Bill Russ—VisitNC.com
State Parks North Carolina State Parks are managed to conserve and protect state lands for visitors to experience education, enjoyment, recreation (including hiking, biking, boating, educational programs and camping, but not hunting) and inspiration. They are managed by the NC Division of Parks and Recreation. There are dozens of state parks, natural and recreation areas, lakes, trails, and rivers scattered across North Carolina, from Gorges State Park in the west to Jockey’s Ridge State Park in the east. In 1916, Mount Mitchell (North Carolina’s state high point at 6,684 feet) became the first state park; Carver’s Creek State Park is the newest, founded in 2005. Visit ncparks.gov to find a state park near you.
State Forests State Forests are managed according to a forest management plan for education, research, habitat, recreation and forest products — some are actively managed for growing and harvesting trees. The North Carolina Forest Service manages nine forests throughout the state, seven of which are designated as educational state forests. DuPont State Recreational Forest in western North Carolina contains spectacular waterfalls, hiking and biking trails and lakes. It gained some Hollywood cred after portions of The Hunger Games (2011) were filmed there.
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
Each educational state forest offers various programs for youth and adults as well as informative signage indicating how and why the forest is being managed the way it is. You can learn more about NC State Forests by visiting ncforestservice.gov. Get out and enjoy! Wherever you venture out in nature this summer, be sure to drop by the visitors center and read the signs that explain what type of area you’re in and what activities are allowable there. Following the posted guidelines will help you, other visitors, and local wildlife all enjoy our natural places.
Bill Russ—VisitNC.com
along the border with Tennessee, you can camp, hike, visit historic buildings, see rare synchronous fireflies and even take a motor nature tour there) and the Blue Ridge Parkway (stretching between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, this 469-mile scenic drive offers hiking, stunning views and a variety of special events). To locate a National Park unit near you, visit nps.gov/state/nc.
Bill Russ—VisitNC.com
Leave No Trace The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the environment by teaching people to enjoy it responsibly. Whatever natural area you visit, you should always keep in mind the Leave No Trace Seven Principles: ■■ Plan ahead and prepare ■■ Travel and camp on durable surfaces ■■ Dispose of waste properly ■■ Leave what you find ■■ Minimize campfire impacts ■■ Respect wildlife ■■ Be considerate of other visitors
For more information about each principle, visit LNT.org.
Ocracoke, part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
© 1999 by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.
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