event is free and open to the public. 

More information about Hanging Rock State Park can be found at ncparks.gov/hanging-rock-state-park.

About North Carolina State Parks
North Carolina State Parks manages more than 237,000 acres of iconic landscape within North Carolina’s state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas. It administers the N.C Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, including its local grants program, as well as a state trails program, North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers and more, all with a mission dedicated to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system welcomes more than 19 million visitors annually.