COVID-19 information for parks under phase 3
Posted on: Monday, October 5, 2020 - 2:12pm |
Photos and Videos
The park is open daily from 7:00am to 10:00pm.
The visitor center is open. A properly worn mask or face covering, covering both the nose and the mouth, is required to enter.
Picnic areas are open with tables spread out for social distancing and grills are open. Picnic shelters and the amphitheater are not available to reserve.
The family campground, equestrian campground, and backcountry campsites are open. There is no group camping permitted at South Mountains. Only six people or less per site.
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL CAMPSITES. All campers, including backpackers, must make a reservation through the system online or by phone (1-877-722-6762). There are no walk-ins. Campers can make same-day reservations up until 9:00pm on the day of your arrival. You must make a reservation before setting up camp on a campsite. You cannot place your personal belongings on a site to "reserve" the site for you. When you arrive for your reservation, use the free Wi-Fi near the visitor center to self-check-in using the Reserve America Camping App.
Weekend delays: Visitors should expect park entrance delays from 9:30am to 6:00pm on weekends. You may encounter a 30-minute to 1-hour wait time to get into Jacob Fork access. Parking is limited and some spaces are coned off to meet maximum occupancy recommendations. Visitors will be directed to other parking areas once the High Shoals Falls trailhead parking is full. Vehicles will be stopped near the park entrance gate, and traffic into the park will be controlled by park rangers for visitor safety and for emergency access. Plan ahead and limit the number of vehicles you take to the park. Maps are available at the visitor center and trailhead kiosks.
Please note that this alert is updated only when something changes. Generally, state parks are following the phased reopening statewide. As of October 3, we are following modified Phase 3.
Last updated on: Monday, October 5, 2020The water level at Clear Creek Reservoir has been lowered to perform maintenance. Fishing and boating access may be affected by the low water levels as the current shoreline is muddy and rocky.
Last updated on: Sunday, October 4, 2020South Mountains State Park now routinely reaches capacity by 10 a.m. on weekends. Expect to wait 30 minutes to 1 hour to enter the park once the Jacob Fork parking area is full. Please note that delays may be longer as we move into fall leaf season. Park staff will be monitoring and controlling traffic. Roadside parking is PROHIBITED.
Weekdays are the best time to visit. If you must visit on the weekend, please try to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid long wait times.
Last updated on: Wednesday, September 30, 2020OPEN TODAY
Bike trails:OPEN TODAY
3001 South Mountain Park Ave.
Connelly Springs, NC 28612
828-433-4772
south.mountains@ncparks.gov
GPS: 35.5963, -81.600
Open Daily (except Christmas Day) 7am
Closing Hours
December, January and February 7pm
November 8pm
March, April and October 9pm
May - September 10pm
Closed Christmas Day
Park Office
8am - 5pm weekdays and weekends
Closed Christmas Day
Gallery
UNC-TV: Fire brings new life to South Mountains State Park
February 14, 2019
More than two years after a large fire, plants at South Mountains State Park are thriving.
From the UNC School of Media & Journalism
Producer: Rob Gourley
Associate Producer: Kara Kochek
Scriptwriter and Narrator: Minali Nigam
Cameras/Video Editors: Rob Gourley and Bob Gunter
Executive Producer: Dr. Tom Linden
Photographs courtesy of Ranger Amanda Lasley of South Mountains
Additional video courtesy of Rahima Rahi
Into the river: A field trip to South Mountains State Park
May 9, 2014
Middle school field trip to a stream at North Carolina's South Mountains State Park
Park Maps and Brochures:
