The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation manages a number of state parks, state recreation areas, and state natural areas.
State Forests are managed by the North Carolina Forest Service, part of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The following map shows the state parks and other state-protected areas that I've visited. The hiking icons represents state parks, the swimming icons represents state recreation areas, the horseback riding icons represent state natural areas, and the trees represent state forests.
Carvers Creek protects the Long Valley Farm and Sandhills section along Carvers Creek, a tributary of Cape Fear River near Fayetteville.
Fort Macon State Park protects a restored Civil War era fort and 1.5 miles of beach on the eastern tip of Bogue Banks.
Towering over Boone, Grandfather Mountain is one of the highest points in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The highlight of Hammocks Beach State Park is Bear Island, a 3-mile long undeveloped barrier island.
Jones Lake and Salters Lake are two Carolina Bay lakes, mysterious oval lakes found in the coastal plain region.
Lake James State Park is located on the shore of Lake James, a hydroelectric-generating lake in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Mayo River State Park protects sections of the river's shoreline from the Virginia state line to the confluence with Dan River.
Mount Mitchell State Park was the very first North Carolina State Park, established to protect the highest point in the eastern US.
New River State Park is a collection of access areas along New River, one of the oldest rivers in the world.
Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area is a satellite of Eno River State Park near Hillsborough and protects the highest point in the Triangle.
Singletary Lake has two group camps and protects one of the deepest Carolina bay lakes.
Umstead State Park is located right in the heart of the Triangle between Raleigh, Cary and RDU airport with miles of hiking and multi-use trails.
NC State Parks website: https://www.ncparks.gov/