NC parks reopen in Phase 1, but there are restrictions. Here’s what you need to know.
Starting Saturday, the state welcomes back park visitors after a dreary month or so of indoor isolation amid the coronavirus. Prepare for a stampede in hiking boots.
But the doors aren’t swinging all the way open. The return to Mother Nature has strict rules for Phase One of the reopening plan, which lasts at least until May 22, and not everything opens.
Face masks won’t be required, but epidemiologists recommend them. Social distancing, though, is mandatory. At any state park, a visitor must:
▪ Keep 6 feet away from others;
▪ Move to one side of a trail;
▪ Wait at one end of a bridge while others pass;
▪ Touch as few surfaces as possible.
From there, rules vary from park to park. But we’ll start with the state’s 41 parks, all of which are taking visitors again except Gorges in the far-western mountains.
At All Parks
Open: Most trails, restrooms and some boat ramps.
Closed: Campgrounds. Visitor centers. Picnic shelters. Community rooms. Retail areas. Exhibits.
Rangers will focus on enforcing social distance and sanitizing restrooms. For more information, see ncparks.gov/open.
Eno River State Park, Durham
Open: Fews Ford and Coles Mill accesses. Trails.
Closed: Cablelands and Pleasant Green accesses. Park office.
Special Note: Capacity will be limited.
Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Wake Forest
Open: Rolling View and Shinleaf accesses. Some trails and restrooms. Rolling View boat ramp.
Closed: Beaverdam, Highway 50, Sandling Beach, Holly Point, BW Wells, visitors’ center.
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, Apex
Open: Robeson Creek boat camp and canoe access.
Closed: Ebenezer Church, New Hope overlook, Seaforth, Parkers Creek, Vista Point, White Oak.
William B. Umstead State Park, Raleigh
Open: Trails. Restrooms.
Closed: Horse trailer parking. Boat rentals. Visitors’ center.
Wake County Parks
All eight parks and two reserves remain open. If the gates are blocked, they have reached capacity. Physical distancing is a must, and gatherings are limited to 10 people. See information about individual parks here.
Raleigh Parks
Open: Parks and greenways. Nature preserves including Durant, Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature, Forest Ridge and Horseshoe Farms. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Social distance and keeping to one side is encouraged. Find more information here.
Closed: Lake Wheeler. Athletic courts and fields. Dog parks. Skate parks. Playgrounds. Lakes. Picnic shelters. Restrooms.
Orange County Parks
Closed: Cedar Grove Park, Efland-Cheeks Park, Fairview Park, Orange County Sportsplex and Soccer.com Park. Picnic shelters and restrooms closed around the county. See a complete list here.
Chapel Hill Parks
Open: Greenways and cemeteries.
Closed: All parks and facilities, including playgrounds, athletic fields and all types of courses. See the full list here and information on virtual recreation.
Durham Parks
All parks, trails and greenways remain open except C.M. Herndon Park. Keep social distance.
Closed: Tennis courts, pickleball courts, disc golf courses, playgrounds, restrooms, the central skate park, dog parks, basketball courts, city lakes.
This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 3:28 PM with the headline "NC parks reopen in Phase 1, but there are restrictions. Here’s what you need to know.."