Division of Parks and Recreation--Lake Norman State Park, Things to do


		159 Inland Sea Lane, Troutman, NC 28166 (704) 528-6350 lake.norman@ncmail.net

		Boating, camping, community building, education and events, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, swimming Boating Pedal boats and canoes are available for rent. They are available daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the summer. Privately owned boats and watercraft may access Lake Norman from the boat launch area located at the south end of the park. Use of the area is free, but cars must leave the parking area by the park's closing time. Camping Family Tent/Trailer Camping: Tent pads, picnic tables and grills are available at 33 sites on a first-come, first-served basis for a fee. Occupancy is limited to one family or six people per site. Park gates are locked at the posted closing hours. Campers may not leave the park after closing or before 8 a.m. except in an emergency. Group Tent Camping: Walk-in group campsites may be reserved by organized groups for a fee. Campers without reservations must confirm site availability with park staff before occupying a site. No more than 25 people are permitted on each site. Drinking water and restrooms are available nearby; picnic tables and a fire ring are provided at each site. Community building A community building located near the group camping area may be rented for events. The facility has a large meeting room, kitchen facilities, restrooms and a fireplace. The building may be occupied between 8 a.m. and a half hour before park closing. Contact the park office to reserve the facility. Education and events Rangers hold regularly scheduled educational and interpretive programs about Lake Norman State Park. Click here to search our database of park events. To arrange a special exploration of Lake Norman State Park for your group or class, contact the park office. Educational materials about Lake Norman State Park have been developed for grades 4-6 and are correlated to North Carolina's competency-based curriculum in science, social studies, mathematics and English/language arts. The Lake Norman program introduces students to aquatic organisms. The program also focuses on water quality and resource management, demonstrating how watersheds should be managed to maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems and drinking water. Accompanying the program is a teacher's booklet and workshop, free of charge to educators. To learn more about environmental education or to search our database of upcoming workshops, click here. Fishing Popular game fish in Lake Norman include crappie, bluegill and yellow perch, as well as striped, largemouth and white bass. The smaller park lake also has some choice fishing spots. Regulations of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission apply for both lakes. Hiking Alder Trail: Begin this easy 0.8 mile loop at the Park Lake parking lot, which is the first area that you'll come to after entering the main entrance. The trail crosses the picnic area, circles the peninsula between Norwood and Hicks creeks, and then skirts the edge of the lake. Take a short side path to the dam and view the spillway and gates that control the lake's water level before returning to the trailhead. Lake Shore Trail: The trailhead for this moderate but lengthy 5.0 mile trail is at a parking lot near the Cove picnic Area located off of Shortleaf Lane, which is close to the swimming area. The trail passes the boat launch and family campground as it winds along the lake shore. Take the Short Turn trail to cut your hiking distance roughly in half. Do an "out and back" on the group camp spur to add another mile and a half. Hiking is also allowed on the Itusi Trail, a mountain bicycle trail. See the description for this trail in the mountain biking section below. Mountain biking Itusi Trail: Designed, built and maintained by volunteers, this 6.7-mile mountain bicycle trail winds through mature hardwood forests and offers a unique mountain bicycling experience. Novices as well as accomplished riders will enjoy the gentle but lengthy climbs of this single track trail. As volunteers continue their efforts to extend the trail, it will eventually cover a minimum of 10 miles. To protect the Itusi Trail from damage, the trail will be closed whenever conditions are too wet to allow riders. Accordingly, riders should contact the park prior to arrival to confirm that the trail is open. Picnicking There are three picnic areas at Lake Norman. One is located near the swimming area and accessible fishing pier, one is near the entrance and another is on a ridge across the cove from the swimming area. All have restrooms, tables and grills. Swimming NOTICE: The swimming area depth has dropped about one foot. Click here for details. A swim area is located in the south area of the park at the end of State Park Road near an accessible fishing pier and the pier picnic area. The complex includes a 125-yard-long sand beach, parking area and bathhouse with concession stand, restrooms, changing stalls, warm showers and lockers. The swim complex is open daily April 1 through Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The concession stand is open from 10 a.m. until 5:45 p.m. daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and from noon until 5:45 p.m. on weekends in April, May, September and October. The park charges a fee to swim only when lifeguards are present. The fee is $4 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-12. Rules pertinent to the swim complex: Pets are not allowed in the swim area, beach or adjacent grassy hillsides and may not be left unattended anywhere in the park. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the park. Swimming and wading are allowed only inside the designated area. Throwing objects -- hard balls, sand, mud or rocks -- is prohibited as other swimmers could be injured. Scuba diving is prohibited Coolers are allowed, however glass and metal containers are prohibited. Touching swim lines or wooden pilings is prohibited. Visitors must obey the commands of lifeguards.