North Carolina's Best State Parks
North Carolina is a very diverse state with magnificent natural resources from the mountains to the coast. North Carolina's state parks system is a natural resource-based parks system, which provides recreation that is compatible with the protection of those resources. Therefore, our parks are not highly developed with golf courses, lodges, etc. Though I am sure if you polled our staff you would get a variety of answers to this question, I am sure that most would include these parks:
Hammocks Beach State Park (coast) - Accessible only by private boat or state parks ferry, it offers one of the most pristine beaches on the Atlantic Coast. A popular nesting site for loggerhead sea turtles.
Stone Mountain State Park (mountains) - A popular site for camping, hiking and trout fishing. Stone Mountain is the home of the recently restored Hutchinson Homestead.
Morrow Mountain State Park (piedmont) - The only NC state park with a swimming pool, Morrow Mountain offers camping, cabins, hiking, bridle trails, fishing and boat rentals. Also home to the restored Kron House, residence, greenhouse and office of a 19th century physician.
Hanging Rock State Park (piedmont to mountains) - A popular destination for climbers, Hanging Rock was constructed by the CCC. the new visitor center offers great views of the Sauratown mountains and a museum. Other facilities include cabins, camping, swimming, fishing, bridle trails and hiking.
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