Friends of State Parks

Friends of State Parks FSP supports the mission of the NC Parks and Recreation Division. By participating on this page, you are agreeing to our community commenting policy.

Role

Friends of State Parks protects North Carolina's natural heritage by:
Working With state agencies, educational institutions, conservation organizations, recreational groups, and businesses committed to promoting environmental awareness and education, conservation and outdoor recreation
Seeking sufficient funding for staffing, operational/maintenance costs, land acquisition and capital improv

ements for the state parks system
Keeping vigilance over natural areas and their unique features while protecting against encroachment, defacement, impairment, and disturbance
Benefits

The following benefits are available to members of Friends of State Parks:
Opportunities to interact with other supporters of North Carolina's natural resources including volunteering

Tap into our knowledge about the system, our contacts and our expertise which have been built up through the years
Receive Information about each Park and the total Park System
A Quarterly Newsletter which gives news from the 32 Parks, lists events to take place, and keeps abreast of legislative action and possible detrimental developments in any natural area
Reduced rates on FSP sponsored publications see our Merchandise For Sale page for current publications

NC Friends if State Parks Facebook Community Rules:
Our page is open to the general public and we welcome open discussion while keeping the messages and comments family-friendly. We reserve the right to delete poste containing any of the following violations without notice:
- Comments violating Facebook’s Terms of Service
- profanity
- personal attacks
- willful misinformation
- spam
- any advertising of events, programs or products that are not supported by NC Friends of State Parks
- off-topic / irrelevant posts
- promoting violence or harm of people or wildlife
- anything that infringes on copyrights or trademarks
- promoting illegal or questionable activities
- intimidation or harassment of other fans, staff, FHBI, or its partners
- argumentative, belligerent, or hostile posts meant to make visiting the NC Friends of State Parks page an unpleasant, negative, or confrontational experience for other fans
- trolling (posting deliberately disruptive statements)

We are holding fans to a “two strikes and you’re out” policy. If the NCFSP page administrator has to remove two or more comments from a fan, they will be banned from the page. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at [email protected]

Rules enacted May 5, 2012

August is all about native plants at these two state parks 🌼 ➡️ Join Gorges State Park on August 4th for their Native Pl...
08/01/2026

August is all about native plants at these two state parks 🌼

➡️ Join Gorges State Park on August 4th for their Native Plant Gardens Volunteer Day to connect with other gardeners and learn how state parks protect native plans.
➡️ Join NC The Beautiful and Haw River State Park on August 6th for an Invasive Plant Purge to help get rid of invasives and learn effective methods to eradicate them that could be useful at home, too.

Dreaming about getting out on the lake? 🛶 Here are the state parks to visit for paddling by region ✔️
07/23/2026

Dreaming about getting out on the lake? 🛶 Here are the state parks to visit for paddling by region ✔️

Some of the most exciting programming happening this summer are guided hikes that explore unique features of state parks...
07/21/2026

Some of the most exciting programming happening this summer are guided hikes that explore unique features of state parks! From Flytrap Hikes at Carolina Beach to Mushroom Hikes at Mount Mitchell and more, NC's state parks are showing community members the things that flourish when our parks are protected and preserved 🌼

Want to join one of these events or find an event near you? Go to ncstateparks.gov to see upcoming events! These hikes are recurring events with multiple days throughout the summer. Find a date that works for you today!

Nothing's more fun than bringing your best friend to NC State Parks 🐾 Let's keep it that way by looking out for your pet...
07/19/2026

Nothing's more fun than bringing your best friend to NC State Parks 🐾 Let's keep it that way by looking out for your pet and other park visitors!

If you've been in North Carolina for a while, you've probably seen these little guys crossing the road after a big rain ...
07/17/2026

If you've been in North Carolina for a while, you've probably seen these little guys crossing the road after a big rain or trying to find their way back to the creek after a flash flood. But did you know these fun facts? 🐢

Did you recognize this highest point east of the Mississippi? At 6,684 feet in the air, Mount Mitchell is one of North C...
07/14/2026

Did you recognize this highest point east of the Mississippi? At 6,684 feet in the air, Mount Mitchell is one of North Carolina's most expansive views!

The mountain is named after Dr. Elisha Mitchell, a UNC Professor who trekked up the mountain in 1857 to prove its elevation was the tallest in the eastern US after being challenged by a student. He met a fatal fall from waterfall during the expedition, but he was right about the elevation!

At the top of the mountain you'll find a spruce-fir forest and temperatures often run 20 degrees cooler than downtown Asheville.

An extra fun fact about Mount Mitchell is that it laid the foundation for all of NC's amazing state parks as the the very first state park created in 1916 to protect the peak from heavy logging. Every park in our system traces its roots back to this mountain!

07/14/2026

The most popular at South Mountains State Park is likely years away from reopening.

We're been hearing some reports about bears around these parts 🐻 But there are some things you should know about camping...
07/13/2026

We're been hearing some reports about bears around these parts 🐻 But there are some things you should know about camping safely in bear country ⬇️

✔️ Always come equipped with bear spray for each member of your camp
✔️ Store all food, trash, and scented items in a bear canister or in the bear lockers provided at your state parks.
✔️ Dispose of all trash and food scraps and cook as far from your camp site as you can.
✔️ If you see a bear, stay calm and don't run. Back away slowly
✔️ Check with rangers about recent bear activity before you go

Address

PO Box 37655
Raleigh, NC
27627

Website

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