Topics Related to North Carolina State Parks

South Mountains State Park in Burke County is partially reopening its main access at Jacob Fork on April 10, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. For the first time since Hurricane Helene, the visitor center will reopen to the public and camping will be permitted in the park.The park's Clear Creek Access in Morganton reopened for day use March 17.

South Mountains State Park in Burke County is partially reopening March 17, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. The park has been closed since last fall due to widespread damage after Hurricane Helene.Clear Creek Access in Morganton will reopen March 17 for day use. Visitors will be able to utilize both Clear Creek and Lake View trails for hiking and horseback riding. Picnic facilities and fishing will be available at the lake.The park’s main access is slated to partially reopen in April.

Joseph Hiatt has been promoted to park superintendent of Yellow Mountain State Natural Area in Avery and Mitchell counties, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. Hiatt is serving as the first park superintendent of the state natural area, which was previously managed by staff at Grandfather Mountain State Park.

Quarterly meeting for the Parks and Recreation Authority.

Pilot Mountain State Park’s Bean Shoals Access, located along the north side of the Yadkin River, has reopened following a construction project in 2024, the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation announced.The project included building three arched culverts over Horne Creek, a scenic overlook pavilion and parking area, and a stream restoration.

A long-awaited acquisition of over 200 acres of land that includes the Historic Occoneechee Speedway to add to Eno River State Park has been finalized, the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) announced. The acquisition process, which began in 2021, was facilitated by the Eno River Association, which worked with the previous landowner, the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation (formerly the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust).

At its December meeting, the North Carolina Trails Committee selected 13 trail development projects and five safety and education projects to receive matching federal grants, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. In addition, the committee recommended the official designation of the first access points on the new Haw River State Trail and four accesses on the Yadkin River State Trail.

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced that the Parks and Recreation Authority has awarded over $7.6 million from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund for state parks projects for fiscal year 2024-25. Over $1.2 million was approved for two land acquisition projects and an additional $6.4 million-plus for five capital projects and statewide maintenance.

The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation announced that it has awarded $6.6 million in grants for 17 land acquisition projects on state trails in nine counties. The funding comes from the Complete the Trails Program and will leverage more than $42.9 million in matching funds provided by local nonprofit state trail partners.

Staff from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation reintroduced the Roanoke logperch to Mayo River State Park in early November, kickstarting a joint effort that helps conserve the endangered darter and other aquatic species in the Dan River Basin. Fingerling logperch, Percina rex, were released at the state park’s Anglin Mill access in Rockingham County. Found only in North Carolina and Virginia and nowhere else in the world, the species has been listed as federally endangered since 1989.