There are 41 places that are currently part of the North Carolina State Parks system: 34 parks, four recreation areas, and three staffed state natural areas. Our state parks are Naturally Wonderful — and wonderfully diverse. From Gorges State Park on the Blue Ridge escarpment to Jockey's Ridge State Park in the Outer Banks, you'll find mysterious bay lakes, wild swamps, sandhills with their longleaf pine habitats, piedmont river systems, and bold mountain streams. Learn all about our parks system on this website.