Jordan Lake & other state parks to begin phased reopening May 9

Raleigh, NC – Following guidance from the Governor’s office and the Department of Health and Human Services, North Carolina’s state parks will increase recreational access and services beginning May 9.

In Chatham County, the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area reopening plan includes the following three phase approach:

PHASE ONE (tentative date May 9) –  Robeson Creek canoe access and boat ramp will re-open for public use.

PHASE TWO (tentative date May 22)  – Crosswinds campground Loops A, B and C, Parker’s Creek campground Loops 1 and 2  and Poplar Point campground Loops B, C, F, G, H and J will re-open. All camping will be by advance reservations only.  No First come, First serve/walk in camping.  Camping will be restricted and enforced to include – no day visitors permitted, beach areas closed, boat ramps closed, no 24-hour access and gate hours enforced. Shower houses are available, but comfort stations will be closed.

Park Office/Visitor Center, Ebenezer Boat Ramp, Ebenezer Day Use Area, Seaforth Boat Ramp, Seaforth Day Use Area, New Hope, Parker’s Creek Day Use Area, Vista Point and White Oak are closed to the public during phase two including:  hiking trails, picnic areas, picnic shelters, boat ramps, beach areas, group campsites and primitive campsites.

PHASE THREE (tentative date July 1) – Re-opening of park facilities closed during earlier phases to include – Park Office/Visitor Center, Ebenezer Boat Ramp, Ebenezer Day Use Area, Seaforth Boat Ramp, Seaforth Day Use Area, New Hope, Parker’s Creek Day Use Area, Vista Point and White Oak. All hiking trails, all picnic areas, all picnic shelters, all boat ramps, all beach areas, group campsites, primitive campsites, Poplar Point campground Loop E, Parker’s Creek campground Loops 3 and 4 are scheduled to re-open.

Beginning May 9, twenty-nine state parks that were closed will reopen including most roads, trails, restrooms and some boat ramps. Some access areas may be closed, so visitors should check park webpages for details. Campgrounds, picnic shelters, swim areas, playgrounds, visitor centers, and other common gathering areas will remain closed during this phase.

Park superintendents have examined each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with public health guidance. Cleaning procedures effective for COVID-19 disinfection are established and staff are trained to disinfect restrooms and high-touch areas. Park staff have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to reduce the spread risk of COVID-19 as they interact with the public and clean restrooms and other areas.

A return to full operations will occur in phases. The current plan calls for reopening campgrounds in the second phase, and the third and final phase will include opening common areas and resuming educational activities and other programming.

To ensure health and safety, park visitors should follow the “Three W’s” as outlined by the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services – wear a mask or cloth face covering; wait in line at least six feet away from others, and wash hands frequently. Visitors should also follow local health orders, maintain social distancing, bring hand sanitizer and reusable water bottles, avoid high-risk activities that could lead to calling first responders who are needed elsewhere during the pandemic, and practice Leave No Trace principles.

For more Covid-19 information, consult the DHHS website.

Park staff ask that visitors check the park webpage for detailed information before their visit rather than calling the park office. For the most up to date information about facility openings, service hours, and access, please visit the Division of Parks and Recreation’s website at ncparks.gov/open.

At a glance

  • Most trails and most restrooms will reopen on May 9.
  • Visitor centers, exhibits, meeting rooms, community buildings, picnic shelters, and retail areas will remain closed to enable staff to focus on cleaning restrooms and implementing social distancing on trails and other open areas.
  • No campgrounds will be open. Campgrounds are expected to open May 22. Group camps will not open until at least June 30.
  • No facility rentals will be available, including picnic shelters.
  • Please check park pages for park hours. Some parks may close early.
  • Parking will be limited to available spaces to keep parks under capacity. Overflow parking will not be allowed. Several parks will further limit parking capacity to allow for social distancing.

Phase timeline and details
 

 Phase 1Phase 2Phase 3
Target dateMay 9May 22TBD
Entire parkLimited openings to public
with some sections, services
and facilities closed
Open to public with some
sections, services and
facilities closed
Open
TrailsOpenOpenOpen
Restroom buildingsMost openOpenOpen
Boat rampsSome openMost openOpen
CampgroundsClosedMost openOpen
CabinsClosedOpen Friday to Sunday Closed weekdays for cleaningOpen 7 days a week
Picnic sheltersClosedCasual use only No group reservationsOpen Reservations accepted
Beaches and
designated swim areas
ClosedSome open and some closedRemaining beaches open
Visitor centersOpen to staff onlyOpen to staff onlyOpen
Museums and exhibit roomsClosedClosedOpen
Auditoriums and classroomsClosedClosedOpen
Group campsClosedClosedOpen
Snack bars and retailClosedClosedOpen
Events and programsNoneNoneTBD

