Lake Norman State Park
Encyclopedia
Lake Norman State Park, formerly Duke Power State Park, is a 1,328 acre (5 km²) North Carolina state park near Troutman
, Iredell County
, North Carolina
in the United States
. The park is on the northern shore of Lake Norman at the mouth of Hicks Creek. The park is open for year round recreation including, boating
, fishing
, water skiing
, swimming and camping
. Lake Norman State Park is on Inland Sea Road in Troutman just off U.S. Route 70
between Interstates 40
and 77
.
, created between 1959 and 1964 as part of the construction of the Cowans Ford Dam
by Duke Power, is the largest manmade body of fresh water in North Carolina
. It is fed by the Catawba River
. It was named after former Duke Power president Norman Cocke. Lake Norman is sometimes referred to as the "inland sea"; it offers 520 miles (836.9 km) of shoreline and a surface area of more than 50 square miles (129.5 km²).
Lake Norman is a warm water fishery. The common game fish are yellow perch
, crappie
, bluegill
, and striped
, largemouth
and white bass
. Access to Lake Norman is available at the boat ramp within Lake Norman State Park. Use of the docks is free. All visitors to the park are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission. Rowboat and canoe
rentals are available at the marina. A 125 yd (114.3 m) long beach is open for swimming, daily, April 1 - October 31 10:00 a.m. until 6:00pm. A four dollar fee for adults and three dollar fee for children is charged for swimmers only when a lifeguard
is present.
. And an extensive picnic area is open for year round gatherings. In November 2008 Lake Norman gained an additional 700+ acres of land which can be used by the public for hiking, biking, and fishing.
s and grills. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis for a fee. The gates of the park are locked nightly. Campers may not leave the park after closing or before the 8:00 a.m. opening except for emergencies. The closing hours change throughout the year. Lake Norman State Park closes at 6:00pm, November-February, 7:00 p.m. in March, 8:00 p.m. in April and May, 9:00 p.m. June-August, 8:00 p.m. in September and 7:00 in October.
There is group camping available to organizations. All organizations must reserve the group camping facilities in advance. No groups larger than 25 persons may camp at Lake Norman State Park. Drinking and restrooms are available to all campers at the park.
between Norwood and Hicks Creeks near Park Lake.
Lake Shore Trail is a 5 miles (8 km) trail on the shore of Lake Norman.
Itusi Trail is a 6.7 miles (10.8 km) mountain biking trail designed, built and maintained by the Tar Heel Trailblazers, a Charlotte
based mountain biking club.
s of the park are opossum
, White-tailed deer
, red
and gray fox
es, rabbits
, muskrat
s, raccoon
s, and gray squirrel
s. Amphibian
s and reptile
s can be found on the shores of Lake Norman and in the woods of Lake Norman State Park. The most common amphibians are a variety of frog
s. A variety of snake
s and turtle
s can also be seen at the park. Bird
s commonly seen at the park include, Carolina chickadee
s, pine warbler
s, Red-tailed Hawk
s, Wild Turkey
, osprey
, mallard
s, geese
, and heron
s.
Troutman, North Carolina
Troutman is a town in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,592 at the 2000 census. It is the home of NASCAR driver Josh Richeson.-Geography:Troutman is located at ....
, Iredell County
Iredell County, North Carolina
Iredell County, along with Moore County in the eastern Piedmont, are among a very few counties in the United States sharing borders with nine adjacent counties.-Demographics:...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The park is on the northern shore of Lake Norman at the mouth of Hicks Creek. The park is open for year round recreation including, boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
, swimming and camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
. Lake Norman State Park is on Inland Sea Road in Troutman just off U.S. Route 70
U.S. Route 70
U.S. Route 70 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,385 miles from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. As can be derived from its number, it is a major east–west highway of the Southern and Southwestern United States...
between Interstates 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
and 77
Interstate 77
Interstate 77 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. It traverses diverse terrain, from the mountainous state of West Virginia to the rolling farmlands of North Carolina and Ohio. It largely supplants the old U.S...
.
Lake Norman
Lake NormanLake Norman
Lake Norman, created between 1959 and 1964 as part of the construction of the Cowans Ford Dam by Duke Energy, is the largest manmade body of fresh water located in North Carolina.-General Information:...
, created between 1959 and 1964 as part of the construction of the Cowans Ford Dam
Cowans Ford Dam
The Cowans Ford Dam is a dam completed in 1963 along the Catawba River on the border between Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties in North Carolina. The dam holds back Lake Norman and is an important source of hydroelectric power.-See also:...
by Duke Power, is the largest manmade body of fresh water in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It is fed by the Catawba River
Catawba River
The Catawba River is a tributary of the Wateree River in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The river is approximately 220 miles long...
. It was named after former Duke Power president Norman Cocke. Lake Norman is sometimes referred to as the "inland sea"; it offers 520 miles (836.9 km) of shoreline and a surface area of more than 50 square miles (129.5 km²).
