Education

IF YOU ARRIVE AND A PARKING LOT IS FULL, CONSIDER THAT AREA CLOSED.  WHEN PARKING LOTS FILL THERE WILL BE NO WAITING IN LINE TO GET IN.  PARKING ON ROAD SHOULDERS IS PROHIBITED.  IF POSSIBLE PLAN YOUR VISIT ON A WEEKDAY WHEN THE PARK IS LESS CROWDED.

When the summit (upper) parking lot fills the road past the new visitor center will close to all uphill visitor traffic.  All downhill  traffic can leave freely, but no uphill visitor traffic will occur.  Visitors who arrive when the road to the summit is closed will have the option of parking at the new visitor center to hike, or visiting one of the other park accesses (if space is available).   

PARKING LOTS:
Mountain Section
Visitor Center parking – 200 cars – (Grindstone Trail, Grassy Ridge Trail, Mountain Trail)
Old Park Office parking  – 30 cars – (Grindstone Trail, Mountain Trail)
Summit (upper) parking  –  90 cars – (Jomeokee Trail, overlooks, Ledge Springs Trail)
Use the following lots to skip the crowds, take a longer hike, or visit the Yadkin River
Pinnacle Hotel Road – 50 cars  134 Culler Road, Pinnacle NC – (Access to the Mountain Trail and Corridor Trail, and Grassy Ridge Trail)
Pilot Creek Trailhead – 15 cars  382 Boyd Nelson Road, Pinnacle NC – (Access to the Pilot Creek Trail)
Bean Shoals/Hauser Road – 40 cars  622 Hauser Road, Pinnacle NC – (Access to the southern Corridor Trail, Horne Creek Trail, Canal Trail)
Ivy Bluffs Trailhead – 20 cars  4240 Shoals Road, East Bend, NC – (Access to the Ivy Bluffs Trail)
Ivy Bluffs canoe launch – 10 cars  4454 Shoals Road, East Bend NC – (Access to the Yadkin River paddle trail)

RESTROOMS, VISITOR CENTER:
Under COVID phase 3.0 the new visitor center gift shop and exhibit hall are open with a max capacity of 25 people. Bathrooms are open and available at the new visitor center in the breezeway and at the summit parking lot.

CAMPGROUND:
The Family Campground is currently closed.  Campground season is March 15th-November 30th.

FACE COVERINGS
Masks are required to visit the gift shop and exhibit hall in visitor center. Masks are required on trails if you are within 6 feet of anyone not from your household. Please wear a mask over nose and mouth when required. Park Rangers may write citations for failure to follow an executive order if individuals refuse to wear a mask when required.  

Please note that this alert is updated only when something changes. Generally, state parks are following the phased reopening statewide.

 Last updated on: Tuesday, December 29, 2020