Park by park details
 

Park nameOpen as of May 9Still closed as of May 9
Carolina Beach State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Boat ramp
Marina
Picnic area
Visitor center closed
All camping facilities closed
Carvers Creek State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Park office closed
Chimney Rock State ParkChimney Rock attraction
Rumbling Bald access
Eagle Rock access
At the attraction:
No elevator
No shuttle buses
Top parking area closed
Park office, exhibits, gift shops, and concession closed
Cliffs of the Neuse State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Swim lake and beach
Visitor center closed
No boat rentals and concession
All camping facilities closed
Crowders Mountain State Park**Park will have limited capacity** Sparrow Springs:
Some trails open
Restroom at visitor center
Sparrow Springs:
No overflow parking
No walk-in visitors
Pinnacle and Crowders overlook closed
Picnic areas closed
Shorts Lake Trail closed
Visitor center closed Linwood and Boulders accesses closed
Ridgeline Trail closed All camping facilities closed
Dismal Swamp State Park**Park closes at 6:00pm** Trails
Restroom at visitor center
All other restrooms closed
Visitor center closed
Elk Knob State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Park office closed
All camping facilities closed
Eno River State Park**Park will have limited capacity** Fews Ford and Cole Mill accesses only:
Trails
Restrooms
Cabelands and Pleasant Green accesses closed Park office closed
All camping facilities closed
Falls Lake State Recreation AreaRolling View and Shinleaf accesses only:
Some trails
Some restrooms Rolling View boat ramp
Beaverdam (including bike trails) closed Highway 50 closed Sandling Beach closed Holly Point closed BW Wells closed Visitor center closed All camping facilities closed
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area4WD beach open to Annual Pass holders only
Basin Trail
Restroom
No day passes for 4WD beach
Pedestrian beach closed
Park office closed
Fort Macon State ParkBeach
Trails
Restrooms
Visitor center and exhibits closed
Goose Creek State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Swim beach closed
Visitor center closed
All camping facilities closed
Gorges State Park**Park will remain closed until TBD****Park will remain closed until TBD**​
Grandfather Mountain State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Park office closed
All camping facilities closed *Please note that the private attraction is still closed.*
Hammocks Beach State Park**Park closes at 6:00pm** Trails
Restrooms
Boat ramp open to Annual Pass holders and cash payments only Bear Island open to private boat access
No ferry service to Bear Island
No credit card payments for boat ramp use
Visitor center closed
All camping facilities closed
Hanging Rock State ParkTrails
Some restrooms
Boat access to Dan River
Swim beach closed
No boat rentals and concession
Visitor center closed
All camping facilities closed
Haw River State ParkIron Ore Belt access:
Trails
Restrooms
The Summit access closed
Jockey’s Ridge State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Swim beach at Roanoke Sound
Visitor center closed
Jones Lake State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Swim beach closed
Visitor center closed
All camping facilities closed
Jordan Lake State Recreation AreaRobeson Creek boat ramp and canoe accessAll facilities at Ebenezer Church closed All facilities at  New Hope Overlook closed All facilities at Seaforth closed All facilities at Parkers Creek closed All facilities at Vista Point closed All facilities at White Oak closed Visitor center closed All camping facilities closed
Kerr Lake State Recreation AreaHenderson Point: Fishing pier and NCWRC boat ramp Hibernia: NCWRC boat ramp Nutbush: Area 1 and 2 boat ramps and restroom Satterwhite Point: Trail at office and marina boat ramp Flemingtown: NCWRC boat ramp County Line: NC WRC boat ramp and fishing pierHenderson Point restrooms closed Nutbush Area 3 boat ramp closed Bullocksville closed Kimball Point closed All picnic areas closed
All swim beaches closed
Visitor center closed All camping facilities closed
Lake James State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Boat ramps
Visitor center closed
Swim beach closed
Picnic area closed
No boat rentals and concessions
All camping facilities closed
Lake Norman State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Boat ramp
Visitor center closed
Swim beach closed
No boat rentals and concessions
All camping facilities closed
Lake Waccamaw State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Boat ramps
Visitor center closed
All camping facilities closed
Lumber River State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Boat ramps
Wire Pasture access closed
Park office closed
All camping facilities closed
Mayo River State ParkSome trails
Restrooms
Boat ramps
Park office closed
Picnic shelter closed
All camping facilities closed
Medoc Mountain State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Visitor center closed
All camping facilities closed
Merchants Millpond State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Boat ramp
Fishing catwalks on Millpond Road bridge
Visitor center closed
All camping facilities closed
Morrow Mountain State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Boat ramp
Swimming pool closed
No boat rentals or concessions
Park office and museum closed
All camping facilities closed
Mount Jefferson State Natural AreaTrails
Restrooms
Park office closed
Mount Mitchell State ParkTrails
Restroom at park office
Restaurant and concession closed
Park office closed
All camping facilities closed
New River State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Visitor center closed All camping facilities closed
Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area**Park will have limited capacity** Trails
Restrooms
Overlook area closed
Eno River park office closed
Pettigrew State Park**Park closes at 7:00pm** Trails
Restrooms
Boat ramp
Swim pier closed
Park office closed
No astronomy or night photography permitted
All camping facilities closed
Pilot Mountain State ParkRiver section open Some mountain section trails open (must hike from satellite parking areas)Summit area closed
Park office closed
All camping facilities closed
Raven Rock State Park**Park closes at 6:00pm** **Park will have limited capacity** Trails
Restrooms
Mountain bike trails closed
Visitor center closed
All camping facilities closed
Singletary Lake State ParkTrail
Restrooms
Swim pier closed
Park office closed
Group camps closed
South Mountains State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Visitor center closed
All camping facilities closed
(backcountry camping may reopen before May 22)
Stone Mountain State ParkTrails
Restrooms
Picnic areas and shelters closed
Park office closed
All camping facilities closed
Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature PreserveTrails
Restrooms, including at visitor center
Classroom and exhibits closed
Visitor center closed
William B. Umstead State ParkTrails
Some restrooms
Horse trailer parking closed
No boat rentals
Visitor center closed
All camping facilities closed