Enjoy the quiet of the Park after the gates have closed at this outdoor class led by Namaste in Nature. Enjoy a practice suitable for all levels of expertise as you overlook Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge. You won’t find a view like this in any studio! 

Hit the trails and celebrate this national holiday, not to mention NC State Park’s Year of the Trail. Join us for guided hikes throughout the day and meet with a ranger to learn the 10 essentials of hiking and backpacking.

Schedule:

Guided Waterfall Hike | 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm

Join a naturalist for this moderate guided hike along the Hickory Nut Falls Trail to the base of one of the highest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. 1.4 miles round-trip. Meet in front of Cliff Dwellers gift shop.

Guided Family Adventure | 11 am and 1 pm

Kids and kids-at-heart alike will enjoy this easy interactive loop trail with stops at each station allowing for plenty of fun facts, hidden surprises along the way, and a chance to meet some of our animal ambassadors that call the park home. 0.6 miles round-trip. Not stroller friendly. Meet at the Animal Discover Den in the Meadows.

10 Essentials of Hiking and Backpacking

Join State Park Rangers on the Outcroppings Deck to learn more about the vital supplies they recommend taking with you when hiking.

This national holiday celebrates our favorite thing to do… get outdoors! Look for our discovery stations as you hike and learn some cool trail information and history from our naturalists. Plus, look for our friends from Fox Mountain Guides leading rock climbing demonstrations.

Schedule of Events:

Stop and chat with a naturalist at one of our discovery stations as you hike around the Park from 10 am to 3 pm. Or, look for our friends from Fox Mountain Guides past the Cliff Dwellers bathrooms.

Outdoor Ethics | Chimney Level

Meet one of our naturalists and discover how you and your family can have safe and fun outdoor adventures this summer. Learn some of the ways we can work together to leave nature better than we found it, lessen our negative impacts on the environmnet, and enjoy exploring for years to come.

Skins and Skulls | Outcroppings Deck

Welcome to the world of wildlife in Western NC. Through the use of skulls and skins, students will learn what characteristics native animals have and how to identify common wildlife of the area. Bring your problem solving skills to unlock many of their secrets.

Secretive Salamanders | Waterfall

Did you know that 17 percent of the world’s salamanders live in the Southeastern US? We are so lucky to have these special, secretive amphibians inhabiting our region. Students will learn more about salamanders and what they can do to protect and conserve them and their habitats.

Climbing Demonstration by Fox Mountain Guides | Outcroppings Deck

Fox Mountain Guides will be onsite offering free climbing demonstrations for anyone interested ages six years old and up. No experience necessary. All equipment provided.

Join us for one of our favorite passholder events of the year! Enjoy heavy hors d-ourves from the Old Rock Cafe as you watch dusk settle across Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge. This exclusive, after-hours event is a great chance to get to know some of your fellow passholders as well. This event is exclusively for Annual Passholders.

NC State Parks is celebrating Juneteenth. Throughout the week, explore our Juneteenth Story Walk on the Great Woodland Adventure trail to learn more about this national holiday and its history.

Join us at the Old Rock Cafe for an evening of food and music overlooking the Rocky Broad River. Local musician Mike Pauer will provide the tunes, and the Old Rock Crew will be cooking up delicious dinner. A portion of proceeds from the evening will go to benefit the Lake Lure Olympiad.

*There is no cost for this event. Menu items at the Old Rock Cafe are priced individually.

There’s nothing like an early summer hike before the Park gates open. Join a local birding expert and spot some of our resident species as they enjoy the morning quiet. This hike is perfect whether you’re a lifelong birder or just getting started with America’s fastest-growing hobby.