Raven Rock State Park is the perfect day trip from any part of the Triangle area of North Carolina. It is an incredible place to retreat to if you are trying to get away from it all when you only have a day or an afternoon. Raven Rock is one of those places that offers you stunning natural beauty that doesn’t look like anything else around you. The landscapes, river, and trails that Raven Rock offers are incredible, ideal for beginners and veteran hikers.

Raven Rock State Park is one of the best parks in the Piedmont area of North Carolina and it ranked high in our overall rankings of the North Carolina State Parks. Raven Rock is located about 10 miles down 421 from downtown Lillington. It is situated right on the shore on the Cape Fear River and has a ton to offer. Because of its accessibility and variety of options, this place gets pretty crowded. You need to plan on getting here early morning or late afternoon if you want to avoid the people. However, because there is so much to do, once you find a parking spot and get out in the woods you won’t see too many people (unless you are on Raven Rock).

Raven Rock Trail

The main reason you go to Raven Rock State Park is to visit the Raven Rock. Raven Rock is a large rock outcropping that rises 150-feet above the banks of the Cape Fear River. It is a lot more immense than you would think it is. There are so many great places to explore along this rock formation, plenty of beautiful trees, rock alcoves, and areas to climb on.

The Raven Rock Trail is an easy 2.6 mile loop trail. There are about 100 steps down to the Raven Rock that you will need to climb after you visit that area. Besides that, it is mainly flat terrain. If you go to Raven Rock State Park, you have to put this #1 on your list.

Raven Rock Visitor’s Center

The Raven Rock visitor’s center is a great place to learn. They have a fun interactive 3-D map in the main lobby that gives you a great feel for the park. In addition to the map, they have a really cool museum packed with educational and fun exhibits. You can learn all about the history and geology of the park, it’s pretty sweet. They have a nice shaded picnic area here and the facilities are fantastic.

Camping In Raven Rock

Raven Rock is a great place to camp for a night or a longer period of time. They have campsites for all different types of camping. Whether you are tent camping, or want to kayak or canoe into your site they have a place for you. There are not a ton of spots here, so make sure you get reservations in early. They are currently building a family campsite which will include 30 RV hookups when completed.

The Canoe Trail

The Cape Fear Canoe Trail is a 56 mile trek along the Cape Fear River. This trail goes right through Raven Rock State Park. The access point is nearby at the US 1 bridge over Deep River. You are able to take that to Lanier Falls and the Fish Traps in the park. You can also paddle in to one of the campsites. An awesome adventure.

Campbell Creek Loop Trail

I think our favorite trail at Raven Rock State Park is the Campbell Loop Trail. This trail is 4.5 miles and can be pretty strenuous in some places. The reason is because of the unique geological features on this trail. It is almost like you have been transported to the mountains of North Carolina when you are on it. It is on this trail where you will find mountain laurels and rhododendrons. This trai is unlike any other in the Piedmont. It is pretty crazy.

Another really cool thing about the trail is that it follows along the actual Campbell Creek. This creek is stunning. For about a mile or so you are walking right along the creek. We recommend going a couple of days after a good rain because the creek fills up beautifully. If you are lucky, you will be able to see otters and beavers while you are here. This trail also has some other cool water features like mini waterfalls and cascades, a beautiful bridge, and the entrance to Lanier Falls Trail.

The Hummingbirds

Every time we have been to Raven Rock State Park we have seen a ton of wildlife. Hands down the coolest wildlife we have seen are the hummingbirds that they have swarming around the visitor’s center. We have never seen so many hummingbirds in one place. The park has a bunch of feeders right when you are walking in, and if you go there during the Spring, Summer, or early Fall you will most likely see them.

Visit Lanier Falls

So, this is kind of a misnomer. This is not a waterfall that you would picture in your minds. Instead it is a beautiful rapid area on the Cape Fear River. The trail to the falls is off of the Campbell Creek Trail, so it takes a trek to get there – you could end up doing close to 5.5 miles total – but it is worth it. Once you get down to Lanier Falls there is an awesome area to sit and enjoy a picnic by the falls. It makes for a very relaxing afternoon.

Beautiful Views

For being in the Piedmont of North Carolina this park actually has some pretty cool elevation changes. It is because the park sits on the Fall Zone, where the hard rocks of the foothills meet the soft rocks of the coastal plain. Now, you aren’t going to jump up thousands of feet, but you do have a couple of places where you can climb up and have some great views of the surrounding landscape. Both the Raven Rock Trail and Campbell Creek Loop Trail have some good climbs, and the Raven Rock Trail has an awesome overlook of the Cape Fear River. This is a great place to stop for a break, enjoy a snack, and check out the canoes going down the river.

Bike and Bridle Trails

Another really cool thing about Raven Rock is the amount of trails for mountain biking and horseback riding. Over the last couple of years we have seen a ton more people on the mountain bike trails, and the parks are doing what they can to keep up with demand. The bridle trails are on the other side of the Cape Fear from the main area at the park at the Avents Creek Access Area.

Takeaways

Raven Rock makes a really great day trip for anyone located in the Raleigh/Durham area! Its a quick drive that makes you feel like you have traveled a lot longer to get away from it all. The Rocks are stunning and should be at the top of your list when first visiting. Don’t overlook some of the other hikes like Campbell Creek Loop Trail! We enjoy visiting this park all times of the year, it can often be really crowded during the warmer months so keep that in mind. Pack a picnic and go the adventure way at Raven Rock this year!

PS! If you enjoy visiting state parks you can check out our rankings of every state park in NC! We have lots of guides to other parks like South Mountains, Lakes James or Hanging Rock.

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