Lake Norman State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Norman State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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 Lake Norman State Park
Location in North Carolina
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| Location | Troutman, Iredell, North Carolina, United States |
| Area | 1,942 acres (7.86 km2) |
| Elevation | 800 ft (240 m) |
| Established | 1962 |
| Named for | Lake Norman |
| Governing body | North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation |
| Website | Lake Norman State Park |
Lake Norman State Park, once called Duke Power State Park, is a fun place to visit in North Carolina. It covers about 1,942 acres (7.86 km2) near Troutman. The park sits on the northern side of Lake Norman, right where Hicks Creek flows in.
You can enjoy many activities here all year round. These include boating, fishing, water skiing, swimming, and camping. The park is easy to find on Inland Sea Road in Troutman. It's just off U.S. Route 70, between Interstate 40 and Interstate 77.
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Discover Lake Norman
Lake Norman is the biggest man-made freshwater lake in North Carolina. It was created between 1959 and 1964. This happened when the Cowans Ford Dam was built by Duke Power.
The Catawba River feeds water into Lake Norman. The lake was named after Norman Cocke, a former president of Duke Power. People sometimes call Lake Norman the "inland sea." It has about 520 miles (837 km) of shoreline. The lake's surface covers more than 50 square miles (130 km2).
Lake Norman is a great spot for fishing. You can find many types of game fish here. Some common ones are yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, and different kinds of bass. These include striped, largemouth, and white bass.
You can get onto Lake Norman using the boat ramp inside Lake Norman State Park. Using the docks is free for everyone. Remember to follow the rules set by the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission. If you want to try rowboats or canoes, you can rent them at the marina.
There's also a 125-yard (114 m) long beach for swimming. It's open daily from April 1 to October 31. Swimming hours are from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. There is a small fee for swimmers when a lifeguard is on duty. It costs five dollars for adults and four dollars for children.
Fun Activities at the Park
Lake Norman State Park offers many fun things to do beyond just water activities. You can find different types of campsites here. There are also many miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Plus, a large picnic area is open all year for gatherings.
Camping Adventures
Lake Norman State Park has 33 campsites ready for you. Each site has a tent pad, a picnic table, and a grill. You can get these sites on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is a fee.
The park gates are locked every night. Campers cannot leave the park after closing or before the 8:00 a.m. opening. This rule is only for emergencies. The closing hours change throughout the year. The park closes at 6:00 p.m. from November to February. It closes at 8:00 p.m. in March, April, September, and October. From May to August, it closes at 9:00 p.m.
Group camping is also available for organizations. These groups must book their camping spots ahead of time. No more than 35 people can camp together in a group at Lake Norman State Park. Restrooms are available throughout the park for everyone's use.
Explore the Trails
The park has several trails for you to explore.
- Alder Trail is a 0.8-mile (1.3 km) loop trail. It starts near the main entrance by Park Lake. This trail goes through the picnic area. It also circles the peninsula between Norwood and Hicks Creeks.
- Lake Shore Trail is a 5-mile (8.0 km) trail. As its name suggests, it runs along the shore of Lake Norman.
- Itusi Trail is a 30.5-mile (49.1 km) mountain biking trail system. The Tar Heel Trailblazers, a mountain biking club from Charlotte, designed and built it. They also help keep it in great shape.
Meet the Park's Wildlife
Many animals live at Lake Norman State Park. You might not always see them, but they are there! A wide variety of eastern woodland creatures call this park home.
Some of the more common mammals you might find are opossums, white-tailed deer, red and gray foxes. You might also spot rabbits, muskrats, raccoons, and gray squirrels.
You can also find Amphibians and reptiles near Lake Norman's shores and in the park's woods. The most common amphibians are different kinds of frogs. You might also see various snakes and turtles.
Many Birds are commonly seen at the park. These include Carolina chickadees, pine warblers, and red-tailed hawks. You might also spot wild turkey, osprey, mallards, Canada geese, and herons.
