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An inviting trail at William B. Umstead State Park
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Park Maps and Brochures:

Upcoming Events:

Millstone Hike
Saturday, October 26, 2019 - 2:00pm
Paddling Big Lake
Thursday, October 31, 2019 - 2:00pm
Renewable Energy Class for Kids
Monday, November 11, 2019 - 2:00pm
Trucks and Heavy Equipment on Multi-Use...   

Starting on September 23, 2019, large dump trucks will be on the multi-use trails delivering rock and materials to the Cedar Ridge trail project.  Please use caution while on the multi-use trail and be aware that there will be trucks driving on the trail.  Cedar Ridge trail is CLOSED to all pedestrians, bicycles, and horses for safety and to allow the contractor to build the trail.  Please stayy off the trail at all times.  The rock delivery and spreading of material will take 3 weeks weather permitting.

Original Message:
Cedar Ridge trail on the multi-use trail system will be closed for construction.  We are improving and rerouting sections of the trail to bring it up to current trail standards.  During this closure, please do not use the trail as there will be contractors working with heavy equipment and unsafe conditions.  Visitors should also be aware of dump truck traffic on the multi-use trail delivering materials during construction.  The work is expected to take approximately 60 days depending on weather.

 Last updated on: Monday, September 23, 2019

Park News

Each of North Carolina’s state parks has special events during the year and news about facilities, trails, staff and park supporters. And, visitors are frequently finding new ways to explore a park’s unique cultural and natural resources. Check these pages to keep abreast of the news at your favorite parks.

Ask a Ranger: A Hike at Franklin Mountains State Park, El Paso, Texas

Yay! Another episode with Lydia Pagel from Franklin Mountain State Park in El Paso, Texas. In this episode, Ranger Jess gets to tap into her inner 7-year-old and ask Ranger Lydia Pagel, "What's that? What's this?" all the way up the mountain. We find out how Franklin Mountain State Park is like our very own Mount Mitchell State Park, how some of the different flora you will find on this mountain compares to ones on our mountains, and how little herds of tiny hippo-related mammals inhabit Franklin Mountain as their home.

 

Ask a Ranger: Japan Parks with Ranger Naoki

Welcome to the start of our third year and third season for the Ask a Ranger podcast. For this episode, we return back to the beginning, when Ranger Jess was just starting to fuss with the recording and editing equipment. Ranger Jess has been hanging onto this interview from her trip to Japan for a couple of years, wanting to release it because Naoki was such a great guest with wonderful information, but holding onto it because, well, the quality of the recording was not great. So because this is a reflection on how far we have come, we though our listeners, who have been loyal and patient from the start, would be willing to bear with the quality of the recording in order to listen to his wonderful park ranger from Japan. Thank you for coming on this journey with us! And a huge thank you to Naoki for your warm welcome and willingness to conduct an interview with a newbie to the podcasting world. Thank you Naoki!

 

Ask a Ranger: Prehistoric Sharks with Dr. Kammerer

Let's go back in time, to a time where prehistoric sharks swam the ocean, some with a spiral of bottom teeth, some with bony protrusions off the top of their head, and one that was 30 times larger than a great white shark! We sit down with Dr. Christian Kammerer from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and pick his brain about all the wonderful and wondrous prehistoric sharks that lived in the ocean well before our time.

 

Ask a Ranger: Hank the Hognose Snake Sets the Record Straight

Hank the hognose snake asked us to do a quick podcast release to set the record straight on the rumors of "Zombie Hognose Snakes" in North Carolina. So for this #factcheckfriday we chat with Hank the hognose snake and find out about this misnomer and the TRUTH about Hank and other hognose snakes like him.

 

Ask a Ranger: Franklin Mountains State Park – El Paso, TX

Ranger Jess took a trip out west and was able to explore Franklin Mountains State Park with Park Ranger Lydia Pagel. After, they sat down and Ranger Lydia talked about her journey into becoming a park ranger at Franklin Mountains as the Education Ranger.

 

8801 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27617

919-571-4170
william.umstead@ncparks.gov

 

Map of North Carolina

GPS: 35.8905, -78.7502

 

8801 Glenwood Ave. entrance
 

  • November to February:
    7:00am to 6:00pm
     
  • March to April:
    7:00am to 8:00pm
     
  • May to August:
    7:00am to 9:00pm
     
  • September to October:
    7:00am to 8:00pm
     
  • Closed Christmas Day
     
The gate at Crabtree Creek opens at 7 a.m. daily as part of a pilot program to allow early access to the trails system.
 

2100 N. Harrison Ave. entrance
 

  • November to February:
    8:00am to 6:00pm
     
  • March to April:
    8:00am to 8:00pm
     
  • May to August:
    8:00am to 9:00pm
     
  • September to October:
    8:00am to 8:00pm
     
  • Closed Christmas Day
     
VISITOR CENTER:
  • 9:00am to 5:00pm daily
     
  • Closed Christmas Day
     
EXHIBIT HALL inside visitor center:
  • 9:00am to 4:30pm
     
  • Closed Christmas Day
     

Tent and trailer family campground open
April 1 to October 31
 

  • April:
    7:00am to 9:00pm
     
  • May to August:
    7:00am to 10:00pm
     
  • September to October:
    7:00am to 9:00pm
     
  • Closed Christmas Day
     
Campers: Please note that once the campground gates close, they are locked until the park reopens the following day. There will be no entry or exit permitted, except for law enforcement or medical emergencies.