State Natural Areas protect areas more sensitive to human activities than State Parks. Most of the State Natural Areas are undeveloped and have limited to no facilities, and some of them are closed to the general public to protect rare, fragile ecosystems. A few have developed facilities for low intensity, passive recreation, as well as facilities for public interpretation and education of the natural area. The NC Division of Parks & Recreation states:
The purpose of State Natural Areas is focused on preserving and protecting areas of scientific, aesthetic, or ecological value. Facilities are limited to those needed for interpretation, protection, and minimum maintenance. Generally, recreational and public use facilities such as camping, swimming, picnicking, and the like are not provided in State Natural Areas.
| State Natural Area | Web- site |
Region | Counties | Size | Established | Status | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldhead Island State Natural Area | 7000100000000000000Coast | Brunswick | 70031260000000000001,260 acres (5.1 km2) | 1979 | Contiguous to Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, this undeveloped natural area preserves a large portion of the Smith Island Complex, which consists of barrier islands, salt marshes, bays, tidal creeks and estuarine islands. | ||
| Bear Paw State Natural Area | 7000400000000000000Mountains | Avery | 7002351000000000000351 acres (1.42 km2) | 2008 | Closed | The natural area is located just north of Grandfather Mountain State Park, and it protects Hanging Rock Ridge and the headwaters of Dutch Creek. The Cherokee name for the site is "Yonah‑wayah", which means "Bear's Paw". There are no public right of ways to the natural area's boundary. It is managed by Elk Knob State Park. | |
| Beech Creek Bog State Natural Area | 7000400000000000000Mountains | Watauga | 7002120000000000000120 acres (0.49 km2) | 2002 | The natural area protects a southern Appalachian bog. | ||
| Bullhead Mountain State Natural Area | 7000400000000000000Mountains | Alleghany | 7002365000000000000365 acres (1.48 km2) | 2000 | This natural area is adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway and just north of Stone Mountain State Park. | ||
| Bushy Lake State Natural Area | 7000200000000000000Coastal Plain | Cumberland | 70036343000000000006,343 acres (25.67 km2) | 1977 | Managed by Jones Lake State Park, the natural area protects an area of wet pocosin and carolina bay forest. | ||
| Chowan Swamp State Natural Area | 7000200000000000000Coastal Plain | Gates | 70036066000000000006,066 acres (24.55 km2) | 1973 | Open | Located along the northern shores of the Chowan River, this natural area is leased by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for management as part of the larger Chowan Swamp Game Land. | |
| Hemlock Bluffs State Natural Area | 7000300000000000000Piedmont | Wake | 700197000000000000097 acres (0.39 km2) | 1976 | Open | The natural area is leased by the Town of Cary for operation as Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. | |
| Lea Island State Natural Area | 7000100000000000000Coast | Pender | 700125000000000000025 acres (0.10 km2) | 2000 | The natural area preserves a largely undeveloped barrier island. | ||
| Lower Haw River State Natural Area | 7000300000000000000Piedmont | Chatham | 70031022000000000001,022 acres (4.14 km2) | 2003 | Open | Underdevelopment; This natural area is adjacent to and managed by Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, and it has one 2-mile (3.2 km) hiking trail along the Haw River. |
|
| Masonboro Island State Natural Area | 7000100000000000000Coast | New Hanover | 7002106000000000000106 acres (0.43 km2) | 1976 | Open | Managed by the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management, this natural area preserves an undeveloped barrier island, near Wilmington, North Carolina. The island is only accessible by boat. | |
| Mitchells Millpond State Natural Area | 7000300000000000000Piedmont | Wake | 700193000000000000093 acres (0.38 km2) | 1976 | Closed | The natural area protects granitic flatrock outcrops. The ecosystem of the flatrocks is unique and fragile. | |
| Mount Jefferson State Natural Area | 7000400000000000000Mountains | Ashe | 7002803000000000000803 acres (3.25 km2) | 1956 | Open | Formerly a State Park, this natural area is managed as a satellite of New River State Park, and it preserves the prominent peek of Mount Jefferson. | |
| Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area | 7000300000000000000Piedmont | Orange | 7002162000000000000162 acres (0.66 km2) | 1997 | Open | Managed as a satellite of Eno River State Park, this natural area preserves the highest point in Orange County. | |
| Pineola Bog State Natural Area | 7000400000000000000Mountains | Avery | 700191000000000000091 acres (0.37 km2) | 2006 | The natural area protects a southern Appalachian bog. | ||
| Run Hill State Natural Area | 7000100000000000000Coast | Dare | 7002123000000000000123 acres (0.50 km2) | 1995 | Open | Managed as a satellite of Jockey's Ridge State Park, the natural area preserves Run Hill, a large sand dune north of Jockey's Ridge. | |
| Sandy Run Savannas State Natural Area | 7000200000000000000Coastal Plain | Pender, Onslow | 70032538000000000002,538 acres (10.27 km2) | 2006 | The natural area preserves southern pine savannas. | ||
| Sugar Mountain Bog State Natural Area | 7000400000000000000Mountains | Avery | 7002102000000000000102 acres (0.41 km2) | 2006 | The natural area protects a southern Appalachian bog. | ||
| Theodore Roosevelt State Natural Area | 7000100000000000000Coast | Carteret | 7002265000000000000265 acres (1.07 km2) | 1971 | Open | Jointly managed by Fort Macon State Park and the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, the natural area preserves Bogue Banks' only intact maritime forest. | |
| Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve | 7000200000000000000Coastal Plain | Moore | 7002900000000000000900 acres (3.6 km2) | 1963 | Open | The first North Carolina State Natural Area, it preserves strands of longleaf pine forests in Sandhills region. | |
| Yellow Mountain State Natural Area | 7000400000000000000Mountains | Mitchell, Avery | 7002841000000000000841 acres (3.40 km2) | 2008 | Open | The natural area protects a Grassy Bald in the Roan Highlands range. The natural area is adjacent to the Pisgah National Forest and it is accessible from the Appalachian Trail. |
Read more about this topic: List Of North Carolina State Parks
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