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Jones lake

Photo Essay

Natural Wonder in North Carolina’s State Parks

From a 6,684-foot peak in the west to a shape-shifting sand dune in the east, our state parks hold the best of what North Carolina has to offer. Together, they tell the story of the place we call home.

by Tom Earnhardt
Features

The Safest Place: The Stewards of Jones Lake State Park

In Bladen County, before integration, a former military man and his family were stewards of the first North Carolina state park open to Black families. There, amid acres of longleaf pines and a sprawling lake, families and friends gathered to eat, play, and pray.

by Emiene Wright
History

A Timeline of North Carolina’s State Parks

Find out how the purchase of a single plot of land on Mount Mitchell in 1915 turned into a thriving state park system that provides North Carolinians with the opportunity to explore the outdoors in all its natural beauty.

by Rachel Malmin
Features

The Mystery of Carolina Bays

Our Coastal Plain hides an ancient secret in plain sight: What looks, from the ground, like a simple day at the lake becomes a little more complicated from up in the air.

by Katie Saintsing
carolina bays feat img
Uncategorized

Riddle of the Carolina Bays

It’s easy to get lost in the enigma of Carolina Bays, but even easier to explore these mysterious bodies of water.

by T. Edward Nickens
Guides

Open-Sky Camping Across North Carolina

Drive away from the cities, away from lights, to a place where the sky is as dark as it gets — and set up camp beneath the stars.

by Jason Frye

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