David Freeze: More state parks starting with the black water river
Published 12:00 am Thursday, September 19, 2024
The visitor center at Medoc Mountain State Park. David Freeze photo
The family trail at Medoc Mountain State Park. David Freeze photo
Fishing Creek at Medoc Mountain State Park. David Freeze photo
The Robin’s Nest Lake is beautiful and perfect for fishing at Haw River State Park. David Freeze photo
One of the conference buildings at Haw River State Park. David Freeze photo
The overlook of the headwaters of the Haw River at Haw River State Park. David Freeze photo
A park visitor about to throw a large snapping turtle into the Lumber River. David Freeze photo
The view upriver from Lumber River State Park. David Freeze photo
An example of the size logs that used to be floated down the Lumber River. David Freeze photo
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Editor’s note: David Freeze is a runner, running coach and long-distance cyclist from China Grove in Rowan County. He is visiting all 42 state parks in North Carolina. Contact him at david.freeze@ctc.net.
By David Freeze
On Labor Day, I was able to visit four parks and had grand ideas about including all of them in last week’s article. Only three made it, with the black water river left out because I ran out of available space but neglected to change the title. This week, we start with the Lumber River, full of beautiful black water.
Named for the huge amount of timber harvested and transported on the river during the late 1700s, several towns were settled along its banks. The upper river was designated as the state’s first recreational water trail in 1978, then a national canoe trail in 1981, then the state canoe trail in 1984. In 1989, the Lumber River was established as a scenic river and as a state park.
The second town in Robeson County, Princess Ann, was established in 1796 near where the park’s headquarters are now on a bluff that was safe from flooding. The town gradually disappeared and only a few signs of it remain.
The park now has 11,250 acres and is nearest Orrum. The park has five designated sections and 24 primitive campsites, plus multiple paddle launch points. The Princess Ann section is where I visited. I found the office door locked but passport stamps in a box outside. I also found a wonderful, shaded section of the river with extensive picnic areas. This was one of the coolest and most peaceful sites I have seen under the huge bald cypress trees with a light breeze. No canoe or kayak rentals are available, so bring your own.
Fishing is reported to be excellent with bass, catfish, black crappie, bluegill, chain pickerel and redbreast sunfish. The 1.5-mile Princess Ann Trail follows the river and visits the area where the town once existed. Other parts of the Lumber River State Park include Buck Landing, Piney Island, Pea Ridge and Chalk Banks Access.
I started another trip east on Sept. 9. My first stop was Haw River State Park, but it was very different than any I have seen before. The park is centered around the Summit Environmental Education and Conference Center. Conference guests use eight indoor meeting spaces, 47 motel-style guest rooms and 10 cabins. Other amenities include planned meals, hiking trails, athletic fields, gymnasium, outdoor pool, a 6-acre lake for fishing and paddling, disc golf and two amphitheaters.
Summer camps and the very popular Grand Camps are also offered. Grand Camps are for grandparents and grandchildren and meant to enhance their connection. Programs are also available on animal adaptations, wetland ecology, soils, orienteering, wilderness survival and team building.
After reading about all of this, I was not exactly sure what to expect as a simple visitor when I stopped at the visitor center. I got my passport stamped and picked up a map, then asked about available walking trails. They have three available trails of .4 miles, .6 miles and 1.4 miles. I walked the Wetlands Boardwalk trail which has the boardwalk suspended over extensive low growing plants and sometimes flowing water. I was told at the desk that this trail ends at an overlook of the headwaters of the Haw River, somewhat disappointing in size. The overlook is two feet above a pickup truck-sized body of water. I remember being disappointed when I first saw the headwaters of the Mississippi River.
The park opened in 2003, a newer member of the state park system, and is still developing. The park has 1,485 acres and is closest to Browns Summit. The Haw River flows 110 miles to the Jordan Lake Reservoir. Farther downriver, the Haw River is rated as the most popular for whitewater paddling in the Piedmont. There is also a six-acre lake for fishing called Robin’s Nest Lake.
My next park was the Medoc Mountain State Park, 2,893 acres and nearest Hollister. The park was established in 1973 and is a remnant of a mountain range from the Paleozoic Age. The highest point of the park is only 325 feet, so no mountains remain.
There is wonderful hiking in the park through hardwood and pine forests, and a beautiful creek called Fishing Creek. There are nearly 11 miles of biking trails, seven hiking trails that total 29.85 miles and 10 miles of equestrian trails. Next to the visitor center is the Habitat Adventure Trail, .75 miles for the whole family with educational signs. The campground has 34 sites, 12 with electric hookups and a nice bathhouse. There is a large playing field for games, a wonderful playground and a large pavilion. Kayaks and canoes have two areas of access to Fishing Creek.
The “mountain” was once owned by Sidney Weller, a farmer and educator who is credited with developing the American system of grape culture and winemaking. It was Weller who named the mountain “Medoc,” after a province in the Bordeaux region of France famous for its vineyards. In the 1920s, lumbermen cut the mountain forest for timber and in the 1930s, a deposit of molybdenum was discovered near the summit but no significant mining occurred.
Thirty-one state parks visited 11 more to go.
