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.
Jones lake
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
