Haw River

Activities Haw River State Park is in the Piedmont-Triad region of North Carolina north of Greensboro, near the headwaters of the Haw River. It is one of the newest state parks, just established in 2005. This unique park not only offers picnicking, fishing, paddling and hiking, but is also home to the Summit Environmental Education and Conference Center. The center hosts retreats and conferences for groups ranging from 10 to 180 participants. Experience the Park! Haw River State Park 339 Conference Center Dr. Browns Summit, NC 27214 336-342-6163 haw.river@ncparks.gov GPS: 36.250859,-79.756390 Fun Facts ■■ The park was established in 2005. ■■ The park is situated on 1,429 acres of wetlands and uplands. There is a strain of albinism within the deer population at the park, resulting in the birth of a white deer every generation or so. ■■ Box turtle ■■ Great blue heron ■■ Wood duck ■■ Beaver ■■ River otter ■■ Turkey ■■ Belted kingfisher ■■ Pileated woodpecker The park has grown from 300 acres to 1,429 acres since its acquisition in 2003 2.5 miles of trails and boardwalks ■■ There are two accesses to the park: the Summit Environmental Education Center and the Iron Ore Belt Access. ■■ The Summit is an outdoor environmental education center with eight indoor meeting spaces, motel- and dormitory-style lodging, a 6-acre lake, gymnasium, athletic field, outdoor pool, challenge course and fully equipped dining hall. The boardwalk takes visitors through a wide expanse of wetlands to the headwaters area of Haw River. ■■ The Summit was originally built in the late 1980s by the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina to serve as a retreat center. ■■ The land that is now the Iron Ore Belt Access was considered for a high-end golf course in 2007. Friends of Haw River State Park successfully fought this development. ncparks.gov MNQP Offers two- and three-week summer camps for rising 2nd–8th graders.