General Information

Visiting the park for the first time? Familiarize yourself with general information about the park and brush up on park rules and safety tips to help you prepare.

For ideas to help plan your itinerary, explore the rest of the park menu, starting with the Plan Your Visit page.

At a Glance

Tab/Accordion Items

  • All North Carolina state parks are open every day of the year, with the only exception being Christmas Day.
  • Park hours vary seasonally; please check the park home page for park hours. Both Long Valley Farm and Sandhills accesses follow the same operating hours.
  • The park office is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed during X. The park office is located at Long Valley Farm access.

The address of Long Valley Farm access is 2505 Long Valley Road, Spring Lake, NC 28390.

  • From I-295, take exit 23 for N.C. 24 West / N.C. 87 North / N.C. 210 / Murchison Road towards Spring Lake.
  • Follow N.C. 210 North until you reach Spring Lake. The road will turn into N.C. 24 / N.C. 87.
  • Take a right onto East Manchester Road.
  • Long Valley Road has two intersections on East Manchester Road. One entrance is a service road and is not open to the public. The public park entrance has a large brown entrance sign with white lettering, "Carvers Creek State Park," as well as a long wooden fence and main gate.

Google Maps

The address of Sandhills access is 995 McCloskey Road, Fayetteville, NC 28311.

  • From I-295, take the U.S. 401 North exit toward Lillington.
  • After following U.S. 401 North / Ramsey Street for about half a mile, McCloskey Road will be on the left.
  • Follow McCloskey Road to the access entrance, located about 2 miles on the left.

Google Maps

Pets are permitted on park trails. Pets must be on an attended leash of no longer than 6 feet at all times.

Please pick up after your pet when you are at the park; pet waste is not fertilizer and can put plants, other animals, and visitors at risk for disease.

Please dispose of pet waste in garbage bins and do not throw waste bags in the woods or leave them on the ground.

When sharing a trail, hikers with pets should yield to all other trail users, including bicyclists and horseback riders.

There are no fees to access the park for most day-use activities, including hiking, biking and fishing.

Picnic tables are free to use and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

There is no Wi-Fi available at Carvers Creek State Park.

The park does not offer bike or horse rentals.

Neither Long Valley Farm access nor the Sandhills access permit camping.

The closest state park with overnight accommodations is Raven Rock State Park in Lillington, which is about 30 minutes away.

Accessibility

Long Valley Farm has a wheelchair-accessible picnic table. The park office, located at Long Valley Farm, is accessible. Both accesses have accessible parking and restrooms.

On Tuesdays, the park offers a shuttle at Long Valley Farm for visitors with limited mobility. Visitors can enjoy the historic home, the observation deck over the pond, and the fishing area. Please contact the park office at 910-436-4681 to learn more.

 

Know Before You Go

Current weather

Long Valley Farm and Sandhills accesses

28390 Spring Lake, NC

Be prepared

  • Bring plenty of water, especially during the summer months.
  • Bring and use insect repellent. Mosquitoes, chiggers, and ticks may be plentiful when the weather is warm.
  • Bring and use sun protection.
  • Check the weather. When at the park, be alert to approaching storms. Return to shore and seek shelter immediately during lightning or thunderstorms.
  • Dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy shoes for hiking.
  • Do not leave valuables in your vehicle. If you must, hide them prior to entering the park. This prevents someone from seeing the exact location of your valuables for a break-in.

Recreate safely

  • Stay on designated trails when hiking, biking, or walking with your pet. Fragile plant communities may be damaged if you leave the trail.
  • Pay attention to extreme heat warnings. Know the signs of heat-related illness and how to respond. Take extra breaks and wear light clothing.
  • Do not feed or approach wildlife. Report sick or aggressive animals to park staff.
  • Share the trail: All trails at Long Valley Farm access is open to hikers and bicyclists. All trails at Sandhills access is open to hikers, bicyclists, and horseback riders. Hikers should yield to horseback riders. Bicyclists should yield to hikers and horseback riders. Hikers with pets should yield to bicyclists, horseback riders, and other hikers.