Lake Norman is a warm water fishery. The common game fish are yellow perch
Yellow perch
The yellow perch is a species of perch found in the United States and Canada, where it is often referred to by the shortform perch. Yellow perch look similar to the European perch, but are paler and more yellowish, with less red in the fins. They have six to eight dark, vertical bars on their sides...
, crappie
Crappie
Crappie is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie...
, bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
, and striped
Striped bass
The striped bass is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater fish of New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire...
, largemouth
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
and white bass
White bass
The white bass or sand bass The white bass or sand bass The white bass or sand bass (MoroneIt is the state fish of Oklahoma.- Range :White bass are distributed widely across the United States, particularly in the midwest. They are very abundant in Pennsylvania and the area around Lake Erie...
. Access to Lake Norman is available at the boat ramp within Lake Norman State Park. Use of the docks is free. All visitors to the park are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission. Rowboat and canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
rentals are available at the marina. A 125 yd (114.3 m) long beach is open for swimming, daily, April 1 - October 31 10:00 a.m. until 6:00pm. A four dollar fee for adults and three dollar fee for children is charged for swimmers only when a lifeguard
Lifeguard
A lifeguard supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, or beach. Lifeguards are strong swimmers and trained in first aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on...
is present.
Recreation
Lake Norman State Park is open to recreational opportunities other than boating, swimming and fishing at Lake Norman. Several varieties of campsites are open at the park. Many miles of trails are open to hiking and mountain bikingMountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
. And an extensive picnic area is open for year round gatherings. In November 2008 Lake Norman gained an additional 700+ acres of land which can be used by the public for hiking, biking, and fishing.
Camping
Lake Norman State Park features 33 campsites with tent pads, picnic tablePicnic table
A picnic table is a modified table with attached benches, designed for eating a meal outdoors .-Uses:...
s and grills. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis for a fee. The gates of the park are locked nightly. Campers may not leave the park after closing or before the 8:00 a.m. opening except for emergencies. The closing hours change throughout the year. Lake Norman State Park closes at 6:00pm, November-February, 7:00 p.m. in March, 8:00 p.m. in April and May, 9:00 p.m. June-August, 8:00 p.m. in September and 7:00 in October.
There is group camping available to organizations. All organizations must reserve the group camping facilities in advance. No groups larger than 25 persons may camp at Lake Norman State Park. Drinking and restrooms are available to all campers at the park.
Trails
Alder Trail is a 0.8 miles (1.3 km) loop trail that begins at Park Lake near the main entrance of Lake Norman State Park. This trail passes through the picnic area and circles the peninsulaPeninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
between Norwood and Hicks Creeks near Park Lake.
Lake Shore Trail is a 5 miles (8 km) trail on the shore of Lake Norman.
Itusi Trail is a 6.7 miles (10.8 km) mountain biking trail designed, built and maintained by the Tar Heel Trailblazers, a Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
based mountain biking club.
Wildlife
Most of the wildlife at Lake Norman State Park is rarely seen by the casual visitor. This does not mean that wildlife is scarce at the park, in fact a wide variety of Eastern Woodland creatures call Lake Norman State Park home. The more common mammalMammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s of the park are opossum
Virginia Opossum
The Virginia opossum , commonly known as the North American opossum or tlacuache in Mexico, is the only marsupial found in North America north of Mexico. A solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat, and thus the largest opossum, it is a successful opportunist...
, White-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, red
Red Fox
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
and gray fox
Gray Fox
The gray fox is a mammal of the order Carnivora ranging throughout most of the southern half of North America from southern Canada to the northern part of South America...
es, rabbits
Eastern Cottontail
The eastern cottontail is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae. It is one of the most common rabbit species in North America.-Distribution:...
, muskrat
Muskrat
The muskrat , the only species in genus Ondatra, is a medium-sized semi-aquatic rodent native to North America, and introduced in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands and is a very successful animal over a wide range of climates and habitats...
s, raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
s, and gray squirrel
Eastern Gray Squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and to the southerly portions of the eastern provinces of Canada...
s. Amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
s and reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s can be found on the shores of Lake Norman and in the woods of Lake Norman State Park. The most common amphibians are a variety of frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s. A variety of snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
s and turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
s can also be seen at the park. Bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s commonly seen at the park include, Carolina chickadee
Carolina Chickadee
The Carolina Chickadee, Poecile carolinensis, is a small passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. Often, it is still placed in the genus Parus with most other tits, but mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data and morphology suggest that separating Poecile more adequately expresses these birds'...
s, pine warbler
Pine Warbler
The Pine Warbler, Dendroica pinus, is a small songbird of the New World warbler family.These birds have white bellies, white wing bars, dark legs and thin, relatively long pointed bills; they have yellowish lines over their eyes. Adult males have olive upperparts and bright yellow throats and...
s, Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is a bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "chickenhawk," though it rarely preys on standard sized chickens. It breeds throughout most of North America, from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West...
s, Wild Turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
, osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
, mallard
Mallard
The Mallard , or Wild Duck , is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia....
s, geese
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
, and heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
s.