The North Carolina state parks system welcomed more than 20.1 million visitors in 2023 and acquired over 2,890 acres of new land, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. Visitation at state parks increased by 4% — more than 755,000 — from 2022.
Topics Related to North Carolina State Parks
Pilot Mountain State Park’s Bean Shoals Access, located along the north side of the Yadkin River, will be closed beginning Feb. 5 through the end of 2024, the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation announced. The access will undergo a construction project to improve access, followed by a stream restoration project.
Beginning June 15, 2024, most campsites in the North Carolina state parks system will have a check-in time of 3 p.m. and a check-out time of 12 p.m., the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced.
An annual nationwide tradition continues on Jan. 1, 2024, as North Carolina joins other states in offering First Day Hikes at state parks, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced.Fresh off celebrating the Year of the Trail, North Carolina state parks will host more than 50 staff-led hikes to showcase the wonders of the Great Trails State. Visitors can choose from easy and short strolls on relatively flat trails to long excursions across mountainous landscapes.
The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced end-of-year funding today totaling more than $13 million that will benefit both local and state parks through federal and state funds.The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority has approved $3.45 million in land acquisition and $3.5 million in capital improvement projects for state parks across the state. The $6.95 million in combined funding is a portion of the annual allocation for state parks from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.
Six additional local parks and recreation projects across the state will receive grants totaling nearly $1.9 million through the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. The N.C. Parks and Recreation Authority selected the recipients Nov. 3.The Authority selects PARTF grant recipients annually at its August meeting, and this year, 19 recipients were funded through a continuing resolution. After the state budget was finalized this fall, this year’s PARTF allocation amounted to a total of $10.4 million.
Matt Windsor is the new park superintendent at Goose Creek State Park in Beaufort County, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. Windsor succeeds Doug Lequire, who retired in May.Park superintendents lead operations and administration at a park and have wide-ranging responsibilities that include staffing, training, law enforcement, planning, resource management, interpretation and education, and visitor services.
All backcountry campsites at nine state parks in western North Carolina are closed effective Nov. 10 due to increased fire risk, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. The closures will last through at least Dec. 1.The following state parks are affected:Crowders Mountain State Park: All campsites are closed.Elk Knob State Park: All campsites and the zone camping area are closed.
Crystal Lloyd, one of the park superintendents at Falls Lake State Recreation Area, is now the park superintendent at Carolina Beach State Park in New Hanover County, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. Lloyd fills the role after longtime superintendent Chris Helms retired in April.The park superintendent leads the operations and administration at the park and has a comprehensive set of responsibilities that include staffing, training, law enforcement, planning, natural and cultural resource management, interpretation and education, and visitor services.
The campground at Gorges State Park in Transylvania County will be temporarily closed beginning Nov. 2 due to black bear activity in the area. The campground will remain closed for the next two weeks.Campground reservations during this time will be cancelled and refunds will be issued to reservation holders.The park remains open to visitors.