The 10 best North Carolina State Parks to enjoy in the winter
Here are the 10 best NC state parks to visit this winter for hiking, horseback riding, history hunting, and more.
The beginning of winter doesn’t have to mean the end of outdoor activities. North Carolina may be known for summer activities like NASCAR and beach trips, but there’s a lot to do in the Tar Heel State during the cold season.
If you’re not afraid of a little cold weather, there are more than 40 state parks to enjoy year-round. However, some remain closed due to flooding and wind damage caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina in September.
At the time of this writing, eight state parks are fully closed, including expected long-term closures at Chimney Rock, Mount Mitchell, and South Mountains state parks. Other western and Piedmont parks have partially reopened as of Nov. 1.
We’ve compiled a list of parks that are perfect for a winter trip, and all of them are open save for one. Elk Knob State Park remains closed at the time of this writing, but seeing as how it’s the only state park in North Carolina that offers cross-country skiing, how could we not include it?
Whatever you choose, be sure to check the NC Division of Parks & Recreation website to double-check a park’s status before making plans.
Coastal State Parks
Jockeys Ridge State Park
Located on the Outer Banks, Jockey’s Ridge State Park boasts the tallest active sand dune on the East Coast, and winter is the windiest time of year on the ridge. That may not sound appealing at first, until you learn why visitors go to the park in the first place: hang-gliding lessons and kite flying are both favorite pastimes on the dunes.
If that doesn’t interest you, there’s also sandboarding, which offers all the thrills of snowboarding without the snow by whizzing down the side of a sand dune. Kitty Hawk Kites offers sandboard rentals all year long during park visitation hours. And for those looking to get on or near the water without getting in, there are plenty of canoeing, kayaking, and hiking opportunities on the nearby beaches.
Fort Macon State Park
A trip to Fort Macon State Park is like a trip back in time to the Civil War era—without all the problems that come with living in the Civil War era. History and educational programs are the focus of this Crystal Coast park in the winter. See re-enactments on the parade ground and take a guided tour of the fort to learn more about its history.
Nearby, the Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area and the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores also make for great winter destinations. The turtle maze is a favorite for families, showing kids what it feels like for a just-hatched turtle to make it to the sea.
Hammocks Beach State Park
Located mostly on Bear Island just below the Crystal Coast, Hammocks Beach State Park is only accessible by water taxi or private boat during the winter, making the journey part of the adventure. Confident SUP boarders sometimes paddle to the park, following the markers on the kayak and canoe trail. However you get there, you’re likely to see a bottle-nosed dolphin on a trip to the island.
Loggerhead turtles, the park’s most famous residents, are gone long before the onset of cold weather, but foxes, raccoons, and ghost crabs remain throughout winter. Hammocks Beach State Park offers an unspoiled retreat for those who seek solace. Set up camp at the dune-side campsites and admire the clear sky and brilliant stars once night falls.
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
Located at the tail-end of Kure Beach, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area is more than just pristine beaches. If you have an off-road vehicle, you can explore the beach here at your own leisure. The site has also served as the filming location for many films and TV shows, from “Weekend at Bernie’s” to “Dawson’s Creek.”
Fort Fisher, the park’s namesake, is a historical landmark dating back to the Civil War. The nearby North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher gives you a closer look at the state’s diverse aquatic life, including sea turtles, alligators, and sharks.
Carolina Beach State Park
Carolina Beach, a Wilmington-area state park, is ideal for fishing, bird watching, and nature hikes. Nearly 9 miles of hiking trails give you an up-close look at the area’s plants and wildlife, including the indigenous Venus flytrap, one of the world’s most unique carnivorous plants. Stop by the visitors center to learn more about the park’s biodiversity and see interactive exhibits. Park rangers lead Biological Wonderland hikes every Saturday in December, plus a First Day hike on Jan. 1, 2025.
The park is known for habitats like Sugarloaf Dune, a 50-foot dune that once served as a navigational marker for river pilots, as well as three limesink ponds that each feature a unique plant community. The park’s marina provides access to the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway, making the area popular for boaters and anglers. If you need a great brunch spot, try Ocean View Restaurant, or if you’re looking for a dive bar later in the night, head to Bud & Joe’s Sandbar.
Piedmont State Parks
Hanging Rock State Park
Getting its start as a Civilian Conservation Corps project, Hanging Rock State Park has become a park that offers whatever traditional outdoor experience you can hope for in an NC state park. Trails lead to picturesque mountain views, rock outcrops, waterfalls, and even a mountain cave. The Mountains-to-Sea State Trail passes through, with opportunities for horseback riding and mountain biking throughout.
In fact, it was just a few years ago that the park doubled the length of its mountain-biking trails, adding 8 miles of singletrack to make nearly 16 miles of loops. That includes The Rattler, the NC state parks system’s only downhill mountain bike trail. The mild weather not only means mountain bikers will rarely run into snow, but it also helps make Hanging Rock one of the best state parks for winter rock climbing in North Carolina.
Haw River State Park
Located 15 miles north of Greensboro, split between Rockingham and Guilford counties, Haw River State Park is a unique park that centers on The Summit, a residential environmental education and conference center that accommodates retreats and conferences for groups big or small. Trails and a boardwalk offer a journey into wetlands and a floodplain swamp.
The park also houses the Iron Ore Belt Access, which takes you through a forest that once was mined for iron ore, through old farmland, and down along bottomland hardwoods near the river. It’s perfect for day-use visitors to enjoy views of wetlands rich in flora and fauna while meandering through Piedmont oak-and-hickory forests.
Morrow Mountain State Park
Located in the southwest corner of the ancient Uwharrie Mountains of central North Carolina, erosion has worn down these previously towering coastal mountains into rocky, forested hills, but they still offer beautiful winter views of the surrounding area.
The Uwharries are popular for RV enthusiasts, as they provide a fabulous environment for hiking, biking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and more. Lake Tillery and the Pee Dee River are top-quality locations for fishing, boating, and paddling. Multiple historic sites and exhibits shed light on this area’s rich history as a prehistoric quarry and many eerie stories to tell around the campfire.
Western NC State Parks
Gorges State Park
As we move further inland and into the mountains, we are now arriving in snow country. With 26 waterfalls serving as its main attractions (Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls are must-sees), Gorges State Park in the winter is plain … well … gorgeous.
Spanning more than 8,000 acres, the park is home to multiple camper and RV sites, some with electric, water, and sewer hookups for those in more of a winter-glamping mood. Hiking, biking, and horseback riding are other popular activities at Gorges.
Elk Knob State Park (temporarily closed)
Elk Knob State Park was established in 2003 to protect its namesake mountain and the headwaters of the North Fork of the New River. This fall, it fell victim to the river it was meant to protect as Hurricane Helene ravaged the entire area. At the time of this writing, it is one of the state parks that is still closed due to the damage done, though it’s not expected to be a long-term closure.
When open, the park features about a mile of ungroomed trail that’s open to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, the only state park in NC that offers those activities. While you’re waiting for the reopening, check out the nearby Moses Cone Memorial Park in Blowing Rock, which also provides opportunities for those activities and more.
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