Cliffs of the Neuse State Park is one of Eastern North Carolina’s best-kept secrets. Though not the largest state park, it packs a punch with its stunning 90-foot cliffs that steal the show.
Put on your hiking boots and explore the park’s seven diverse walking trails, each offering a unique glimpse into its natural beauty. After a hike, cool off with a swim or a peaceful kayak ride on the serene lake.
For those wanting to linger longer, the cozy campsites provide a perfect spot to sleep under the stars. Whether you’re a nature lover or an adventure seeker, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park is a must-visit destination.
About the Cliffs
The stunning cliffs at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park have been sculpted over millions of years by erosion and geological forces. According to the park’s brochure, a shift in the Earth’s crust caused the Neuse River to follow a fault line, cutting through layers of sediment left by ancient shallow seas that once covered the coastal plain. As the river bent against its bank, its waters gradually eroded the land, forming the majestic Cliffs of the Neuse.
Stretching for 600 yards, these cliffs are a fascinating blend of sand, clay, seashells, shale, and gravel. This mix of materials creates a striking palette of white, tan, yellow, and brown on the cliff face, offering a natural rainbow of earthy tones.
Cliffs of the Neuse State Park Trails
The park features seven hiking trails, each with its own charm. I parked at the Cliff Overlook parking lot—beyond the entrance to the Visitor Center—and began my adventure on the scenic 350 Yard Trail.
350 Yard Trail
- Distance: 0.2 miles
- Type: Out-and-back
- Rating: Easy
- Dog friendly? Yes
If you only hike one trail, this is the one to hike. Bonus: It’s also the shortest at, you guessed it… 350 yards and the best overlook is just steps from the parking lot.
There’s another overlook a little ways down the trail, and if you peek off to the side from that spot, you can get a glimpse of the cliff face.
If you follow the complete trail, you’ll gradually descend to the banks of the Neuse River.
Bird Trail
- Distance: .5 miles
- Type: Loop trail
- Rating: Easy
- Dog friendly? Yes, on leash.
Hop on the Bird Trail from the end of the 350 Yard Trail or from the Galax Trail. The ranger at the visitor center said he thinks this is one of the prettiest areas in the park. The trail offers views from another section of cliffs and then follows a creek as it loops back.
To reach the cliff view, follow the dirt trail that starts from the fence and leads to the edge of the cliff. You’ll have to hop over the fence to access the path.
Keep in mind that this trail can be affected by high water levels and rainfall.
Galax Trail
- Distance: .5 mile
- Type: Loop trail
- Rating: Easy
- Dog friendly? Yes, on leash.
You can start this trail from the Bird Trail, and a connecting path takes you to the Lake Trail. Along the way, you’ll come across a small creek, and the trail winds through a cool, shaded forest. Watch out for a few steps and roots that add natural obstacles to the path. Heavy rain or high water levels can impact this trail, so be prepared.
Spanish Moss Trail
- Distance: 1.5 miles
- Type: Loop trail
- Rating: Moderate
- Dog friendly? Yes, on leash.
We connected with the Spanish Moss Trail across the parking lot from the 350 Yard Trail. There are A LOT of steps, but going in this direction, they’re downhill, so while your knees may not love it, your heart rate probably will.
Once we reached river level, we took a trail spur leading to the riverbank. It’s a tie-up spot for people kayaking on the river.
From there, we got a nice view of the cliff face we were standing above on the 350-Yard Trail.
Then we retraced our steps on the spur and continued on the Spanish Moss Trail until it connected with the Longleaf Trail. The trail loops if you want to stay on it, but we wanted to hike a variety of trails.
By the way, we didn’t see one bit of Spanish moss on the Spanish Moss Trail!
Longleaf Trail
- Distance: 1.2 miles
- Type: Out-and-back
- Rating: Easy
- Dog friendly? Yes, on leash.
Just as its name promises, the trail opened up to a beautiful stand of pines. We followed this trail until it connected with the Old Wagon Path Trail.
Old Wagon Path Trail
- Distance: .4 miles
- Type: Out-and-back
- Rating: Easy
- Dog friendly? Yes
The Old Wagon Path Trail follows the main entrance road and connects the Visitor Center and the overlook parking lot. It isn’t particularly scenic; it’s mostly a connector trail.
Lake Trail
- Distance: 1.9 miles
- Type: Loop trail
- Rating: Moderate
- Dog friendly? Yes, on leash.
The visitor center parking lot is the best place to park and hike the Lake Trail loop. This is the one trail I didn’t take. Instead, I drove to the beach parking lot and took a short path down to the lake to see it.
It’s a small 11-acre lake, but it does have a beach where you can swim and rent watercraft for paddling.
Know Before You Go
Address: 240 Park Entrance Rd, Seven Springs, NC
Park Hours: March, April, September, October 7 a.m.-8 p.m., May-August 7 a.m.-9 p.m., November-February 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Closed Christmas Day.
Visitor Center Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
Admission: There are no entrance fees for day use. There is a fee for a swim pass and boat rental (canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and stand-up paddleboards). To paddle on the lake, visitors must rent a boat from the park—no outside watercraft are allowed.
Note: Ants are EVERYWHERE! In the south, fire ants are always a concern, but in this case, I’m talking about carpenter ants. (At least they look like carpenter ants to me; they’re big!) They are all over the trails at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. It’s an ideal environment for them as they love moist, decaying, hollow wood and sandy soil. I was always moving, so I wasn’t concerned about bites, but they would bite if they felt threatened.
The park does apply pesticides to control them, but they do so as minimally as possible because ants are part of the ecology, and the water run-off goes into the lake and the river. The bonus? These ants help control ticks, making tick issues rare at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. Seems like a worthwhile trade-off!
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