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 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 | |
| Target date | May 9 | May 22 | TBD |
| Entire park | Limited openings to public with some sections, services and facilities closed | Open to public with some sections, services and facilities closed | Open |
| Trails | Open | Open | Open |
| Restroom buildings | Most open | Open | Open |
| Boat ramps | Some open | Most open | Open |
| Campgrounds | Closed | Most open | Open |
| Cabins | Closed | Open Friday to Sunday Closed weekdays for cleaning | Open 7 days a week |
| Picnic shelters | Closed | Casual use only No group reservations | Open Reservations accepted |
| Beaches and designated swim areas | Closed | Some open and some closed | Remaining beaches open |
| Visitor centers | Open to staff only | Open to staff only | Open |
| Museums and exhibit rooms | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Auditoriums and classrooms | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Group camps | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Snack bars and retail | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Events and programs | None | None | TBD |
Park by park details
| Park name | Open as of May 9 | Still closed as of May 9 |
| Carolina Beach State Park | Trails Restrooms Boat ramp Marina Picnic area | Visitor center closed All camping facilities closed |
| Carvers Creek State Park | Trails Restrooms | Park office closed |
| Chimney Rock State Park | Chimney 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 Park | Trails 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 Park | Trails 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 Area | Rolling 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 Area | 4WD 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 Park | Beach Trails Restrooms | Visitor center and exhibits closed |
| Goose Creek State Park | Trails 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 Park | Trails 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 Park | Trails 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 Park | Iron Ore Belt access: Trails Restrooms | The Summit access closed |
| Jockey’s Ridge State Park | Trails Restrooms Swim beach at Roanoke Sound | Visitor center closed |
| Jones Lake State Park | Trails Restrooms | Swim beach closed Visitor center closed All camping facilities closed |
| Jordan Lake State Recreation Area | Robeson Creek boat ramp and canoe access | All 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 Area | Henderson 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 pier | Henderson 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 Park | Trails Restrooms Boat ramps | Visitor center closed Swim beach closed Picnic area closed No boat rentals and concessions All camping facilities closed |
| Lake Norman State Park | Trails Restrooms Boat ramp | Visitor center closed Swim beach closed No boat rentals and concessions All camping facilities closed |
| Lake Waccamaw State Park | Trails Restrooms Boat ramps | Visitor center closed All camping facilities closed |
| Lumber River State Park | Trails Restrooms Boat ramps | Wire Pasture access closed Park office closed All camping facilities closed |
| Mayo River State Park | Some trails Restrooms Boat ramps | Park office closed Picnic shelter closed All camping facilities closed |
| Medoc Mountain State Park | Trails Restrooms | Visitor center closed All camping facilities closed |
| Merchants Millpond State Park | Trails Restrooms Boat ramp Fishing catwalks on Millpond Road bridge | Visitor center closed All camping facilities closed |
| Morrow Mountain State Park | Trails Restrooms Boat ramp | Swimming pool closed No boat rentals or concessions Park office and museum closed All camping facilities closed |
| Mount Jefferson State Natural Area | Trails Restrooms | Park office closed |
| Mount Mitchell State Park | Trails Restroom at park office | Restaurant and concession closed Park office closed All camping facilities closed |
| New River State Park | Trails 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 Park | River 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 Park | Trail Restrooms | Swim pier closed Park office closed Group camps closed |
| South Mountains State Park | Trails Restrooms | Visitor center closed All camping facilities closed (backcountry camping may reopen before May 22) |
| Stone Mountain State Park | Trails Restrooms | Picnic areas and shelters closed Park office closed All camping facilities closed |
| Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve | Trails Restrooms, including at visitor center | Classroom and exhibits closed Visitor center closed |
| William B. Umstead State Park | Trails Some restrooms | Horse trailer parking closed No boat rentals Visitor center closed All camping facilities closed |